Date: December 2, 2015

To: ETA Safety Committee

From: Ron Scholtz X8137

Subject:12/2/15 ETA Safety Committee Meeting Minutes

Meeting Attendees:Ron Scholtz (ETA), Susan Synarski (ETA), Michel Foure (ESDR), Peter Therkelsen (BTUS), Ari Harding (BTUS/ESO), Yuyi Li (ESDR), Deborah Ash (EAEI), Henry Coles (BTUS), Heather Madison (EHS), Bill Wells (EHS)

ETA Safety Metrics (Ron)

The November 2015 Safety Metrics presentation slides were distributed to the committee by email earlier in the week.They are also available on the ETA Safety website: Some items discussed include:

  • There was 1 accident reported involving repetitive motion injuries to the hands/arm due to work in a EAEI lab area. An accident investigation is being performed.
  • Training assignment completion rates (99%) are consistently exceeding LBNL overall averages (94%) each month.
  • The list of failed electrical equipment is down to only 3 items (one is completed but not yet removed). We are now focusing on the equipment with “conditional acceptance”. There are 25 items on this list and we are already being closed out.

Safety Alerts and Lessons Learned (Ron)

All Safety Alerts are found on the ETA Safety webpage: The following Lessons Learned was issued in September:

  • Safety Alert- Lab Area Refrigerators
  • Safety Alert- Electrical Equipment Safety Requirements
  • Safety Alert- Hot Plate Safety
  • Safety Alert- Chemical Management System
  • Safety Alert- Peroxide Formers

Self-Assessment Program Update (Ron)

  • The 2016 Self-Assessment Plan has been completed. The self-assessments projects for 2016 are:
  • Evaluation of ETA Activity Manager Implementation
  • Evaluation of ETA Electrical Equipment NRTL Status
  • Evaluation of Work Practices Involving Engineered Nanomaterials

Old Business (All)

  • All ETA Qualified Electrical Workers (QEW) are now working on completing their required training.

New Business (All)

  • A detailed update was given on the pressure reactor incident that occurred in lab area 70-295. Photographs from the incident investigation were shared with the committee. A final report on the incident investigation will be issued by EHS soon. A copy will be submitted to the Safety Committee. Some issues discussed include:
  • Maintenance and calibration of key equipment such as ovens and furnaces
  • Control of lab areas to prevent unauthorized use of equipment/chemicals
  • Control of equipment and chemicals brought to LBNL that are not purchased through procurement
  • Principal Investigator interaction with researchers under their direction to ensure work activities are understood and approved
  • As a result of the pressure reactor incident, each ETA division conducted a safety stand down and management walkthrough. A summary of the high level findings for each division was shared with the committee. A number of follow-up actions were identified.
  • Fume hood maintenance issues
  • Storage of old electrical equipment that is not NRTL or is damaged
  • Regular spot checks of high risk equipment by the Electrical Safety Officer
  • Lack of phones for emergency communication
  • Card key access to lab areas
  • “Borrowed” equipment approval process

Next Meeting: Thursday, February 4@ 9:00am in 90-3075

Action Items

Item / Action Needed / Assigned / Status
10-1 / Follow-up on electrical equipment survey and EEIP failed items. / Ron / Number of remaining items down to 2. Move focus to completion of “conditional acceptance” items.
8-1 / Lab Area Clean-up Committee (LBNL-wide) / Susan / Look at opportunities to establish a cleanup day for ETA
10-1 / DOE lab area chemical safety walkthrough 11/15 / Ron/Bill / Completed
12-1 / ESDR Stand Down Corrective Actions / Robert/Ron / Summary report issued with corrective actions
12-2 / EAEI Stand Down Corrective Actions / Alex/Ron / Summary report issued with corrective actions
12-3 / BTUS Stand Down Corrective Actions / Rick/Ron / Summary report issued with corrective actions