Introduction/Administrative News The TRADE Industrial Hygiene/Occupational Safety Special Interest Group (IH/OS SIG) Steering Committee met on February 1, 2007 through a conference call meeting. IH/OS SIG Steering Committee Chair Ralph Hinterman, Argonne National Laboratory-East (ANL-E), facilitated the meeting in which the following Steering Committee members participated:
Deana Colley, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Tom Cornell, Fluor Hanford Inc.
Harvey Grasso, DOE National Nuclear Security Administration, Livermore Site Office
Ralph Hinterman, ANL-E
Bob Kapolka, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE)
Dr. Daniel Marsick, DOE, HS-11, Office Of Worker Safety and Health Policy
Deborah McFalls, ORISE
John Peters, Brookhaven National Laboratory
David Weitzman, DOE, HS-11, Office Of Worker Safety and Health Policy
The following Steering Committee members notified the IH/OS SIG Chair/Coordinator that they could not participate in the meeting:
Bill Frede, Honeywell FM&T
Michael Hurshman, S.M. Stoller
Rob Nicholas, Los Alamos National Laboratory
10 CFR 851 News
David Weitzman reported DOE is struggling with 2 medical service issues related to the 851 rule:
It appears that the occupational medicine section of the rule had in mind the traditional site-wide medical service program with the large M&O contractor where there is easily a centralized system. At a lot of sites, there is no longer a centralized system for all workers. It is difficult to develop a program that looks like it is a centralized system for a diversified site. One option to the issue is for a contractor to request a temporary variance for this issue.
The rule was not suppose to add new requirements for the sites but there are provisions of the occupational medical services section there are new. Some contractors do not provide the services noted in the rule. Implementing these new requirements require additional resources which creates issues within the timeframe the Department’s budget process occurs (3 year process).
A short term solution to the issues would be for a contractor to request a temporary variance as DOE works through these issues. Another option is to amend the rule which would be a long term solution.
DOE may have to consider a permanent variance for some facility buildings that are older and do not meet the code of record. They would request a permanent variance on related issues which would replace the exemption system.
DOE General Counsel has determined that direct DOE contracts are covered by the rule. DOE has many direct support contractors at HQ and at other Federal buildings. DOE has been making these contractors aware they will have to submit a worker safety and health program for approval. This is creating quite a bit of concern among these support contractors because of the amount of effort that would be involved. This issue is still at play within DOE.
The 10 CFR 851 Rule Variance System will go live on February 2. The purpose of the Variance System is to provide alternative methods for specific requirements of DOE standards where equivalent levels of employee protection are provided. The System will track all variance applications from the initial application, through the management review and decision process, up to and including final approval or denial of the request. In order to create a new variance application, the contractor must register and request a user account at url: http://www.hss.energy.gov/HealthSafety/WSHP/rule851/851variance/default.aspx.
Nanotechnology Safety News
Dan Marsick reported that DOE is working on a draft notice for nanotechnology activities at the DOE sites. They are hoping to have the draft notice ready for review through the formal review process by September 2007. Ralph Hinterman report the American Society of Safety Engineers was putting together a position paper on nanosafety and environmental hazards. Dan reminded the committee that there is an American Industrial Hygiene Association Nanotechnology Working Group. Information about that group can be found at url: http://www.aiha.org/Content/InsideAIHA/Volunteer+Groups/nanotechworkinggroup.htm.
Joint EFCOG/DOE Chemical Management 2007 Workshop News
The Chemical Safety Topical Committee will hold its ninth annual Joint Energy Facility Contractors Group/DOE Chemical Management Workshop at the DOE Forrestal Headquarters Auditorium in Washington, D.C. March 13-15, 2007. The workshop has been approved by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene for certification maintenance points for CIHs/CAIH. A copy of the approval letter as well as other related workshop information can be found at url: http://www.hss.energy.gov/HealthSafety/WSHP/chem_safety/ws2007/.
Planning for 2007 IH/OS SIG Steering Committee Workshop
The Steering Committee normally meets once a year in conjunction with another industrial hygiene/occupational safety event of interest to the committee members. In the previous meeting, the Committee selected the June 2007 American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Expo to be the meeting to link their workshop to for 2007. The Committee is considering holding their workshop on the morning (8:30-11:30) of June 8 following the main body of the AIHA conference at a near by hotel (Loews Philadelphia Hotel or Philadelphia Marriott). Information about the AIHA conference can be found at url: www.aiha.org/Content/CE/aihce/aihce.hm.
Open Discussion
Dan Marsick reported that DOE will hold their annual safety and health meeting during the 2007 American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Expo. Deborah McFalls has asked to present about the SIG’s new Web site that focuses on nanosafety at the DOE meeting.
Future Steering Committee Conference Call Meeting
The next Steering Committee Conference Call meeting is scheduled for March 6, 2007, 1:15 – 2:45 EST, conference call number is: (301)903-6013.
For additional information, please contact: Deborah McFalls, IH/OS SIG Coordinator
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
P. O. Box 117, MS 10
Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0117
