1. INTRODUCTION

The NSLS is committed to conducting its activities in a safe and environmentally responsive manner. All activities will be planned and conducted in accordance with the BNL ESH policies and requirements. The purpose of this manual is to define which policies and requirements are applicable at NSLS, define the processes established at NSLS to implement each set of requirements, and to assign responsibilities for implementation at NSLS. Whenever possible, hyperlinks to the applicable BNL Subject Area or NSLS PRM will be provided.

2. POLICY 

•  NSLS will operate its facilities consistent with the BNL Environment, Safety, Security and Health (ESSH) Policy.
• Managers and workers are expected to abide by the BNL Standards of ESH Performance.
•  NSLS ESH Requirements will be consistent with those established within the BNL SBMS.

3. RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITIES

3.1

Line

Safety is a line responsibility extending throughout the line organization to all NSLS Department employees. The primary responsibility for safety rests with those responsible for carrying out the various phases of NSLS operation.

3.1.1

NSLS Department Chairman - Safety in the NSLS Department is a primary and direct responsibility of the Department Chairman. He has primary responsibility for taking the necessary measures to make certain that department facilities and activities comply with established safety requirements. He shall provide full support to all components of the BNL safety program as set forth by BNL policy and requirements

3.1.2

NSLS ESH/Q Manager - The ESH/Q Manager reports directly to the NSLS Chair and has management level responsibilities to coordinate the ES&H and Quality Assurance programs at the NSLS. He serves as the EMS Management Representative for the BES Directorate. The Manager is also responsible for the self-assessment program.

3.1.3

NSLS Environmental, Safety and Health (ES&H) Coordinator - The NSLS ES&H Coordinator shall provide liaison with the ESH/Q Directorate with regard to safety matters. He shall report directly to the NSLS ESH/Q Manager.

3.1.4

Supervisors - Each supervisor has the responsibility to ensure that the activities under his/her jurisdiction are planned and conducted in accordance with the established ES&H rules and guides of the NSLS and BNL. This specifically includes the responsibility to ensure that safety training and equipment is provided and used as required.

3.1.5

NSLS Area ES&H Representatives - The NSLS Area ES&H Representatives are responsible for assisting the supervisors in their area to carry out the ES&H program. They are responsible for participating in the Tier I tours for their area and reporting any safety concerns to the NSLS ES&H staff. The Area ES&H Representatives shall be appointed for two year terms by the NSLS ES&H Coordinator and may serve for succeeding terms.

3.1.7

All Employees and Users - Each individual is responsible for performing their assignments in a manner that will not endanger themselves or their fellow employees, and for complying with established ES&H rules and requirements. Employees are expected to contribute to the safety program and to bring potentially unsafe conditions to the attention of their supervisors or NSLS ES&H staff.

3.2

NSLS Safety Committees

3.2.1

ES&H Committee The NSLS ES&H Committee shall meet as needed to review: 

• Proposed modifications to the accelerator facility, its operation, or equipment that has potential safety implications

• New or modified Safety Assessment Document (SAD), Accelerator Safety Envelope (ASE) and unreviewed safety issues

• Identified causes of any ASE violation and the corrective actions proposed in response to a facility shutdown because of safety concerns

The NSLS ESH Committee may also be asked to review:

• ESH inspection reports and the status of corrective actions

• Occurrence and accident reports including root causes, corrective actions and lessons learned information

• Experiments as referred to it by the Experimental Review Coordinator

This Committee shall report its findings to the NSLS Department Chairman within two weeks of the date of any meeting and shall maintain formal minutes of all meetings held using the NSLS General Review Form. If applicable, the  EMS, FUA and SAD/ASE Checklist for NSLS Reviews shall be attached to minutes to document the review for any potential changes to the Environmental Management System significant environmental aspects, the Facility Use Agreement and the Safety Assessment Document/Accelerator Safety Envelope. Any changes to the above will result in a memo from the ESH Committee Chairman to the ESH/Q Manager.

The NSLS ES&H Committee shall have the following representation:

• NSLS Department ES&H Coordinator who shall act as chair

• NSLS professional ESH Staff

• NSLS RCD Facility Representative

• NSLS Environmental Compliance Representative

• Up to six staff members from the NSLS Department to provide expertise in a broad variety of fields.

The ESH Committee members shall be appointed by the NSLS Department Chairman. Members shall be appointed to three-year terms, two members being appointed each year, and may serve for succeeding terms. Other ESH personnel may be called in to supplement this Committee should additional expertise be needed.

3.2.2

Beamline Review Committee

The NSLS Beamline Review Committee shall review all experimental beamline layouts for compliance with NSLS ES&H Policies and Requirements #LS-ESH-PRM-1.3.5b, "Beamline Safety Review", and with the "Requirements and Guidelines for NSLS Beamline Vacuum Systems," BNL 28073. These include but are not limited to Beam Heating of Components, Electrical and Mechanical Interlocks, Electrical Safety, General Safety Issues, Laser Safety, Cryogenic Safety, Material Handling, Mechanical Stability, Ozone Production and Exhaust Systems, Radiation Shielding and Vacuum Integrity. When issues involving safety policy arise, the committee shall refer them to the NSLS ES&H Committee for review.

This Committee shall report its findings to the NSLS Department Chairman within two weeks of the date of any meeting and shall maintain formal minutes of all meetings. See PRM 1.3.5b for reporting requirements.

The NSLS Beamline Review Committee shall be made up of the following persons:

• NSLS Department ES&H Coordinator

• NSLS Safety Officer

• NSLS Experimental Operations Coordinator

• NSLS RCD Facility Representative

• NSLS Vacuum Group Leader

• Five staff members from the NSLS Department; one of whom is appointed as chair by the NSLS Chairman.

The five NSLS staff members shall be appointed by the NSLS Department Chairman. NSLS staff members shall be appointed to three year terms, and may serve for succeeding terms. Other ESH personnel may be called in to supplement this committee should their particular area of expertise be needed.

3.2.3

Interlock Working Group

The NSLS Interlock Working Group shall review accelerator and laser personnel protective interlock designs based on the requirements in NSLS PRM 1.5.3 - Interlock Safety.

This Committee shall report its findings to the NSLS Department Chairman within two weeks of the date of any meeting and shall maintain formal minutes of all meetings held using the General Review Form and, if applicable, the EMS, FUA and SAD/ASE Checklist for NSLS Reviews.  Any changes in the Checklist will result in a memo from the Interlock Working Group Committee Chairman to the ESH/Q Manager.

The NSLS Interlock Working Group shall include the following persons:

• NSLS Safety Officer

• Electrical engineer responsible for interlock design

• Technical supervisor of the beamline technical support group

• Technician from the beamline technical support group

One other NSLS staff member who shall be appointed chair by the NSLS Chairman.

3.2.4

ALARA Committee

The NSLS ALARA Committee (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) shall review current and proposed radiological performance goals and review the operational performance of the NSLS with respect to its goals. The NSLS Chairman shall appoint a staff member who shall act as chair for the NSLS ALARA Committee.

This Committee shall report its findings to the NSLS Department Chairman within two weeks of the date of any meeting and shall maintain formal minutes of all meetings held using the General Review Form and, if applicable, the EMS, FUA and SAD/ASE Checklist for NSLS Reviews.  Any changes in the Checklist will result in a memo from the ALARA Committee Chairman to the ESH/Q Manager.

The NSLS ALARA Committee shall be made up of the following persons:

• NSLS ALARA Chair

• NSLS ES&H Coordinator

• NSLS Safety Officer

• NSLS Safety Engineers

• RCD Facility Representative

• NSLS Beamline Scientist

• NSLS Operations Staff Member

Guidance for ALARA Committee functions and reporting obligations are provided in the BNL Radiological Control Division procedure entitled, "ALARA Program."

3.2.5

Environmental Management System (EMS) & Occupational Health and Safety (OHSAS) Management Committee

The NSLS EMS/OHSAS Management Committee shall monitor performance of the Environmental Management and the Occupational Health and Safety Management Programs and the status of the respective NSLS Program Elements at regular meetings (not less than twice per year). Specific responsibilities of the EMS/OHSAS Committee are described in the NSLS Environmental Management System Manual and the NSLS OHSAS Management System Manual. The NSLS EMS/OHSAS Representative shall act as Chair for the NSLS EMS/OHSAS Management Committee.

This Committee shall report its findings to the NSLS Department Chairman within two weeks of the date of any meeting and shall maintain formal minutes of all meetings held using the General Review Form and, if applicable, the EMS, FUA and SAD/ASE Checklist for NSLS Reviews.  Any changes in the Checklist will result in a memo from the Environmental Management Committee Chairman to the ESH/Q Manager.

The NSLS Environmental Management Committee shall be made up of the following persons:

• NSLS Environmental Management Representative - Chair
•  EWMSD Environmental Compliance Representative
•  NSLS ESH Coordinator
•  NSLS Experimental Review Coordinator
•  RCD Facility Support Representative
•   NSLS Local Emergency Coordinator
•   NSLS Quality Representative
•   NSLS Safety Engineer
•   NSLS Training Coordinator

 3.2.6

ESH Improvement Committee (ESHI)

The ESHI Committee examines ESH issues in all aspects of the NSLS workplace with the goal of suggesting improvements to management in the safety environment and culture of the NSLS. The purpose of the committee is to provide a means for input to NSLS management on Laboratory and department ESH issues and policies, review periodically ESH and self assessment data, identify opportunities for ESH improvement in the workplace, and serve as a vehicle for expression of staff ESH concerns/issues.

To facilitate its work, the following type of information will be provided, as requested, to the Committee by the NSLS ESH/Q Staff prior to each meeting:  accident/injury statistics, trends and Investigation Reports; occupational Illness/Injury Reports; results of Safety related audits and assessments of the NSLS work place; non-conformance Reports; Occurrence Reports; summary of Tier I Findings; commentary from users or staff regarding ESH, Work Planning, or Training related issues; specific issues referred to the Committee by NSLS management; and other pertinent information relating to ESH or training.  In addition, Committee members may bring their own workplace experience and observations up for discussion as well as solicit and bring the observations of their colleagues up for discussion. 

The membership of the Committee will be appointed by the NSLS Chair for a one year term and shall include a cross-section of the NSLS staff with emphasis at the working level.  The Committee shall meet quarterly, or more frequently, at the request of its members or NSLS Management.  This Committee shall report its findings to the NSLS Department Chairman and ESH/Q Manager within two weeks of the date of any meeting and shall maintain formal minutes of all meetings held using the General Review Form

4. EMPLOYEE CONCERNS

NSLS employees at all levels within the NSLS have the right and must have the opportunity to communicate any type of concern, e.g. ES&H, personnel, fiscal, etc. That concern may be communicated personally, in written form or in electronic form. The employee is assured that avenues of communication are open at all times. Listed below are typical methods of communication.

4.1

An employee=s most immediate line of communication should normally be to his/her supervisor.

4.3.

An employee also has the right to communicate concerns to any other level of supervision or management within the NSLS, BNL or the DOE Brookhaven Group Area Office.

4.4

An employee may pursue a concern confidentially through the services of the Brookhaven Advocacy Council for personnel concerns or the BNL Employee Concerns Program for ESH, waste, fraud and abuse issues.