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
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Directs and manages HSS operations in the pursuit
of continuous improvement in the health, safety
and security posture of DOE.
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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.
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Develops health, safety, environmental, and security
rules, policies and implementation guidance.
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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.
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Manages development and promotes deployment of
new technologies to improve security at Headquarters
and field locations.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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As requested by the Secretary, concurs in the
final decision to startup, restart, or shutdown
facility operations.
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Serves as the Department's Agency Environmental
Executive in accordance with Section 301.d of
Executive Orders 13101.
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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.
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Manages the DOE Headquarters security program
to protect personnel, facilities, property, classified
and controlled unclassified information under
normal and abnormal (i.e. emergency) conditions.
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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.
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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.
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Manages the development and implementation of
corporate safety quality assurance programs.
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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.
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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.
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