BREAKING NEWS

SafetyNet has returned! The new look and format is intended to make SafetyNet easier to access and navigate. DOI employees, managers and safety professionals will now have easy access the site and find all the tools necessary to successfully carry out the safety and occupational health aspects of their assignments. There will be information on training, links to relevant websites, forms, checklists, and more. Please take a few minutes to browse around. If you don't see something you need, contact the Office of Occupational Health and Safety, and they will see that it is located and posted. As employees of DOI, we face challenges everyday, SafetyNet is one more tool now available to lower risks on the job.

Welcome to SafetyNet

SafetyNet is a one-stop safety and health information source for the Department of the Interior (DOI). SafetyNet promotes safety awareness within the DOI community, and acquaints managers, employees and volunteers with the Safety and Occupational Health Program’s (SOHP) objectives and how to achieve them.

Protecting life and property through the incorporation of safety into the Department’s and bureaus’ core management systems is the fundamental tenet of the DOI SOHP. SafetyNet is one tool, and DOI safety managers are one asset available to managers to help reduce the risks their employees face every day on the job.

IN FOCUS

The National Safety Council's Driver Education Course is available through DOI Learn.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Bureau Safety and Occupational Health Program Evaluations

The Bureau and Office Safety and Occupational Health Program Evaluation pilot is underway. The Bureau of Reclamation volunteered to refine and pilot the evaluation tool developed by the DOI Safety and Health Council. The evaluation tool should be completed by October 2008, and the pilot itself should begin shortly thereafter. A complete evaluation workbook, and training program, covering everything needed to conduct a bureau level evaluation will be developed by 2010.

Red Rocks Training

The next two courses, Machine Guarding and Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene will be conducted at Red Rocks during the weeks of September 8th and 15th. For additional information, contact Bob Garbe of the Office of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) at bob_garbe@ios.doi.gov .

Departmental Safety and Health Manual Review

The DOI Safety and Health Council are currently reviewing the Departmental Manual (DM) relating to the SOHP (485 DM Series). The individual chapter reviews will take place over the next 12 months and new chapters will be added covering topics such as management of change.

Risk Assessment System

The Department, through the Designated Agency Safety and Health Official (DASHO) Council has adopted a Risk Assessment System (RAS) for the Department. The RAS prioritizes the correction of health and safety deficiencies. It also provides managers with a methodology for identifying hazardous conditions that warrant immediate action and those that can be addressed in the future. The new system has five codes:

RAC-1 represents an immediate danger to life, health, or property, and requires emergency correction or hazard controlled to a lower level of risk as soon as possible within that work shift.
RAC-2 represents a high level of threat to life, health, or property, and requires hazard correction or hazard controlled to a lower level of risk as soon as possible, but no later than 15 working days.
RAC-3 represents a medium level of risk to life, health, or property, with correction planned and completed, or hazard controlled to a lower level of risk within 12 months.
RAC-4 represents a low level of risk with correction planned and completed, or hazard controlled to a lower level of risk within 2 years.
RAC-5 represents the lowest level of risk and is considered minor. The correction of these risks and be incorporated into the bureau's five year plan.

Help keep SafetyNet an effective information and news source. Please send your suggestions and news items to Barry Noll, Office of Occupational Health and Safety at barry_noll@ios.doi.gov.