Safety Update for VCAT

February 3, 2021

Liz Mackey, OSHE Director

Office of Safety, Health and 

Environment
Formalized OMB memorandum requirements for phased operations (staffing levels, occupancy limits, protocols) 

and provide weekly updates on external and internal criteria and recommendations for NIST Leadership 

Established COVID-19 prevention protocols for staff, contractors and visitors including face mask use, distancing, 

occupancy limits, routine disinfection, daily health and travel screening criteria posted weekly

Established case response, disinfection, and notification protocols

Established protocols to evaluate room ventilation

Assisted with Hazard Review updates NIST N 2200.00 Phased Reopening During Pandemic Conditions

NIST N 2200.01 COVID-19 Mitigation Requirements 

NIST N 2200.02 Use of Face Coverings 

NIST N 2200.03 COVID-19 Mitigation Requirements for Visitors 

and Contractors

Updated: NIST S 7101.20 Hazard Review 

18 Topical Guides to COVID-19 related requirements

COVID-19 Pandemic Management, Prevention and Response Protocols
Communication: Town Halls, NLB meetings, web pages, safe return-to-work training updated regularly

Health Unit Support: screening COVID-19 cases; consult services for both campuses; specialized training for 

mission essential staff; conducted drive-through flu shot campaign (ESO); planning to administer COVID vaccines

COVID-19 Pandemic Management, Prevention and Response Protocols
OSHE leads the response to on-campus COVID-19 cases, overseeing disinfection of potentially contaminated spaces and 

notification of close contacts when necessary, and monitoring case data for trends and potential transmission on campus

Data as of January 29, 2021

 260 cases reported as symptomatic, or COVID-19 positive to COVID19@nist.gov (assigned case numbers)

 110 cases of those tested positive (includes teleworkers and on-campus staff)

 OSHE has responded to 70 cases starting on March 17, 2020 for persons with COVID symptoms or who tested positive 

and were on a NIST campus while potentially infectious, i.e., within 48 h of symptom onset, or COVID-19 positive test 

date for asymptomatic cases

 63 response plans

 41 required disinfection of spaces

 22 had close contacts on campus

 11 were COVID positive (of these, x had close contacts)

 1 investigation to evaluate whether there may have been transmission on campus, based on observation of number of 

cases within a 14-d window in one OU. None were close contacts of other cases on campus.

COVID-19 On-Campus Case Management
NIST Plans for Coronavirus Vaccines and Mitigation Strategies

• NIST is working with the Maryland Department of Health to 

make vaccines available to mission essential federal employees 

who work at NIST Gaithersburg.

• Plans are underway to administer vaccines in the NIST Health 

Unit in Gaithersburg and the NOAA Health Unit in Boulder 

• Current COVID-19 general precautions will remain in place and 

must continue to be implemented by all staff, including those 

vaccinated

• OSHE continues to monitor latest information on pandemic 

conditions (national, state and local), the virus and its variants, 

and mitigation strategies including vaccinations 

• Communication campaign is planned to support these efforts
Status of NIST Safety Management System Directives

Programs by Policy Area (% complete):

• 45 Occupational Safety and Health 80% 

• 14 Environmental Management 50% 

• 4 Fire and Life Safety 100% 

• 4 Radiation Safety 50% 

Programs Under Development: 

• Change Management

• Contractor Safety

• Corrective and Preventive Actions 

• Documents and Records

• Electrical safety (to replace Notice); 

• Monitoring and Assessments

• Walking, Working Surfaces; ladder safety

• 2 Ionizing Radiation Producing Devices

• 7 Environmental programs (air, oil, stormwater, drinking water, wastewater requirements)

46%

9% 3%

6%

11%

12%

3%

10%

Status of Suborders:

75% Completed

 OSH Approved Suborder

OSH Programs without Suborders

RAM Approved Suborder

FLS Approved Suborders

ENV Approved Suborders

OSHUnder Development

RAM Under Development

ENV Under Development
OSHA Recordable Cases (RC) and subset that represent 

Days Away, Restricted or Transferred (DART)

8 of 32 injuries were recordable

- Fractures (2), one teleworker STF

- Broken arm (Field work)

- Sprain (STF)

- Muscle strain

- Cryogen burn

- Cuts (2), sharp object, falling object

3 hearing loss cases
Incidents, Near Misses and Workplace Inspections: Programs Tagged

Workplace Inspection Top Findings

1. Chemical Labeling

2. Hazard Signage

3. Housekeeping

4. Slips, trips, fall hazards

5. Lighting

6. Chemical Storage

7. Electrical fixtures

8. Chemical inventory

9. Electrical, daisy-chaining

10. Electrical relocatable power taps

Incidents and Near Misses

FY21 Incident Prevention Campaigns

• Slips, trips, falls

• Chemical safety

• Electrical Safety

• Hazard Reviews
Emergency and pandemic readiness

Changes in COVID-19 related risks

Ageing infrastructure

Safety of contractor operations

Safety management system is not fully 

developed/implemented

Safety complacency 

Risks Opportunities

Safety-Related Risks and Opportunities: 30,000’ View

Improve COOP and Pandemic Plan (ESO/OSHE)

Vaccinations, actively manage operational phases

Continue SCMMR prioritization

Implement a robust contractor safety program

Issue remaining requirements, services and tools 

to support implementation

Build on current safety awareness and 

engagement to strengthen safety culture