September 08 Issue - Employee Monthly Magazine

My View

Beverly Ramsey: Assessment results support safe, secure behaviors

Photo by Dixon Wolf

In my almost 40 years of experience in operations of industrial and governmental facilities, I have found that the organizations committed to learning from their experiences and from each other are the most successful, judged from any frame of reference—profit, safety, product quality.

I believe if the Laboratory persists as a learning organization, we will continue improving our work products, as well as working more safely and securely. People are fallible; even the best will make mistakes. I have learned that error-likely situations are predictable, manageable, and preventable. Each of us is affected by the processes we are directed to use and the values our organizations establish that define those processes. We achieve high performance based upon encouragement from our leaders and our peers. I truly believe that accidents, reportable occurrences, and security events can be avoided if we regularly review our processes and results and learn the lessons we have right in front of us.

Earlier this summer, a Director’s Institutional Assessment (DIR-08-136) was commissioned by Laboratory Director Michael Anastasio to “ensure we sustain balanced institutional priorities that support accomplishing our mission safely and securely.” This Integrated Systems Management Assessment (ISMA) is intended to do just that. ISMA addresses the Lab’s implementation of the required Integrated Safety Management (IP-300SD1), Integrated Safeguards and Security Management (SD200) principles, and core functions to manage our work (Integrated Work Management, IMP 300 and ISD 312-2). I have the privilege of leading this assessment. I thank every one of the approximately 300 employees who have participated in interviews or work observations.

The assessment results were reported to Anastasio last month. I believe we will have a comprehensive, accurate snapshot of the status of Laboratory safety and security system processes supporting integrated work management. In promoting our Laboratory goal to “Make safety and security integral to every activity we do,” this assessment is a critical tool in the Laboratory’s Human Performance Improvement initiative—focusing and improving processes at all phases of work that reduce error, prevent occurrences or events, and reinforce safe and secure behaviors.

—Beverly Ramsey, Performance Feedback Team (CAO-PF)