November 16, 2006

Richard Biscardi Wins Sitewide Safety Steward Award

NSLS chief electrical engineer Richard Biscardi was one of four BNL employees to win a Sitewide Safety Steward (S3) Award as part of a new employee recognition program for safety awareness.

The S3 program recognizes outstanding awareness and implementation of health and safety improvements and corrective actions. Biscardi was nominated for the award based on his initiative in reducing electrical hazards, an important area of risk for the NSLS.

At the presentation of the Sitewide Safety Stewardship (S3) Award, the winners pictured are: (from left) Richard Biscardi, National Synchrotron Light Source Department; Cheryl Conrad, Energy Sciences & Technology Department; and (right) Richard Scheidet, Plant Engineering Division. The fourth award winner, Jeff Gillow, Environmental Sciences Department, was not present. A team award was also presented to: (from left) Adele Billups, Laura Thompson, and Peter Guida, all of the Medical Department.

Erik Johnson, Biscardi’s supervisor, noted that his job requires him to be more attuned to electrical hazards than most staff members, but he has built upon his heightened awareness and shared his expertise broadly throughout BNL, primarily as a member of the Lab’s electrical safety committee.

“His work has led to the identification of hazards and non-compliances as well as possible methodologies for their mitigation that are now being employed across the Laboratory,” Johnson said. “He has truly adopted a stewardship role in promoting electrical safety for the NSLS and BNL.”

Of particular note is his effort in providing pathways to compliance with the requirements of two safety codes: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E, which describes standards for electrical safety in the workplace; and 10CFR851, a worker health and safety program.

On very short notice, Biscardi worked with staff across the department to develop a protocol for the NSLS to come into compliance with the personal protection equipment requirements of 70E. He also established an equipment inspection program to assure the electrical equipment used by staff, vendors, and visitors either meets Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) requirements or has been properly inspected and tagged. This program is being emulated across the Laboratory.

Biscardi also formed a team to investigate equipment compliance with the requirements of 10CFR851. This working group’s findings and recommendations are at the heart of the NSLS program to come into compliance with 10CFR851.

Biscardi, along with the other S3 award winners, runner-ups, and nominees, was recognized in a BNL ceremony on October 16, 2006.

ARTICLE BY: Kendra Snyder