Introduction/Administrative News
The TRADE Industrial Hygiene/Occupational Safety Special Interest Group (IH/OS SIG) Steering Committee met on September 6, 2007 through a conference call meeting. IH/OS SIG Steering Committee Advisory Chair Bob Kapolka, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), facilitated the meeting in which the following Steering Committee members participated:
Deana Colley, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
Bill Frede, Honeywell FM&T
Harvey Grasso, DOE National Nuclear Security Administration, Livermore Site Office
Michael Hurshman, S.M. Stoller,
Bob Kapolka, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE)
Daniel Marsick, DOE, HS-11, Office of Worker Safety and Health Policy,
Deborah McFalls, ORISE
Rob Nicholas, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
David Weitzman, HS-11, Office of Worker Safety and Health Policy.
IH/OS SIG Steering Committee Chair notified the IH/OS SIG Coordinator that he could not participate in the meeting:
Ralph Hinterman, Argonne National Laboratory.
DOE Volunteer Protection Program (VPP) Meeting
Bob Kapolka attended the 23rd Annual National VPPPA Conference that was held in Washington, DC August 26-30. A DOE VVP meeting was also held in conjunction with the national meeting.
The DOE VPP meeting was attended by about 90 people from the DOE complex. Headlining the DOE meeting were Glenn Podonsky, Brad Davy, Bill McArthur, Carlos Coffman, and others. There was a very good delegation from Headquarters. Mr. Podonsky reiterated his support for the DOE VPP program and the process and his continued best wishes to expand that program for all those present and those participating in outreach activities. The DOE VPP meeting was very challenging and focused in several areas. There were a number of awards presented including over 20 contractor sites received various types of awards. Former VPP Staff Member Dave Smith and Rex Bowser were presented appreciation awards on behalf of DOE by Mr. Podonsky and Mr. Davy. The lead at Headquarters for VPP at this time is Brad Davy.
One of the issues that came up was that the workforce was aging. Different ways that companies are addressing this issue include:
Adjusting the workspace including lighting adjustments;
Being more flexible; and
Requiring breaks for staff who work at their computer all day (computer screensaver with instructions about what to do that helps prevent repetitive stress injuries).
A Steering Committee Member noted his Human Resources Department has reported that the average age of their workforce was 53. His site recognizes that they need to look at new efforts for the aging population. Bob Kapolka offered to share supportive information about the aging workforce that was collected at the VPPP Conference. Additional details about the DOE VPP are at: hss.energy.gov/HealthSafety/WSHA/vpp/index.html.
FOCUS ON: The HSS Message Newsletter
Dan Marsick provided information about the new online monthly DOE HSS Newsletter, FOCUS ON: The HSS Message. The 1st edition was in April 2007. Current and past editions of the newsletter can be viewed at: http://www.hss.energy.gov/focuson_archives.html. The newsletter provides a general overview of a particular HSS Office or topic of interest.
News about 10 CFR 851
David Weitzman provided the latest news related to 10 CFR 851. A new posting on the DOE Web site is a draft revision of the Occupational Medicine section of G440.1-8 Implementation Guide for use with 10 CFR 851 Worker Safety and Health Program. David has not received any feedback on the guide. He hopes the guide will be beneficial to people looking for guidance. David continues to address 851 related occupational medicine issues.
During the August DOE 851 Video Meeting, contractors continued to list reasons why they cannot comply with the occupational medicine section of the 851 regulation for the subcontractor employees. David noted that the Hanford site and the Nevada site are using a single medical provider which eliminates many issues with the medical provider section of 851. A logistical issue for some sites is the tracking of people and their time on the site. The issue of tracking people for a multi-provider site vanishes when there is a single medical provider for a site. Representatives from the Nevada site and the Hanford site will be presenting about their single site provider system during the September 851 Video Meeting. The Savannah River Site recently visited the Hanford to get information about the single site provider system. They are considering converting to a single provider. David reported that DOE has three variance requests on the occupational medicine section that are working their way through the system to come to Headquarters. He is collating and summarizing the issues that are in these variance requests to aid in addressing this matter at Headquarters. The issues cannot be addressed through a new regulation which is not expected for two or more years.
The new document was published by DOE as a potential revision of the implementation guide which is the best that DOE can provide on the medical provider issue at this time. They will provide additional guidance as they work through some of these issues. The strategy is to go as far as they can in complying with the rule the way it is written so that if and when DOE proposes amendments they can be very explicit about why certain provisions must be changed.
Nanotechnology Safety and Health News
DOE is to work through the process to get an authorization to put out a nanotechnology related report. This is depending on receiving final comments for the Inspector General’s (IG) report. The “draft” IG report was received about a month ago that they are currently collecting comments on. Afterwards they will move forward to draft a nanotechnology safety and health related order or some other related initiative. There is some adversity from within DOE to any orders or standards of any sort for this topic. According to Dan, the IG report is recommending more emphasis be placed on training. A representative from LANL may present at the EFCOG meeting in the fall about nanotechnology guidelines. Committee Member Rob Nicholas will see if that person can present to the Committee during the next conference call meeting. Committee Member Deana Colley will see if a representative from the Hanford site can also speak to the group during the next call about their site’s nanotechnology safety and health procedures.
Dan noted that the current goal is to have applied to all the sites, the Approach to Nanomaterial ES&H document posted at: orise.orau.gov/ihos/Nanotechnology/nanotech_OSHrisks.html. On February 27, 2007, the directors of the DOE’s five Nanoscale Science Research Centers chartered an Environment, Health, and Safety Working Group to develop a recommended strategy for establishing an ES&H program for nanotechnology research that protects workers, the environment, and the public. The working group, with input from health and safety experts in the Department, developed such guidance, Approach to Nanomaterial ES&H (June 15, rev. 2), for application to all of the Nanoscale Science Research Centers. The approach embodies Integrated Safety Management, reinforces compliance with the DOE Policy 456.1, “Secretarial Policy Statement on Nanoscale Safety”, expects adherence to site-specific implementation plans for P 456.1, and conforms with the general principle in the National Research Council’s Prudent Practices for Handling Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, by treating nanomaterials as though they are a toxic and otherwise hazardous material until empirical evidence shows otherwise.
Dan reported that there was a request for public comments on proposed priorities for environmental, health, and safety research related to engineered nanoscale materials. The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office, on behalf of the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology (NSET) Subcommittee of the Committee on Technology, National Science and Technology Council, is requesting public comment on the newly released document, Prioritization of Environmental, Health, and Safety Research Needs for Engineered Nanoscale Materials: An Interim Document for Public Comment. The prioritization document and request for comment is posted at the Web site of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (www.nano.gov). (The document can be accessed from the indicated home page or by going directly to www.nano.gov/html/society/ehs_priorities/. Comments can be submitted to the NSET Subcommittee via the Web site through September 17, 2007.
Dan reminded meeting participants of the following upcoming conferences:
Environmental Protection Agency Pollution Prevention Nanotechnology Conference, September 25-26,
Web Site: epa.gov/oppt/nano/nano-confinfo.htm
NanoTX '07 International Conference and Expo, October 3-4
Web site: nanotx.biz/
4th International Congress of Nanobiotechnology (ICNT 2007), November 5-7
Web site: nanotechcongress.com
Future Steering Committee Conference Call Meeting
The next Steering Committee meeting is scheduled for September 24, 2007, 1:15 – 2:45 pm EST, conference call number 301/903-6256.
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
