Good Practices - s1045cn10017

DOE-STD-1045-93

4. GOOD PRACTICES

4.1 Notifications

The notification program should ensure that DOE and DOE contractor line management

are kept fully and currently informed of all occurrences that could (1) affect the health

and safety of the public, (2) seriously impact the intended function of DOE facilities, (3)

have a noticeable adverse impact on the environment, or (4) endanger the health and

safety of workers.

Responsibility for the occurrence has no bearing on the notification process; the agencies

and organizations that must respond to the occurrence require prompt notification so

that appropriate emergency procedures can be implemented. Reportable occurrences

may result from equipment failures, fires, loss of electric power, or even dangerous

weather conditions that are capable of causing a release of hazardous or radioactive

materials. Certain classes of security incidents may also require prompt notification.

Another function of the notification program is keeping DOE and facility management

informed of conditions that could affect the facility's ability to perform its mission. This

is necessary to enable proper allocation of human and material resources. For example,

non-availability of spare parts for an aging pump may threaten to disable a critical

system. Appropriate notification regarding this condition will alert management to the

problem. Management may then initiate an engineering review, leading to a budgetary

request for a replacement pump of a newer design, for which spare parts are available.

DOE Order 232.1A provides criteria for evaluating the seriousness of each occurrence

and determining the appropriate notification category, i.e., emergency, unusual

occurrence, or off-normal occurrence. For each notification category the Order

specifies the method, time, and documentation requirements. It also lists examples of

occurrences as an aid to facilities in preparing their own specific guidelines for

categorizing occurrences.

4.1.1

Notification Procedures

Facilities should establish notification procedures consistent with DOE Order

5480.19, Chapter VII, "Notifications," and DOE Order 232.1A, Occurrence

Reporting and Processing of Operations Information. These procedures

should include: