Fostering Continuous Improvement, Best Practices and New Strategies at INL John Irving & Bruce Angle Federal Environmental Symposium – West Big Sky, Montana June 2008
INL’s Experience Environmental Management System recognized as part of contractor organization since Fall –ISO Registered Bechtel, June 2002 (5 surveillance audits) Battelle, November 2005 (5 surveillance audits) Numerous internal and external audits of EMS ISM Verification –Bechtel BWXT, June 2001 –Battelle Energy Alliance, November 2007
Best Practices … Sharing a Common Perspective Using a Common Infrastructure Using Activity-based Compliance
Sharing a Common Perspective A Common Goal to ‘Facilitate’ Work –Environmental, Safety & Health departments view themselves as ‘support’ organizations –Program Environmental Leads work directly with line organizations Using A Common Language –Work instructions understood by the work force, not in language of Federal, State, or Local laws, regulations, or ordinances (i.e., activity-based, not media-based)
Using a common infrastructure ISMS Requirements Communications Corrective Action System Document Control Records Requirements Flow Down Training Work Control Business Systems EMS Requirements ISMS / EMS Requirements
Activity-Based Compliance Understanding the Relationship … Work Activity Project Hazard / Impact / Compliance Hazard / Aspect Work Control & Mitigation Releases toxic air pollutants Worker Health / Notifications Consumes landfill space Depletes natural resources Operating a new facility Air emissions Asbestos Discharging wastewater Waste generation Energy use Build a new R&D facility on the desert site Prepare Permit-To-Construct Purchase approved chemicals Identify controls to reduce waste disposal Incorporate energy saving into operations
–Environmental Checklist –PREPS –PEPs –HaRPS Integrated Hazard Identification System “Tools” Environmental Checklist HaRPS PREPS PEPs
Environmental Checklist 1.Level of environmental review 2.Flow down Requirements 3.Identify new work activities 4.Identify new environmental aspects 5.Identify work activities with the potential to significantly impact the environment
Environmental Checklist Work Activities
INL / Summary Sharing common perspectives places everyone on the same ‘level’ playing field with the same shared goals and common language Using a common infrastructure allows the best use of resources across multiple disciplines Using an activity-based compliance approach allows for the use of common language and integration into the work control processes
What you can use How to obtain information on INL’s EMS –Contact: Bruce Angle, , John Irving, , INL EMS website: What Improved INL’s ISMS & EMS? –Sharing a common perspective –Sharing a common infrastructure –Using activity-based compliance approach What Can Others Use? –Examples (e.g., Checklist, Safety Gear Pack, Policy Cards) –Tools to identify hazards
The End … … no, just continual improvement!