June 12, 2001

Subject: Occupational Safety and Health Program

My top priority is the safety and health of everyone who works at or visits NIST. No job is so important that it should be done without regards to safety. Safety must be a key part of our daily activities and all our planning and management.

Each of us must take responsibility for our personal safety and the safety of our colleagues. Each of us must make sure we understand safety procedures and follow those procedures. In addition, we each have additional responsibilities for safety depending on our jobs.

• Non-supervisory staff are responsible for immediately informing their supervisors of any unsafe conditions or practices or injuries or illness sustained. Staff must comply with all safety and health requirements and should refuse to work in conditions that are clearly unsafe.



• Mangers are responsible for making safety a key part of all planning, operations and employee evaluations. Managers must ensure that all NIST staff (including guest researchers, contractors, and other NIST associates) are properly trained in standard safety practices related to their particular job responsibilities. Managers must also ensure a working environment where staff are encouraged to point out safety problems and opportunities to improve safety. Managers must enure that there are absolutely no reprisals or negative personnel consequences for staff who identify safety problems.

I personally encourage all staff to take advantage of the many resources available at NIST to learn about safety and help ensure good safety practices.

• Each Division has a Division Safety Representative (DSR) and an Organizational Unit Safety Coordinator (OUSC). If you don't know your DSR or OUSC, you can find out by visiting http://www-i.nist.gov/admin/ohsd/hssaftyrep.htm or ask your Division Chief or Administrative Officer. Talk to your DSR and OUSR about safety practices, and work with him or her when you have questions or problems concerning safety.



• NIST has an Occupational Health and SAfety Division (OHSD) in Gaithersburg with 26 staff, headed by Rosamond Rutledge-Burns. Visit the OHSD web site at http://www-i.nist.gov/admin/ohsd/hshmpg.htm or contact the Division at x5818 (301-975-5818) for answers to your questions an information about safety training opportunities. You may contact Ros directly at x5819.



• The Manager of the Safety, Health and Environment Office for the Boulder Laboratories is Sonja G. Ringen. Visit the NIST Safety Office for the Boulder Laboratories at http://www-i.boulder.nist.gov/safety or contact Sonja at x7389 (303-497-7389).

Thanks for your continuing cooperation and support to ensure that occupational safety and health remains our top priority.

Last modified 17-May-2002