Guiding Principles

DOE has articulated seven principles to be followed as the components of the ISMS are designed and implemented. These principles are reflected in the policies, programs, procedures and cultural beliefs that have been developed as the structure that Jefferson Lab workers utilize in fulfilling our Laboratory's environment, safety and health responsibilities.

See the figures below, which summarizes these "Guiding Principles" and provides examples of how they are translated throughout Jefferson Lab's policies and activities.

Guiding Principles

Example Implementation Methods

(1) Line Management Responsibility for Safety
Line management is directly responsible for the protection of the public, workers, and the environment.
  1. Responsibilities are clearly rticulated in the ES&H Manual Section 22103, ES&H Rights and Responsibilities of Individuals4.
  2. Line Management is held accountable by incorporating safety management metrics into the performance appraisal system.

(2) Clear Roles and Responsibilities
Clear and unambiguous lines of authority and responsibility for ensuring safety shall be established and maintained at all organizational levels.
  1. Roles and responsibilities are clearly articulated in the ES&H Manual Section 2210, ES&H Rights and Responsibilities of Individuals.
  2. Roles and responsibilities are identified throughout the work planning and execution processes.

(3) Competence Commensurate with Responsibilities
Personnel shall possess the experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities that are necessary to discharge their responsibilities.
  1. Minimum competence is identified in position descriptions.
  2. Automatic reminders are provided to line management when assigned personnel's training has elapsed.
  3. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Temporary Operational Safety Procedures (TOSPs), and other guidance documents require specific training prior to work initiation.

(4) Balanced Priorities
Resources shall be effectively allocated to address safety, programmatic, and operational considerations. Protecting the public, the workers, and the environment shall be a priority whenever activities are planned and performed.
  1. ES&H Division budgets installation-wide activities based on contractual requirements, lessons learned, and industry best-practices.
  2. Line organizations develop independent safety budget reflecting their activities.
  3. Annual Work Planning process coordinates and programs safety resources.

(5) Identification of Safety Standards and Requirements
Before work is performed, the associated hazards shall be evaluated and an agreed-upon set of safety standards and requirements shall be established which, if properly implemented, will provide adequate assurance that the public, the workers, and the environment are protected from adverse consequences.
  1. All safety standards and requirements are identified in Contract DE-AC05-06OR23177.
  2. "Flow Down" of all contractual requirements occurs during all procurement activities.
  3. All work planning and authorization process include a safety requirements identification step.

(6) Hazard Controls Tailored to Work Being Performed
Administrative and engineering controls to prevent and mitigate hazards shall be tailored to the work being performed and associated hazards.
  1. Jefferson Lab work planning and execution processes and tools governing activities of Jefferson Lab employees, subcontractors, and the user community all require appropriate hazard prevention and mitigation measures be designed into all work activities.

(7) Operations Authorization
The conditions and requirements to be satisfied for operations to be initiated and conducted shall be clearly established and agreed-upon.
  1. Authorization protocols utilized throughout the Jefferson Lab organization all require that hazard controls have been designed and placed prior to initiation of activities.