EHSOC visit a big success

In early November, the Environmental Health and Safety Oversight Committee (EHSOC) made a return visit to review the Sanford Lab?s safety program. In the past they?ve relied on presentations from the management team. This time, however, they did things a bit differently. 

?They spent most of their time in the field talking to staff,? said EHS Director Noel Schroeder. ?That?s the way it should be. That?s where you get the most important information.?

An advisory board for Sanford Lab, EHSOC includes safety professionals from Fermi National Accelerator Lab, Lawrence Berkley National Lab (LBNL), SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and the University of Pittsburgh. The purpose of their visit is to better understand the safety culture at Sanford Lab and to give guidance where needed. Both Schroeder and Executive Director Mike Headley were pleased with the committee?s assessment of the Lab?s safety program and its recommendations.

?This was one of the most productive EHSOC reviews we?ve had,? Headley said. ?The committee?s feedback was very helpful and provides us additional guidance to shape our safety program improvement plans.?

Schroeder said EHSOC was pleased with what they saw at Sanford Lab. ?They were impressed with the changes we?ve made since their last visit such as advancements in how we do work planning. They were also pleased to see that our staff are very engaged in the safety process.? 

That became apparent in EHSOC?s closing presentation. SLAC?s Ian Evans, the EHSOC Chair, said one staff member told him, ?I feel like they (Sanford Lab) really are listening and responding to our comments and concerns.?  

Schroeder agreed with Evans? assessment. ?Our safety culture is going in the right direction because we listen to our employees, we take their concerns seriously and we act on those concerns.?

Schroeder gave members of Sanford Lab?s staff great praise for their role in the successful visit. ?They not only displayed their understanding of our safety culture, they support it and make every effort to do the right thing,? he said.

?My vision is that at some point in the future, EHSOC will use us as an example,? Schroeder added. ?They?ll see what we?re doing and say, ?Wow! That is exactly what we want to see in other facilities.???