Communication and Feedback Mechanisms.

DOE-STD-1063-2006

5.8.5 Communication and Feedback Mechanisms. The Facility

Representative Program Manager, Office of the Departmental

Representative to the Defense Nuclear Facili ties Safety Board (DOE

DR-1), should communicate with the Cognizant Secretarial Officers and

Field Element Managers frequently to guide the program implementation

and continuous improvement. This can be accomplished by:

Discussions with the Program Sponsors on strategic goals and

plans;

Facility Representative Steering Committee meetings; and

Information sharing through the Facility Representative Home Page

(http://www.facrep.org).

5.9

Differing Professional Opinions . One of the root causes of the February

2003 Columbia Space Shuttle accident identified by the Columbia

Accident Investigation Board was that organizational barriers had become

established within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration that

preve nted effective communication of critical safety information and stifled

professional differences of opinion. Because Facility Representatives have

the professional obligation to inform management of safety information

that may affect the health and safety of the public and/or workers, Field

Element Managers should strive to develop and maintain an open

atmosphere for the exchange of views of a technical nature. Facility

Representatives, as well as other technical oversight personnel, should

provide information to management regardless of whether it may be

different from the prevailing view, disagree with a management decision or

policy position, or take issue with a proposed or established practice. This

information should receive an appropriate level of review for resolution of

any safety issues. If necessary, Facility Representative s are encouraged

to use existing procedures or follow existing guidance on resolving

differing professional opinions. DOE O 442.1A, Department of Energy

Employee Concerns Program, provides a process for resolving concerns

that may arise. Also, the Department recently developed and promulgated

draft DOE P 442.1, Differing Professional Opinions and draft DOE M

442.2-1, Differing Professional Opinions Manual for Technical Issues

Invo lving Environment, Safety, or Health.