INNOVATE. COLLABORATE. DELIVER.

SAFER Update for 

DNFSB

5 March 2024
SAFER Mission

Support NNSA mission execution by providing a tool 

for efficiently accessing and utilizing data

• Efficiently and effectively collect, process, analyze, and disseminate data

• Manage risks with a holistic, enterprise-wide approach, using state of the art data science 

techniques

• Maximize the effectiveness of safety professionals

• Enable knowledge management to ensure availability of expertise across the enterprise and for 

the future

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Familiar Challenges

Capability Gap created by Increased Workload and Staffing 

Challenges:

• Workload is increasing (major construction and LEPs)

• Aging workforce

• High turn-over

Upcoming NNSA Workload 3

NNSA Workforce Demographics
Compartmentalized/Segregated Data Streams

4

NNSA Safety Oversight is performed 

at varying levels of maturity: 

• Multitude of static, lagging, and 

uncoordinated data sources 

• Limits data analysis and decision 

makers’ abilities to manage risk
Desired State

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Desired future state of Central Data Management and 

increased Data Capability

Deploy new data driven, risk 

informed tools to:

• Include data, analysis, and 

visualizations to inform decision 

makers

• Improve our communication 
NNSA can apply data analytics to quality, structured 

safety data using SAFER

iStockphoto.com

Capture data

Pen & Paper

Computer

Digitize records

Good Data

Implement data 

quality controls and 

structured data

Data Analytics

Analyze data 

with human 

driven logic

Artificial 

Intelligence (AI)

Apply Artificial 

Intelligence (AI) 

and Machine 

Learning (ML)

SAFER
SAFER is a set of Safety Management Program Modules

SAFER provides a platform to readily access all information that might indicate an emerging issue

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Issues Management

Facilities

Training and Qualification

Maintenance

Program Health

Fire Protection

Program Health

Safety Basis

Program Health

Program Health Dashboards SAFER Platform

This part of the module is specific to the Safety Management 

Program (SMP). Program Health metrics and workflows are 

built with input from the SAFER working group and community 

of practice to provide insight into SMP health and risks, with the 

ability to explore deeper.

SMP-Specific Tools

This part of the module is specific to the SMP. Tools are built 

with input from the SAFER working group and community of 

practice to meaningfully improve or solve an operational 

problem that contributes to safety risk.

Cross-Functional / Common Pages

These common pages are deployed to all SMP modules. 

Common pages are populated from common site data, such as 

issues management data, or enterprise data, such as ORPS, 

and filtered by a set of keywords specific to the SMP.

Tool 1

Compliance

Tool 1

Tool 2

Tool 2

Tool 3

Tool 1

Assessments
SAFER is being tailored for many user groups

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Leadership at Sites & HQ

Responsible for:

• Tracking and trending performance across 

all areas

• Assessing competing needs

• Acquiring additional resources or 

reallocating existing resources

Field Office, M&O, and HQ 

Functional Area SMEs

Responsible for:

• Tracking and trending performance

• Ensuring controls and processes are adequate 

and effective

• Addressing and/or elevating emerging issues

Field Office, M&O, and HQ 

Facility Users 

(Facility Managers, CSEs, 

FRs, SSOs)

Responsible for:

• Identifying and resolving day-to-day 

operational issues

• Coordinating with multiple SME groups

• Identifying and addressing potential risks to 

facility operations

Field Office and M&O 

...and more, including assessors and database owners across the Complex
M&O SMEs

FO SMEs

HQ SFALs

FO Management HQ Management

M&O Management

NNSA Management

M&O CSEs and Facility Managers

FO FRs and SSOs

HQ SPOCs

Information currently flows through many hands before 

making its way to decision makers

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M&O SMEs

FO SMEs

M&O CSEs and Facility Managers

FO FRs and SSOs

Site SMP Module

SME Dashboard with site-specific and sitewide information filtered by functional area

and functional area specific workflows

Facility Hub

Facility Dashboard with information from

all relevant functional areas filtered by a

facility or group of buildings

HQ SFALs

HQ SPOCs

Management Modules

Executive Dashboard with high-level

information distilled from all relevant

functional areas and all facilities

HQ SMP Module

SME Dashboard with NNSA complex-wide

information filtered by functional area and

functional area specific workflows

SAFER provides SMEs with quicker access to 

information Note: Having access to data in SAFER does 

not make communication between these 

user groups any less essential.

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Future Uses of SAFER

• Easy access to information brings M&O, field office, and HQ 

users onto the platform when they have a search

• Workflows for M&Os and field offices bring some user groups 

onto the platform routinely

• Program managers and federal oversight routinely use the 

program health dashboards of the modules to track the health 

of safety programs at their site(s)

• When users see something noteworthy in a program health dashboard, 

they call the same points of contact that they communicated with prior 

to SAFER to discuss the observation

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What is Built and What is Coming

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Program Health

Tool 1 Tool 2

Tool 3

SMP Module

Issues Management

Assessments

Document Center

Newsfeed

Compliance

Built

• Safety Basis

• Fire Protection

In Progress

• Maintenance

• Radiation 

Protection

• Electrical Safety

• Worker Safety & 

Health*

• Quality Assurance

Slated

• Explosive Safety

• Criticality Safety

Other Potential Modules

• Utilities

• Packaging and 

Transportation

• Waste Management

• Infrastructure

• Conduct of Operations

* Worker Safety & Health will include industrial hygiene, beryllium, and other subtopics

Built

• Document Center

In Progress

• Issue Management

• Assessments

• Compliance

• Alerts/Newsfeed

• Staffing and Qualification

Modules Common Pages
Access Beyond NNSA

• Current SAFER contract and System Security Plan (SSP) 

reflect usage by NNSA safety professionals and limited usage 

for a select group of DOE users 

• SAFER access for DNFSB will require further discussion with 

NA-IM, NA-PAS, and NA-ESH

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Questions?