Department of Energy (DOE) OSH Technical Reference (OTR)

Preface

In an evaluation of the Department of Energy (DOE) Occupational Safety and Health programs for government-owned contractor-operated (GOCO) activities, the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommended a technical information exchange program. The intent was to share written safety and health programs, plans, training manuals, and materials within the entire DOE community. The OSH Technical Reference (OTR) helps support the secretary's response to the OSHA finding by providing a one-stop resource and referral for technical information that relates to safe operations and practice. It also serves as a technical information exchange tool to reference DOE-wide materials pertinent to specific safety topics and, with some modification, as a training aid. The OTR bridges the gap between general safety documents and very specific requirements documents. It is tailored to the DOE community and incorporates DOE field experience.

The OTR provides a one-point referral source for information on various safety related topics such as robotics, lockout/tagout, electrical shock, etc. Each topic is addressed in a separate chapter. All chapters basically have the same format for easy reference, and they discuss the following general topics:

• DOE incidence of injuries.

• Unsafe acts and unsafe conditions that would result in injury or property damage.

• Personal protective equipment.

• Good work practices.

• Training.

• Hazards associated with equipment and work tasks.

In addition, each chapter:

• Lists pertinent codes and standards.

• Includes a bibliography.

• Includes a safety checklist.

Users can make comprehensive self-assessments of their work area. By combining the appropriate questions from each chapter, a detailed self-inspection checklist can be tailored to the work area. For example, parts of walking/working surfaces, electrical shock, personal protective equipment, and machine guarding chapters can be applied to a carpentry shop.

To provide the safest and most productive environment for both DOE and contractor personnel, both DOE mandatory standards and nonmandatory standards were used to develop these chapters, including safety checklists. However, it is important to note that these chapters are not safety requirement documents but do set minimums for good practice.

The following terminology is used throughout the OTR:

• "Shall" indicates a mandatory requirement.

• "Must" also indicates a mandatory requirement and in addition expresses a declaration of intent, probability, or determination.

• "Should" indicates a preferred method of accomplishment.

• "May" indicates an acceptable or satisfactory method of accomplishment.

This regulatory information is correct at the time of issuance, however, please refer to current OSHA regulations. This document is a "living" document and may be changed in the future to meet the technical and professional needs of the Department of Energy and to reflect technological change. Current recipients will receive all changes.