308.65 – Regional Occupational Safety, Health, and Environmental Committees
3/21/05
OPR: Office of Management Services
Instructions: New Survey Manual Chapter
1. Purpose. This Survey Manual Chapter provides the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) policy on the purpose; membership; roles and responsibilities; and operations of the USGS Regional Occupational Safety, Health, and Environmental (OSHE) Committees. The USGS Designated Agency Safety and Health Official (DASHO) established Regional OSHE Committees in conjunction with the USGS Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Council on October 1, 2001.
2. Scope. Each USGS Regional OSHE Committee will provide regional occupational safety, health, and environmental program guidance to its Regional Director/Regional Executive Leadership Team and the Bureau OSH Council and the Environmental Management (EM) Council through its Committee Chairperson, the Regional Safety Manager (RSM); Regional Safety Officers (RSO); and the Regional Environmental Program Specialists (REPS). The Regional OSHE Committee will also provide program oversight and policy guidance, and well as advise on occupational safety, health, and environmental matters.
3. Authorities and References.
A. 29 Code of Federal Regulations Part 1960 – Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations for occupational safety and health.
B. Executive Order (E.O.) 12196, dated February 26, 1980.
C. Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1970, as amended.
D. E.O. 13101, September 16, 1998, Greening the Government through Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition.
E. E.O. 13148, April 26, 2000, Greening the Government through Leadership in Environmental Management.
4. Permanent Membership.
A. Regional OSHE Committees will consist of the following members:
(1) Regional Management Official (designated by each Regional Director).
(2) RSM.
(3) REPS.
(4) Discipline RSO.
(5) Field (Center/District/Team) members (a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 5). Field members may be Collateral Duty Safety Program Coordinators (CDSPC), Collateral Duty Environmental Program Coordinators (CDEPC), Chemical Hygiene Officers (CHO), Project Chiefs, Organizational Supervisors, or employees. These members will be nominated by the Regional Executives and approved by the Regional Director.
B. One Field Level Management Representative per region, (center, district, or team chief) and one Field Level Representative (CDSPC, scientist, hydrologist, geologist, etc.) per region, nominated by each Regional Director. These members will serve concurrently on the Bureau OSH Council (See SM 308.64).
C. RSM. Serves as the Chairperson. Provides administrative support to the Committee and coordinates with regional and field managers to ensure representation as detailed in this charter.
D. Regional OSHE Committee members will have appropriate authority to represent and speak for their respective areas of responsibility (e.g., region, discipline, field or specialized program) and make commitments on behalf of the functions or organizations they are representing.
5. Ad Hoc Membership. The following advisors will serve as ad hoc members to Regional OSHE Committees:
A. Regional Industrial Hygienist, as needed.
B. Regional Firearms Manager.
C. Regional Aviation Manager.
D. Regional Dive Safety Officer.
E. Regional Radiation Safety Board Manager.
F. Regional Watercraft Safety Program Manager.
G. Regional Cableway Specialist.
6. Roles and Responsibilities. Additional information regarding roles and responsibilities of the Regional OSHE Committees is provided in the Regional OSHE Committee Charter (See SM 308.65, Appendix A.).
A. Reviews the regional annual occupational safety and health program plan to ensure that program objectives and goals are prioritized and align with the Department of the Interior (DOI) Occupational Safety and Health Strategic Plan. Recommends actions to the Regional Director for implementation of the regional plan.
B. Provides a focal point for oversight, coordination and implementation of the USGS OSHE Programs within the region.
C. Makes decisions regarding implementation of regional OSHE program activities, actions, and initiatives and incorporates DOI initiatives and USGS OSHE and Specialized Safety Program Committee activities, as appropriate.
D. Advises the Regional Director on the implementation of programs involving OSHE activities.
E. Serves as an advisory body to the Regional Executive Leadership Team through the Regional Director on program matters.
F. Provides program interpretation, coordination, and assistance to regional program personnel.
G. Provides a forum for the exchange of information between Headquarters, Bureau Specialized Program Committees, and Regional Committees.
H. Acts collaboratively in performing functions identified in OSHA, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), DOI, and USGS regulations. These functions include establishing occupational safety, health, and environmental programs; recommending a sufficient amount of funds and personnel to implement the programs; establishing a set of procedures that ensures effective program implementation; setting goals and objectives for reducing and eliminating accidents, injuries and illnesses; protecting the environment; establishing plans and procedures for evaluating program effectiveness; and setting priorities with respect to environmental management and compliance systems and injury/illness causal factors so appropriate corrective actions will be taken.
I. Serves as the reviewing and approving body for all regional safety and environmental awards. Forwards approved awards to the Bureau OSHE Council for USGS and/or DOI Recognition.
7. Reporting. The OSH Council reports to the DASHO (Chief, Office of Administrative Policy and Services).
8. Meetings. The OSH Council will meet at least quarterly, including at least one face-to-face meeting per year, preferably scheduled to coincide with a bureau Environmental Management (EM) Council meeting (See SM 308.63).
9. Minutes. The minutes of each OSH Council meeting will be recorded and distributed to all OSH Council members, the Bureau DASHO, and the Regional OSHE committees. The Chair of the OSH Council will ensure that OSH Council minutes are retained for a minimum of two years from the date of the meeting.
10. Working Groups. The OSH Council is authorized to establish work groups, as needed.
11. Salary, Travel and Incidental Costs. The costs of OSH Council regional, field and specialized program participants are borne by the participants’ local or regional organization. Bureau OSH Council participant costs are borne by the Bureau Safety and Environmental Management Branch. Extraordinary expenses must be pre-approved and covered by a written agreement.
12. Termination Date. None.
Approved:
signed_________________________________
Carol F. Aten
Chief, Office of Administrative Policy and Services