IG Notes Idaho’s Improvements in Integrated Safety Management
WC Monitor
8/29/2014
The Idaho National Laboratory is making progress in addressing weaknesses identified in its Integrated Safety Management system, according to a Department of Energy Inspector General’s Office report released late last week. In half of the 59 safety incidents analyzed by the report that occurred between Fiscal Year 2011 and 2013, hazards were not appropriately analyzed or controls were not developed and implemented. “In response … Idaho and its contractors took steps to strengthen procedures, training and oversight. We found significant efforts in place to ensure employee involvement and overall accountability for safety. We also noted that safety trends appeared to be improving since the events occurred,” the report states.
Contractors and DOE Idaho management were “well aware of these problems,” according to the report and have since moved to strengthen procedures, training and oversight. “We found significant efforts in place to ensure employee involvement and overall accountability for safety. We also noted that safety trends appeared to be improving since the events occurred,” the report states. There are still some issues that have not yet been fully resolved, including weaknesses in Documented Safety Analyses, insufficient engineered controls and less than adequate supervision. “Management at the Idaho Operations Office is well aware of the problems, and is taking or has begun to take appropriate actions. Therefore, we are not making formal recommendations in this report,” the IG said.
