Argonne needs to "provide science on cost, science on schedule, with the highest level of quality and safety of any of the laboratories or science industries in the country." Argonne News interviews ESH/QA Director Robert McCook. Photo by George Joch.

March 27, 2006 -- Some of this week's stories:

Q&A: Robert McCook, ESH/QA Director

Robert McCook directs Argonne's quality assurance, radiological safety, Price-Anderson Amendments Act, Occurrence Reporting, environment, safety and health and Integrated Safety Management efforts. He also manages independent and management assessments.

The full text of this interview will be posted online soon.

Q. In your previous positions, you were consistently commended for turning around programs that needed help. Was there a common theme in those programs?

Usually, they were operating in an expert-based system, rather than a compliance-based system. You can tell when it's an expert-based system when you hear, “We've been doing it this way for 15 years, and nobody ever got hurt.” Here at Argonne, not only were we expert-based, but we had procedures and policies and we weren't using them. These policies and procedures are required by our contract, and required by law. Some policies and procedures haven't been revised, so people work around them.

Another part of the problem is our culture. The thing I always see when I come into this kind of environment is a culture that resists change. People don't understand why they have to have a work package or procedure until you sit down and show them

Q. From the individual employee's perspective, where do we begin?

First we need to talk about safety. Make it important in your life. Think about it. Feel it. From Bob Rosner to the guy turning the wrench on the shop floor, to the woman working in the optics shop at the APS, to the scientist conducting experiments in chemistry, or the visiting students or users at APS, we've got to talk about it. Internalize it.

Q. Most of the injuries we have seem to be mundane, random things like slips, trips and falls or hand scrapes. How do we eliminate those?

You constantly need to remind yourself about safety. But it also goes back to the Argonne family -- looking out for each other.

You see somebody walking down the stairs, not holding on to the handrail. You don't say anything. He falls. Who's the culprit? Safety is everyone's responsibility.

Talk to the people you work with, ask them how they're doing — and stop and wait for the answer. Harry and I are about to climb up a power pole and work on a 48,000-volt line, and he and his wife split up last night. Where's his head at? "Harry, you look down, what's going on? Maybe you shouldn't be up on the pole today."

Q. How do you respond to someone who says the safety procedures are too time-consuming and get in the way of the "real work"

My first answer is: you have to comply with the rules. That's how you'll find out if the rules are broken. If you're not complying, you're working around them -- and already you're breaking the law or breaking the requirements of the contract and setting the stage for the next accident or injury. We can be fined for that. People can be hurt because of that. If people get hurt, it takes money out of the program

Many of these requirements and procedures are in place because somebody got killed, or somebody got hurt. Comply with the procedure. If you can't do what the procedure says, report it to management. That way we can fix the procedure, make it right, make it effective. Perhaps the policy and procedure has never been revised.

Or look at it this way: if somebody gets hurt or killed, there's no more science. We have already seen plenty of examples in the DOE complex of what happens when the QA and Safety requirements are not met and how the projects get shut down or lost due to the resulting events that surrounded the noncompliances, the resulting investigations and corrective actions.

We have to compete for the grants and the funding for the science that we know is important to the nation, for our children, for the population of the world. How do you make it competitive? You provide science on cost, science on schedule, with the highest level of quality and safety of any of the laboratories or science industries in the country. That's the goal: "best in class."

Q. That would be a great selling point when we apply for funding.

Absolutely! We're going to give you 100 percent of the data, the research results — and more! — of the science and new technology on cost and schedule, because our safety and our quality programs and our culture supports and provides that.

Some of the best minds in the world are right here at this laboratory. They can work in a culture of safety and quality connected to leading-edge science. We just have to do it. And we will -- together. I know it can be done.

University receives high marks for lab management

The University of Chicago received "outstanding" ratings from the U.S. Department of Energy for its management of Argonne's science and technology, contractor management, infrastructure management and general operations during fiscal year 2005. Integrated Safety management was rated “good.”

The U.S. Department of Energy's FY2005 Final Evaluation Report of the University of Chicago for the Management and Operation of Argonne National Laboratory covers the period from Oct. 1, 2004, through Sept. 30, 2005.

The cover letter from Robert Wunderlich, DOE's Argonne Site Manager, summarized FY05 performance:

"With one notable exception, the University of Chicago continues to consistently receive very high ratings from the Office of Science for their role in managing and operating Argonne National Laboratory. Both the Argonne management and the University of Chicago demonstrate strong leadership of the laboratory."

Wunderlich's list of noteworthy accomplishments during FY 2005 included:

• The smooth transition of Argonne-West to the Idaho National Laboratory

• The receipt of four R&D 100 Awards (the highest for an Office of Science Laboratory)

• Very high X-ray availability at the Advanced Photon Source

• Intense Pulsed Neutron Source run cycles continue to maintain very high reliability

• Notable progress on the construction of the Center for Nanoscale Materials Project

• Argonne's selection by the National Association for Business Resources as one of the 40 best companies to work for in the Chicago area, and the separate award for best practices in “Diversity and Multi-Culturalism”

• Argonne's continuing positive working relationship with the surrounding communities.

"While the overall Argonne performance for FY 2005 is highly rated," Wunderlich said, "DOE assessments of individual performance areas uncovered weaknesses in the Argonne Integrated Safety Management Program, particularly in the management of Argonne nuclear facilities." (See the Feb. 27 issue of Argonne News for a description of the laboratory's safety metrics and comprehensive safety strategy.)

For details, visit Argonne's performance management Web site, which includes university/Argonne annual self-assessment reports, DOE's annual evaluation reports, and performance evaluation and management plans which contain the annual performance expectations.

Harvard researcher to speak at colloquium

Harvard University researcher George M. Whitesides will present a Director's Special Colloquium on "Simple Approaches to Complexity and Emergence" Tuesday, April 4.

The colloquium will begin at 2 p.m. in the Building 402 Conference Center.

Whitesides is Woodford L. and Ann A. Flowers Professor at Harvard University's Department of Chemistry. He and his group work in four areas: biochemistry, materials science, catalysis and physical organic chemistry. The group uses classical chemical techniques to work in areas of research that lie at the boundaries between chemistry and biology, catalysis, solid state physics, and engineering.

Whiteside's present research interests include physical and organic chemistry, materials science, biophysics, complexity and emergence, surface science, microfluidics, optics, self-assembly, micro- and nanotechnology, science for developing economies, catalysis, the origin of life and cell-surface biochemistry.

Among his many honors are the Welch Award, the Kyoto Prize for Advanced Technology, the Paracelsus Prize of the Swiss Chemical Society, the Jacob Heskel Gabbay Award in Biotechnology and Medicine, the 2004 Dickson Prize in Science from Carnegie Mellon University, the Dan David Prize in Future Science and the Linus Pauling Award of the Northwest Section of the American Chemical Society.

He has held advisory positions at many organizations, including the National Research Council, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense and NASA.

Fremd High School wins 11th Rube Goldberg contest

A team from William Fremd High School in Palatine won Argonne's 11th annual Rube Goldberg Machine Contest, held Feb. 24 at Chicago Children's Museum on Navy Pier.

The six-member team defeated seven other Chicago-area high schools by building a complex machine to cut or shred five sheets of 8½-by-11, 20-lb. paper individually and place the shredded paper in a recycling bin. The machine had to complete its task in 20 or more steps. The winning team received a traveling trophy to display until the 2007 contest and will take a tour of Argonne at a later date.

Second place went to Maine Township South High School, Park Ridge, and third place went to Wilmington High School, Wilmington.

The People's Choice Award, chosen by popular vote by people attending the Chicago Children's Museum during the contest, also went to Wilmington High School. The team received a trophy.

The top three teams in Argonne's contest advance to the 2006 Illinois State Championship, to be held Saturday, April 8, also at the Chicago Children's Museum. They will compete against the top three teams from an affiliated contest held March 10 at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. The top two teams in the Illinois State Championship will advance to the second annual National High School Championship contest, to be held April 28 at the Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisc.

Argonne's Division of Educational Programs and Communications and Public Affairs Division sponsor the February event in collaboration with Chicago Children's Museum, and the National Rube Goldberg Machine Contest, held annually at Purdue University. The event is licensed by Rube Goldberg, Inc.

20,000 expected for biotech convention;
Argonne employee discount available

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) will hold its BIO 2006 Annual International Convention for the first time in the Midwest April 9-12 at Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center. More than 20,000 biotech executives, investors, journalists, policy makers and scientists from more than 60 countries are expected to attend.

Argonne and the University of Chicago will host an exhibit at the convention, and employees can receive a discount on admission (see related story).

The BIO 2006 Annual International Convention will feature more than 150 sessions and workshops, the world's largest biotech partnering forum, six plenary sessions, more than 1,500 exhibitors, evening receptions for networking, a career fair, and international representation from all around the globe.

Sessions will focus on topics affecting the industry including biodefense, business development, cancer, clinical research and trials, devices and diagnostics, global business, drug discovery and development, emerging company issues, food and agriculture, global health, industrial and environmental issues, intellectual property, policy and regulatory issues, and many more. Speakers will include:

• Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor, State of Illinois

• William Jefferson Clinton, 42nd president of the United States

• Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley

• James C. Greenwood, BIO president and chief operating officer

• James C. Mullen, chairman of the board and chief operating officer, Biogen Idec, Inc.

• Robert L. Parkinson, Jr., chairman of the Board, CEO and president, Baxter Healthcare Corporation

• Miles D. White, chairman of the board and CEO, Abbott

• R. James Woolsey, vice president, Booz Allen Hamilton and former director of the Central Intelligence Agency

An up-to-date program and session listing may be found online.

Employees can get $100 discount
for BIO2006 admission

Argonne, DOE and University of Chicago employees can attend BIO2006, the world's largest biotechnology convention, for $50. Regular admission is $150.

BIO2006 will be held in Chicago April 9-12, bringing together top business people and scientists from all 50 states and more than 60 countries.

To receive the discount, visit this site and enter the promotional code CBIO to purchase an “exhibit hall” pass. There is also a special on the sessions pass, which grants even more access to the show; the code is EdBIO.

The exhibit hall pass provides three days of access to more than 500,000 square feet of exhibits by the world's leading companies in medical, agricultural, industrial and environmental bioscience technology.

Sources of natural gas price hikes
identified by Argonne, acted on by Congress

More than 40 roadblocks to U.S. natural gas exploration, production and transportation that may contribute to gas price hikes have been identified in a recent report by Argonne researchers. Though unlikely to affect this year's costs -- which are predicted to be on average 38 percent more than last year, according to the Energy Information Administration -- Congress is already writing and passing legislation consistent with the report's findings.

While many factors contribute to higher natural gas prices, researchers in Argonne's Environmental Science Division scoured federal and state environmental laws, regulations and policies that were developed to meet environmental protection goals, but that may also constrain natural gas exploration, production and transportation. These factors can limit access to natural gas supplies, create production delays or increase costs.

"Our goal in writing Environmental Policy and Regulatory Constraints to Natural Gas Production," explained report author Deborah Elcock (EVS), "was to identify specific existing and potential environmental laws, regulations and policies which, while developed to meet legitimate environmental protection goals, can at the same time, constrain natural gas exploration, production and transportation."

Constraints include federal and state laws and regulations, presidential policies, and actions by agencies and states that implement the laws and regulations.

The report was prepared for the Department of Energy's Office of Policy and International Affairs and is already being used by Congress. The Energy Policy Act of 2005, enacted in August, contains several requirements that will help mitigate some of the constraints.

TeraGrid conference to be held June 13-15

The first annual TeraGrid Conference will be held June 13-15 in Indianapolis, Ind., providing a forum for existing and new technology partners, users, and educators.

Attendees will include scientists, researchers, faculty, postdocs, graduate and undergraduate students, high school teachers, representatives from federal agencies, business and industry representatives involved in grid computing products and services, TeraGrid resource providers, and other interested people.

The TeraGrid Conference will provide a range of sessions including introductions to the TeraGrid as well as advanced applications for research and education.

The TeraGrid, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, is the world's largest, most comprehensive distributed cyberinfrastructure for open scientific research.

Details can be found on the conference Web site.

PPO members eligible for vision discounts

Employees enrolled in BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) PPO have access to a vision discount program through EyeMed Vision Care.

By using the discount program, employees and their dependents will receive a discount on routine eye exams and can save up to 45 percent on the purchase of eyewear. For more information or to find a participating eye doctor, call EyeMed at 866-273-0813 or visit their Web site at www.eyemedvisioncare.com.

Discounts on vision laser surgery are also available through TruVision. For more information, call TruVision at 866-484-2020.

Weight Watchers plans meeting

Weight Watchers will hold an informational meeting Wednesday, March 29, at noon in Building 200, Conference Room J183.

Employees will be able to register and prepay for a 10-week program. Cost is $120. For more information, contact the Medical Department at ext. 2-2800.

Reactor league seeks golfers

The Argonne Reactor Golf League is seeking new members.

The league plays nine-hole handicapped matches Thursday evenings at the Gleneagles Golf Course on McCarthy Road in Lemont. The season begins April 20 and continues through August, when the league's annual outing is held. The league has seven teams and would like to form an eighth. Existing teams also need members.

The Reactor Golf League is open to all current and former Argonne employees, their families and their friends. Golfers of all abilities are welcome.

For more information, contact Kurt Picel (EVS) at ext. 2-4018 or kpicel@anl.gov.

Class offers ‘better work relationships'

A few openings remain for “Survival Skills Series: Building Better Work Relationships,” (HR410) to be held Tuesday, March 28, from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. in Building 401, Room E1100.

Participants will learn to balance the tasks and pressures of the workplace while continually building better relationships critical to career success.

Complete the online registration form and forward to a Training Management System representative. Contact Betty Iwan (HR) at eiwan@anl.gov for more information.

Fuel-cell bus to visit Argonne

Northern Illinois University, in conjunction with Argonne and the Georgetown Transit Bus Program, will host a fuel-cell-powered bus demonstration and rides at Argonne from 9 a.m. to noon on April 26. The event is part of the laboratory's Earth Day activities.

Researchers at Argonne and Northern Illinois University are collaborating on research into fuel cells. Advances could contribute to the creation of commercially viable fuel cells to power cars, buses and other vehicles and to create new ways of generating electricity for use in homes and industry.

HR offers pre-retirement planning program

Human Resources offers a pre-retirement planning program for employees who plan on retiring within the next few years. The one-day program encourages employees to begin positive planning for retirement and to begin action on those plans prior to retirement.

The program will cover Argonne retirement benefits, retirement plan distribution options and related tax issues, financial planning, estate planning, Social Security and Medicare.

The next program will be held in the fall. Spouses are welcome to attend.

Those who have not been to the program in the past and would like to be invited should contact Julie Losinski (HR) at jlosinski@anl.gov or ext. 2-2992.

Employees can meet with retirement vendors

The laboratory's retirement vendors will send representatives to Argonne during April. To schedule an appointment, call the number listed.

• Fidelity — Tuesday, April 4, and Tuesday, April 18. Call the appointment desk at (800) 642-7131.

• TIAA-CREF — Wednesday, April 5, Thursday, April 6, and Friday, April 7. Call the appointment desk at

(800) 842-2005 or visit www.tiaa-cref.org/moc.

• Prudential — Wednesday, April 5, and Wednesday, April 19. Call Cheryl at the appointment desk at (630) 285-8876.