DOE P 450.6, Secretarial, Policy Statement Environment, Safety and Health

DOE P 450.6 U.S. Department of Energy POLICY Washington, D.C. 04-14-98 SUBJECT: SECRETARIAL POLICY STATEMENT ENVIRONMENT, SAFETY AND HEALTH DISTRIBUTION: INITIATED BY: All Departmental Elements Secretary of Energy PURPOSE AND SCOPE It has been and will remain our policy that the safety of our workers, respect for the environment, and the public health are paramount in all that we do. To meet our strategic goals in national security, energy security, environmental quality, and science leadership, we must integrate safety into our work. That policy has already been incorporated into our Strategic Plan. Now is the time to achieve measurable and sustained results. POLICY We expect outstanding environment, safety, and health performance as a matter of course in the Department of Energy. At stake are nothing less than the lives and livelihood of our workers and neighbors and a healthy environment to leave to our children. We must expect and demand from ourselves as both federal employees and contractors only the best in terms of environment, safety, and health performance. It is our firm belief that this will be achieved by implementing the principles of Integrated Safety Management. All managers and workers must accept as their responsibility a concerted and sustained effort to achieve Integrated Safety Management at the Department of Energy. The fundamental premise of Integrated Safety Management is that all accidents are preventable through close attention to work design and hazard control, and with substantial worker involvement in teams that plan work and select appropriate safety standards. Experience has shown that an investment in prevention brings not only a healthier workplace and a cleaner environment, but notable cost-savings as problems are addressed before they become costly accidents or injuries. Management must also be committed to a work environment that allows free and open expression of safety concerns, and where workers fear no reprisals or retaliation. Workers are our most important resource for preventing and reporting hazards and potentially unsafe practices. 2 DOE P 450.6 04-14-98 In addition, we are establishing a goal of 'zero tolerance' for serious accidents that result in life-threatening injuries or major environmental contamination. Should such an event occur, the appropriate Principal Secretarial Officer will meet promptly and personally with us to thoroughly review causes of the event, corrective action plans and the effectiveness of Integrated Safety Management at the site. Appropriate Department of Energy Field and contractor managers will also be asked to attend and participate. FEDERICO PEÑA Secretary of Energy Elizabeth A. Moler Deputy Secretary Ernest J. Moniz Under Secretary