Office of Health, Safety and Security

Mission and Functions

Mission
The Office of Health, Safety and Security (HSS) is the Department of Energy's (DOE) central organization responsible for health, safety, environment, and security; providing corporate-level leadership and strategic vision to coordinate and integrate these vital programs. HSS is responsible for policy development and technical assistance; safety analysis; corporate safety and security programs; education and training; complex-wide independent oversight; and enforcement. The Chief Health, Safety and Security Officer advises the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary on all matters related to health, safety and security across the complex.

Functions

• Directs and manages HSS operations in the pursuit of continuous improvement in the health, safety and security posture of DOE.
• Serves as corporate advocate for Department health, safety, environment, and security programs and initiatives, including Integrated Safety Management, Integrated Safeguards and Security Management, Environmental Management Systems, Voluntary Protection Program, and Federal Technical Capabilities Program.
• Develops health, safety, environmental, and security rules, policies and implementation guidance.
• Directs and manages HSS to promote communication and to assist Headquarters and field elements with interpretation and integration of health, safety, environment, and security policies into field operations.
• Manages development and promotes deployment of new technologies to improve security at Headquarters and field locations.
• Manages the National Training Center, the Department's designated Center of Excellence for Security and Safety Training and Professional Development, which establishes and provides training, education, and development activities for staff, management, and Departmental leadership in the areas of health, safety and security thereby strengthening the expertise available to meet the current and future mission needs of the Department.
• Manages the implementation of the DOE enforcement program to promote overall improvement in the Department's nuclear safety, worker safety and health, and security programs.
• Manages the Independent Oversight Program, providing the Office of the Secretary, DOE and contractor managers, Congress, and other stakeholders with an independent evaluation of the adequacy of DOE policy and the effectiveness of line management performance in safeguards and security; cyber security; emergency management; environment, safety, and health; and other critical functions.
• Reports on the status of the Department's health, safety, environmental, and security programs and the status of Departmental improvement actions to the Secretary/Deputy Secretary.
• Provides concurrence, approval, and recommendations regarding requests for variations or use of alternative methods from safety, health, and environmental requirements, pursuant to the authority contained in DOE regulations and directives (e.g., 10 CFR 830, 10 CFR 835, and 10 CFR 851).
• Serves as the appointing Official for Type A Accident Investigation Boards and authorizes waivers from the requirement to conduct Type A or Type B accident investigations.
• As requested by the Secretary, concurs in the final decision to startup, restart, or shutdown facility operations.
• Serves as the Department's Agency Environmental Executive in accordance with Section 301.d of Executive Orders 13101.
• Represents DOE on the Joint Coordinating Committee for Radiation Effects Research (JCCRER), a bilateral Government committee representing agencies from the United States and the Russian Federation.
• Manages the DOE Headquarters security program to protect personnel, facilities, property, classified and controlled unclassified information under normal and abnormal (i.e. emergency) conditions.
• Serves as the Executive Secretariat of the Department's Special Access Program Oversight Committee (SAPOC), maintaining related directives and guidance, and providing oversight of Headquarters and field implementation.
• Promotes open communication between the Department offices that develop and implement health, safety, environmental and security policy and guidance and independent evaluators who examine the performance and effectiveness of those policies within the Department. Maintains balance and objectivity in recommending policy and performance improvements for the benefit of the Department.
• Manages the development and implementation of corporate safety quality assurance programs.
• Manages the DOE Corporate Operating Experience Program to provide systematic identification, collection, screening, analysis, evaluation, and dissemination of performance indicators, lessons learned, and operating experience to prevent adverse events and to expand sharing of lessons learned.
• Manages the coordination of Congressional hearing activities and information within HSS to include hearing schedules, witness preparation, strategies appropriate to the nature of the hearing, and determinations of Congressional concerns and interests in pending legislation or oversight activities.