**NOS SAFETY/ENVIRONMENTAL QUARTERLY REPORT**

**8^th^/9^th^ EDITION OCTOBER 2005/JANUARY 2006**

NOS met its incident targets for FY 2005! We finished the year below
both the targeted threshold for the Recordable Incident and Lost Time
Incident rates (reference Safety Statistics). NOAA Metrics for FY 2005
are attached and show how NOS compared to the rest of NOAA. FY 2005 was
a very good year and more safety and environmental improvements are
planned for FY 2006.

# SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HIGHLIGHTS

**[NOS Environmental, Health and Safety Action Plan for FY
2006]{.underline}**

The NOS Environmental, Health and Safety Action Plan for FY 2006 was
approved by the NOAA Safety Council and will be distributed to all
employees.

**FY 2006 initiatives include:**

-   Conducting two risk management assessments

-   Monitoring investigations of incidents and sharing lessons learned
    with the Safety and Environmental Compliance Office (SECO) and the
    NOAA Safety Council

-   Reporting quarterly on the NOS Environmental, Health and Safety
    Action Plan to SECO and the NOAA Safety Council

-   Providing information, articles and topics to SECO's monthly and
    quarterly newsletter

-   Requiring NOS personnel, who regularly drive either a leased or
    owned government vehicle, to complete a defensive driving course

-   Determining is NOS will offer a Safety and Environmental Award as
    part of their annual awards process

-   Achieving self-declaration for NOS' National Centers for Coastal
    Ocean Science's Environmental Management System

**[NOTE:]{.underline}** All but one of the FY 2005 initiatives were
fulfilled. This particular initiative was not completed due to resource
constraints and is now part of FY 2006 initiatives.

**FY 2005 highlights include:**

-   Increased in-house safety and environmental training

-   Improved ergonomics through training, chair replacement and
    ergonomic reviews of selected workstations

-   A 60 percent increase in the number of Automated External
    Defibrillators at NOS facilities

-   Six NOAA Environmental Compliance and Safety Assessment System
    assessments

**[A Little Modification Can Reduce Vehicle Accidents]{.underline}**

In August 2005, Jean Durosko, NOS Environmental Compliance and Safety
Officer, attended a workshop at the Western Regional Center (WRC) in
Seattle, WA. She had the opportunity to visit NOS' Office of Response
and Restoration, the Office Coast Survey, and the Center for Operational
Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OP). She was impressed by their
level of safety consciousness, but especially with how the CO-OPS
Pacific Field Operations Division resolved a particular safety issue.
CO-OPS conducts field work using trucks to transport equipment and
realized that they were vulnerable to an accident when backing up due to
limited visibility. They handled this safety issue by installing a
camera and TV for about \$300. This enabled them to have a clear view of
what was behind them.

**[Security Measures Improved at NCCOS Center and
Laboratory]{.underline}**

The National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science's (NCCOS) Hollings Marine
Laboratory and the Center for Coastal Environmental Health and
Biomolecular Research (CCEHBR) in Charleston, SC enhanced safety and
security by fulfilling recommendations from a two-day onsite DOC
security audit. Upgraded DVD recording capabilities were added to the
research facilities' security camera systems to provide an extended and
visually enhanced surveillance of trespassing, burglary, or potential
terrorist threats. In addition, over 30 personnel were trained in the
shipping of hazardous materials and identification and handling of
suspicious mail. HAZMAT kits have also been added to the facilities'
mail receipt and shipping areas. Other current security practices and
controls at the research centers met DOC standards.

**[Inspections Happen!]{.underline}**

Federal offices tend to think that they are overlooked when OSHA and
other regulatory agencies do routine inspections. Well, that is not the
case. There was an OSHA and Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspection at
NOS locations in November 2005.

OSHA inspectors arrived unannounced on November 1 at the NOAA WRC campus
in Seattle, WA, and spent a couple weeks doing a general schedule
inspection of the campus and tenant activities. NOAA is still awaiting
the final inspection report. NOS offices will be working with the SECO
Regional Safety Officer at WRC to develop their response to findings and
implement corrective actions.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission conducted an unannounced inspection of
the radiation safety program on November 28 at the CCEHBR and Hollings
Marine laboratories in Charleston, SC. They passed with no findings and
only one recommendation. Congratulations!

**[DOC's Affirmative Procurement Plan Published]{.underline}**

An Affirmative Procurement Program (APP) is a program required under EO
13101, *Greening the Government through Waste Prevention, Recycling, and
Federal Acquisition.* This assures that materials composed of recovered
materials (Guideline Items) will be purchased to the maximum extent
practicable, consistent with federal law and procurement regulations.
The DOC APP was finally completed and announced in December 2005 through
the Commerce Acquisition Manual (CAM) Notice 06-02. The DOC APP (CAM
1323.70) can be found at:
<http://oamweb.osec.doc.gov/docs/CAM_1323_70dec05.pdf>

**[New NOAA NEPA Coordinator Named and NOAA NEPA Handbook
Updated]{.underline}**

In November, Rodney F. Weiher was named the new NOAA National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Coordinator. Dr. Weiher is currently the
NOAA Chief Economist and has recently been named to lead the Policy and
Socio-Economic Analysis areas within the Office of Program Planning and
Integration.

In addition to naming a new Coordinator, the NOAA NEPA Office revised
the NEPA Handbook in December 2005. To view the new Handbook, please go
to: <http://www.nepa.noaa.gov/NEPA_HANBOOK.pdf>

**[CCFHR Concludes Underground Fuel Tank Removal and Groundwater
Monitoring]{.underline}**

In July NCCOS' Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research (CCFHR)
took the final steps to preclude groundwater and soil contamination and
meet safety requirements associated with an onsite underground fuel
storage tank. The tank was excavated and disposed of to reduce
environmental risk and exposure. In addition, monitoring wells required
at previously contaminated sites were closed and capped, following soil
and groundwater samples that were below regulatory limits.

# Energy Act to Increase Energy Efficiency in Federal Buildings 

On July 29, 2005, Congress passed the first comprehensive energy
legislation in over a decade. This historic bill follows many of the
principles outlined by President Bush to strengthen our nation's
electrical infrastructure, reduce our dependence on foreign oil,
increase conservation and expand the use of clean renewable energy. The
Energy Policy Act of 2005 requires reduced energy use in federal
buildings, federal purchasing of energy efficient products, and more
sustainable designs for new federal buildings. And for the first time,
the act requires congressional office buildings to meet the same
efficiency standards as the rest of the federal government.

The energy act requires federal agencies to cut the energy consumption
in their buildings to 20 percent below their energy use in 2003, in
terms of energy use per square foot, by 2015. The act allows some
exceptions for energy-intensive processes and matters of national
security. The act also allows federal agencies to retain the funds not
spent because of energy savings, but requires the agencies to invest the
funds back into energy efficiency or renewable energy projects. To help
agencies pay for energy improvements, the act extends the Energy Savings
Performance Contracts program, which allows private companies to pay for
the improvements and to be paid back with a portion of the energy
savings. The act also requires federal agencies to buy either Energy
Star products or products designated as energy efficient by the Federal
Energy Management Program.

New federal buildings will be designed to use 30 percent less energy
than a building that meets the minimum standards of the International
Energy Conservation Code (for homes) or the relevant 2004 standard from
the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning
Engineers. New federal buildings will also have to incorporate water
conservation technologies and meet sustainable design principles. See
pages 22 to 40 of the energy act
(<http://energy.senate.gov/public/_files/ConferenceReport0.pdf>).

**[Environmental Management System Update]{.underline}**

NCCOS Environmental Management System (EMS) self-declaration memorandum
was signed by Gary Matlock on December 29, 2005! This was the final step
in implementing their EMS. The final self-declaration external audit was
conducted on December 1, 5 and 6, 2005, and NCCOS received confirmation
that their EMS conformed to the requirements of Section 401 of the
Executive Order. NCCOS is the second office in NOAA to complete and
implement an EMS. They were commended on their \"great level of
awareness and understanding of EMS principles\" and \"their website
developed to store and maintain EMS documents and records, and to
communicate other information related to the system.\" For more
information, contact Rick Meitzler (Rick.Meitzler@noaa.gov), Jean
Durosko (Jean.Durosko@noaa.gov) or visit the NCCOS EMS website at
<http://www.seco.noaa.gov/EMS/NCCOS/index.htm>.

In addition, the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO)
expanded their EMS to include the Marine Operations Center-Atlantic
(MOC-Atlantic). They passed their self-declaration audit December 14,
2005. The Office of Coast Survey's Atlantic Hydrographic Branch, which
is co-located with OMAO, is included in their EMS and now is part of a
functioning EMS.

Training is crucial to the implementation of an EMS. To facilitate the
training, the NCCOS EMS Team and NCCOS Headquarters' IT staff developed
an EMS Awareness Training Program for NCCOS

personnel and partners. The training module has garnered approval
internally and has been examined by other parts of NOAA and outside
agencies for possible adoption by their organization.

**[Implementing an Environmental Management System Reaps
Benefits]{.underline}**

In order to increase efficiency and decrease the risk of contaminant
exposure and spills, NCCOS' Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment
(CCMA) in Silver Spring, MD has put into place the practice of
purchasing chemicals and having them shipped directly to field activity
locations when possible and practical. Since all sampling is done in
conjunction with partners who either have labs or partner themselves
with labs, there is an acceptable and secure site where the chemicals
can be shipped.

Additionally, the partnering labs are more than willing to accept the
small quantities of excess chemicals, alleviating the need of having to
ship unused portions of chemicals back to Silver Spring.

Another step taken by CCMA in the interest of safety is the elimination
of chemical storage in the SSMC4 facility. Because the small quantities
of chemicals that were stored in SSMC4 were rarely used, it was
determined that they could be stored and shared at NCCOS\'s Oxford Lab
facility. This action decreases the risk of contaminant exposure to
personnel, eliminates the likelihood of hazardous material spills during
transit, and yields a small savings in shipping costs.

**[SAFETY STATISTICS]{.underline}**

NOS' overall FY 2005 incident statistics were an improvement from the FY
2004 results. We also ended the first quarter of FY 2006 on a better
note than previous years (see below). Of the five incidents in the first
quarter, there were three slip/trip/fall and two materials handling
incidents. The summary of incidents is presented below:

[Number of Incidents FY 2003 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 YTD]{.underline}

1^st^ Quarter 8 5 6(1) 3(2)

2^nd^ Quarter 2 14 6(3)

3^rd^ Quarter 4 8 8(7)

4^th^ Quarter 2 5 5(2)

[Safety Statistics]{.underline}

[Near Miss]{.underline} [Minor]{.underline} [First Aid]{.underline}
[Recordable]{.underline} [Light Duty]{.underline} [Lost
Time]{.underline} [Fatality]{.underline} [Total]{.underline}

2003 0 4 2 4 0 6 0 16

2004 1 14 5 8 0 4 0 32

2005 1(3) 6(4) 8(5) 9 0 1(1) 0 25(13)

2006YTD 0 1 2(1) 0 0 0(1) 0 3(2)

2003 Total Recordable Incidents (includes all: recordable, light duty,
lost times, fatalities): 10

2004 Total Recordable Incidents (includes all: recordable, light duty,
lost times, fatalities): 12

2005 Total Recordable Incidents (includes all: recordable, light duty,
lost times, fatalities): 10(1)

2006 Total Recordable Incidents YTD (includes all: recordable, light
duty, lost times, fatalities): 0(1)

-Recordable Incident Rate Goal versus Actual for FY 2005:
[\<]{.underline}1.14/0.97

-Lost Time Incident Rate Goal versus Actual for FY 2005:
[\<]{.underline}0.38/0.10

-Total Recordable Incident Rate Goal for FY 2006: [\<]{.underline}1.11

-Total Recordable Incident Rate for FY 2006 YTD: 0.00

-Lost Time Incident Rate Goal for FY 2006: [\<]{.underline}0.37

-Total Lost Time Incident Rate for FY 2006 YTD: 0.00

\*Incident Rate is the total number of Recordable Incidents times
200,000 divided by YTD hours worked. This is an Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) formula. The 200,000 number is the
equivalent of 100 people working for one year.

*Please note that due to the new OSHA Recordkeeping Rule effective
January 1, 2005, contractor incident numbers are shown in parentheses.
However, their numbers are not used in calculating the NOS FY 2006
incident rates.*

# SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL TIPS

## 

## **Newsletters, Articles and Reports are Valuable Tools in Communicating Safety**

Improving safety at NOS can be helped by increasing communication to
personnel and to the public about office "safety culture," efforts
towards safety improvements and the results of those efforts. This
quarterly report is one of the ways that NOS tries to communicate the
great strides taken to improve safety for personnel in the workplace.
Each program and staff office is encouraged to increase safety
communication through safety discussions in staff meetings, newsletters,
periodic reports, and articles in publications. For instance, an article
NCCOS put together and posted on their public Web site entitled \"The
NCCOS \"S\" Stands for Science: And it Also Stands for *Safety*"
(<http://www.nccos.noaa.gov/news/feature/112005.html>). Take a look and
see how NCCOS is showcasing safety.

**[Posting Injury/Illness Summary Forms]{.underline}**

From February 1 to April 30, 2006, offices must post a summary of the
total number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred last
year using the Summary Form (OSHA Form 300A). Summary Forms for the
Silver Spring Metro Center and Western Regional Center campuses are
completed by SECO. Offices with no recordable injuries or illnesses in
2005 must post the form with zeros on the total line. All summaries must
be certified by the Designated Responsible Official for that facility.\
\
The form is to be displayed in a common area wherever notices to
personnel are usually posted. Offices must make a copy of the summary
available to personnel who move from worksite to worksite, i.e. those
who do not report to any fixed establishment on a regular basis.\
\
Information regarding the OSHA 300 and 300A forms can be found on the
SECO Web page at:.
<http://www.seco.noaa.gov/Safety/OSHA/OSHA_form300.htm>. Please contact
your servicing Regional Safety Manager if you need help in completing
the OSHA Form 300A.

**[Checklist and Tips for Safe Winter Driving]{.underline}**

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration maintains an
informative web page containing a checklist and tips for safe winter
driving. The checklist includes getting your car serviced before bad
winter weather arrives; knowing how to best handle your car in winter
driving conditions; planning your travel and route; stocking your car
with proper items in case of emergency; and learning what to do in a
winter emergency. Please visit the following site for the complete
article:
<http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/Seasonal_Advisories/WinterDriving2005/images/safewinterdriving.pdf>

**[Save Paper by Using the Duplex Feature on Printers and
Copiers]{.underline}**

Most new printers and copiers have a duplex feature that allows printing
on both sides of the paper. This is a great way to save paper when
making copies. To use this feature on printers, you should first check
to see if the printer has duplex capability and, if so, you can then
select this feature on the print page under "Preferences." Offices with
several printers may want to designate a specific printer to be used for
double-sided printing only and set that printer to duplex as the
standard default. This feature on copiers is readily visible and can
make either single-sided or double-sided documents into double-sided
copies. For more information, check with the equipment manufacturer or
those individuals responsible for the maintenance of your printers and
copiers.

**[New Energy Policy Act Benefits You]{.underline}**

While the new Energy Policy Act will help address our long-term
challenges, there are many provisions that will help American families
save energy - and money too! Following is a list of some of the most
popular points within the bill regarding your home and car:

**[Energy Efficiency and Conservation Measures In Your
Home]{.underline}**

-   Consumers can receive a credit of up to 30 percent of the cost, or
    up to \$2,000, for installing solar-powered hot-water systems used
    exclusively for purposes other than heating swimming pools and hot
    tubs

-   Consumers can receive tax credits of up to \$500 on the amount they
    spend to upgrade thermostats, to caulk leaks, or to stop energy
    waste

-   Consumers can receive a credit of up to \$200 for installation of
    new exterior windows

-   Consumers can receive a credit of up to \$300 for purchases of a
    highly efficient central air conditioner, heat pump or water heater

-   Consumers can receive a credit of up to \$150 for installation of a
    highly efficient furnace or boiler

-   A new provision provides a 10 percent investment tax credit for
    expenditures with respect to improvements to the building structure

-   Allows credits for purchases of advanced main air circulating fans,
    natural gas, propane, or oil furnaces or hot water boilers, and
    other qualified energy efficient property

-   Tax credits for contractors who build energy-efficient homes and
    manufacturers who make energy-efficient appliances could lower
    prices for consumers

**[For Your Car]{.underline}**

-   Starting in 2006, hybrid-car buyers and advanced lean-burn
    technology vehicles will be eligible for tax credits ranging from
    \$1,700-\$3,000. This credit is tied with two components: hybrids
    that save the most fuel compared with 2002 models and the vehicle's
    estimated lifetime fuel savings.

-   The amount of credit for the purchase of a fuel cell vehicle is
    determined by a base credit amount which depends up on the weight
    class of the vehicle. In the case of automobiles or light trucks an
    additional credit amount that depends upon the rated fuel economy of
    the vehicle compared to a base fuel economy.

> \- For fuel-cell-powered vehicles weighing less than 8,500 pounds, for
> instance, the base credit will be \$8,000 - heavier vehicles will get
> larger credits
>
> \- Credits are offered for cars and light trucks that are more
> fuel-efficient than 2002 models (a tax credit gives the taxpayer a
> dollar-for-dollar reduction in his or her taxes)

-   A provision permits taxpayers to claim a 30 percent credit for the
    cost of installing clean-fuel vehicle refueling property. This
    should be used in a trade or business of the taxpayer or installed
    at the principal residence of the taxpayer.

> \- Under this provision, clean fuels are considered to be any fuel at
> least 85 percent of the volume of which consists of ethanol, natural
> gas, compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and hydrogen. As
> well as any mixture of diesel fuel and biodiesel containing at least
> 20 percent biodiesel (this provision is effective for systems placed
> in service 12/31/2005 and before 01/01/2010).

**[SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CALENDAR (EVENTS AND
REMINDERS)]{.underline}**

(Note: Items with an asterisk are DOC/NOAA/NOS sponsored events)

**[Monthly]{.underline}**

-   Supervisors conduct monthly Stop Taking Avoidable Risks (STAR)
    safety observations/inspections (summaries are due to the NOS
    Safety/Environmental Compliance Officer by the 15th of the following
    month)

-   Supervisors update lists of employees who have completed mandatory
    safety training (Dupont, STAR, and NOAA Safety Awareness)

-   Facilities Management reviews and updates corrective action plans.
    Those facilities that have had a NOAA Environmental Compliance and
    Safety Assessment Survey should remember to update their corrective
    action plans in the Web-Hosted Assessment Manager until all findings
    are closed.

-   Conduct monthly Above-Ground Storage Tank inspections

-   Conduct monthly Fire Extinguisher Inspections

**[January 2006]{.underline}**

-   National Radon Action Month
    (<http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/rnactionmonth.html>)

-   National Blood Donor Month
    (<http://www.aabb.org/Content/Donate_Blood/Donate_Blood_Public_Education_Initiatives/National_Blood_Donor_Month/>)

-   \*January 17, NOAA Safety Council Meeting

-   \*January 25, STAR Supervisory Safety Training, SSMC, MD

**[February 2006]{.underline}**

-   American Heart Month (http://www.americanheart.org)

-   Workplace Eye Safety Month
    (<http://www.aao.org/patients/eyemd/workplace.cfm>)

-   \*Post OSHA Injury/Illness Summary Forms (Form 300A) at Facilities
    from 2/1-4/30

-   February 3, National Wear Red Day
    (<http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/hearttruth/wrd/index.htm>)

-   February 12-18, National Child Passenger Safety Week
    (<http://www.nhtsa.gov/>)

-   \*February 14, NOAA Safety Council Meeting

-   February 21-22, Dupont Manager Safety Training, Houston, TX
    (<http://www.dupontsafetytools.com/mansafsystha.html>)

-   \*February 22-23, Dupont Manager Safety Training, SSMC, MD
    (<https://www.dupont.com/safety/noaasecreg.html>)

**[March 2006]{.underline}**

-   \*March 6-10, National Marine Sanctuaries Safety Week

-   \*March 14, NOAA Safety Council Meeting

-   March 19-25, National Poison Prevention Week

-   \*March 23, STAR Supervisory Safety Training, SSMC, MD

**[April 2006]{.underline}**

-   April 2-8, National Workzone Awareness Week
    (<http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/>)

-   April 3-9, National Public Health Week
    (<http://www.apha.org/nphw/2006/>)

-   April 7, World Health Day-"Working Together for Health"
    (<http://www.who.int/world-health-day/2006/en/index.html>)

-   \*April 11, NOAA Safety Council Meeting

-   April 11-12, Dupont Manager Safety Training, Baltimore, MD
    (<http://www.dupontsafetytools.com/mansafsystha.html>)

-   April 22, Earth Day

-   April 30-May 6, North American Occupational Safety and Health Week
    (<http://www.asse.org/naosh06/>)

If you have any questions, suggestions, or would like further
information regarding the items in this report please contact Jean
Durosko at 301-713-3050 or <Jean.Durosko@noaa.gov>. For a complete list
of NOAA headquarter and regional safety and environmental contacts,
visit the following Web site:
<http://www.seco.noaa.gov/Contacts/index.html>