Office of Worker Safety and Health Assistance
(Reports to the Office of Health and Safety)

Mission and Functions

Mission
The Office of Worker Safety and Health Assistance supports program and line organizations in the identification and resolution of worker safety and health issues and management concerns utilizing a corporate issues management process for crosscutting issues providing technical support for organizational specific issues and concerns.

Functions

• Maintains a cadre of technical experts and provides technical assistance and support to program and line management in Headquarters and field organizations on an as-requested basis to facilitate effective and efficient implementation of the Department's worker safety and health program rule, other safety and health requirements and expectations and resolving technical or performance issues.
• Utilizes the corporate ES&H issues management process and ensures effective implementation.
• Facilitates evaluation of cross cutting worker safety and health issues with program and line management to determine extent of condition, causes, and actions to prevent recurrence.
• Teams with line management, contractors, and contractor organizations, such as the Energy Facility Contractors Group (EFCOG), to take actions that promote and result in the efficient and cost effective implementation of the policy and directives to result in enhanced protection of workers from the hazards associated with DOE sites and operations.
• Implements the DOE Voluntary Protection Program (VPP).
• Supports other offices within HSS in the identification and resolution of worker safety and health issues and concerns.
• Coordinates with the Office of Analysis to develop strategies for evaluating the effectiveness of actions to resolve crosscutting issues.
• Provides support to HS-13 in the area of occupational medicine including the DOE Electronic Medical Records Initiative, Headquarters and field Healthy Workplace Initiatives, and pandemic preparedness.