Appendix A The Necessary and Sufficient Closure Process Frequently Asked Questions

DOE-HDBK-1148-2002

THE NECESSARY AND SUFFICIENT CLOSURE PROCESS

Frequently Asked Questions

The following questions have been raised during training sessions and applications of the

"Closure Process for Necessary and Sufficient Sets of Standards." They address issues about

the functioning of the Process and about the product of the Process, the Work Smart Standards

set. The answers are based on the experience of Process practitioners as collected by the

Department Standards Committee.

Does the N&S Closure Process put aside Department responsibilities for safety

standards to the contractor?

No, the N&S Closure Process does not put aside the Department's responsibilities for

safety standards. Rather, it emphasizes thorough understanding of the work and the

hazards as conditions for identifying and approving the controlling safety standards. The

N&S Process requires that both DOE and the contractors be fully engaged at the

management, worker and technical levels throughout the Process. Both DOE and the

contractors must approve the set of standards and agree that the set when properly

implemented will provide reasonable assurance of protection to the public, the workers

and the environment. DOE and contractor personnel who have successfully completed

the N&S Process report that they have gained an improved shared understanding of the

work, the hazards and why the standards selected are appropriate to provide adequate

safety. Several sites have expanded their standards base as a result of the N&S

Process. Sites now "own" the WSS set, whereas before sites often viewed standards as

forced upon them by DOE.

The N&S Closure Process supports the implementation of Department of Energy

Acquisition Regulation (DEAR) clause concerning integration of environment, safety, and

health into work planning and execution (48 CFR 970.5204-78), and is a Department-

approved tailoring process for inclusion in the DEAR-required contractor Safety

Management System. The Department's N&S Closure Process is described with

requirements for its application in DOE M 450.3-1. The N&S Closure Process relies on

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