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Nov. 23, 1998 -- Some of this week's stories
State honors Argonne for pollution
prevention
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For the second year in a row, the State of Illinois has honored Argonne-East for its pollution prevention efforts.
The laboratory received a Governor's Pollution Prevention Award in the category of "continuous improvement," recognizing sustained efforts by the laboratory to look beyond traditional treatment, control and disposal methods and instead concentrate on reducing waste at the source.
The honor is the state's second highest award to Illinois organizations for outstanding achievements in pollution prevention. Argonne was one of only a handful of Illinois companies and organizations to be formally recognized for pollution prevention accomplishments.
Argonne's Waste Minimization and Pollution Prevention Program works across the laboratory to find opportunities for improvement and works to improve efficiency and reduce waste. The program has assisted in assessing, developing and implementing pollution prevention initiatives around the lab.
"The credit for this accomplishment spans across all areas of the laboratory," said Keith Trychta, Argonne-East pollution prevention coordinator. "The collected efforts and support from across the laboratory and DOE have resulted in this recognition."
For more information on Argonne's Waste Minimization and Pollution Prevention Program, call ext. 2-6778.
Breakfast with Santa, Argonne Club's annual holiday event, will be held Saturday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand to take gift requests from children of Argonne and DOE employees. Other attractions include balloon-twisting clowns and face painting.
Children who wish to visit Jolly Old St. Nick will need a ticket. Tickets are $1 per child and will be sold in the cafeteria at lunchtime the week of Nov. 30-Dec. 4. Tickets will be color-coded for three sessions: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Cookies and juice will be available, compliments of the Argonne Club. Breakfast and lunch will be available for purchase.
Volunteers wanted
Argonne Club is looking for employees to help at Breakfast with Santa.
For more information, call Jeff Goetzen at ext. 2-9608.
Energy Secretary Bill Richardson has called for "zero tolerance" for accidents and increased accountability for safety throughout the DOE system.
Richardson's push centers on a recent incident in July at theIdaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. A 13-member crew was performing routine maintenance on electrical systems when carbon dioxide was released from a fire suppression system. Electrician Kerry K. Austin, 47, of Idaho Falls died of asphyxiation. Three other crew members were hospitalized; other crew members were treated at an Idaho Falls hospital and released.
"Tragically, we learned that the accident could have been prevented had a worker's expressed concerns been acted upon," said Richardson, who added that the incident could have been prevented by following the principles of Integrated Safety Management.
Richardson's call for improved safety echoes the approach to safety that Argonne policy demands: Safety must be an integral part of all activities at the laboratory.
"We currently have a very good safety program," said Interim Laboratory Director Frank Fradin, "but I am concerned by several recent incidents that could have had severe outcomes." None of the recent incidents at Argonne resulted in serious injury.
A review of safety management is already in motion at Argonne, under the heading "Integrated Safety Management." The program is a laboratory-wide assessment of safety deficiencies and concerns, and includes three phases:
Document
the laboratory's approach.
Evaluate
actual practices against this description. Each division was
asked, as part of the annual ES&H self-assessment for
FY98, to review its actual practices against this
description, identifying significant gaps.
Develop
an action plan to address significant gaps.
The evaluation phase (or "gap analysis") found no major safety problems in Argonne's programs or practices.
"The evaluation pointed up the strength and depth of our safety program," said Bill Hannum, who heads oversight of the laboratory's environment, safety and health and quality assurance. "However, in almost every area, we've found opportunities to improve the effectiveness of our program."
The internal assessment did find isolated pockets of workers who report that they feel they are expected to get certain jobs done, even if this involves some compromise of safety. Also, a small fraction of supervisors do not appear to recognize they are responsible for planning of safe work, seeking guidance and monitoring performance of all those who work for them, Hannum said.
"In fact, responsibility for safety is a function of all managers, right up to the laboratory director," Hannum said. "And to quote laboratory policy directly, 'there is no activity that is so important that it need be done without proper safeguards.'"
The last phase of the Integrated Safety Management program is now under way. The work will involve making sure proper planning is used in ongoing experiments and periodic review and analysis of job hazards, Hannum said.
Subcontractor work practices will also be reviewed. A recent incident at Fermilab, where several subcontractor employees were burned when a cleaning solvent caught fire, highlighted the need to make sure subcontractors are aware of the laboratory's safety policies, Hannum said.
More effective feedback methods are being examined to give employees greater participation in assuring their workplaces are safe.
These internal checks and reviews will be completed by June 1999 and reported to DOE. Argonne will be ready by that time to demonstrate its Integrated Safety Management program to a DOE validation team.
Employees should contact their division's Human Resources representative before Wednesday, Dec. 9, and inform them of any recent changes to home address, home telephone or work contact information.
This information will help in preparation of W-2 tax forms.
HR representatives can provide printouts of information currently recorded in the Human Resources database. A complete listing of HR representatives can be found on theHR home page in the "general information" section.
For more information, contact Human Resources at ext. 2-3005.
Due to demand, Argonne Club has purchased a small number of additional seats for the Dec. 18 performance by actor-comedian Sinbad at Joliet's Rialto Square Theatre.
Tickets are $36. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call Carolyn Arthur at ext. 2-9023.
Sinbad made his big screen debut in the 1991 gridiron comedy "Necessary Roughness."
His other motion picture credits include a starring role in "Houseguest" and a cameo in "Coneheads." His generally G-rated comedy act features high-intensity stories told in a broad, physical style.
Argonne Club is looking for five new officers for its board of directors.
Officers serve three-year terms and help plan the Argonne Club's activities, like Breakfast With Santa and the Argonne-East employee picnic and group outings.
For more information or to volunteer, call Jeff Goetzen (ASD) at ext. 2-9608.
Toys are still being collected for Argonne-East's Annual Recycled Toy Drive. Employees' donations will brighten the holidays for children in Chicago's West Garfield Park area.
Through Friday, Dec. 11, toys will be collected at the Building 213 Cafeteria during lunch service hours, or at the Argonne-East Fire Department.
Toys must be reuseable, safe, clean, intact and in working condition. Suggested items include puzzles, games, books, cassettes, bicycles, tricycles, wagons, dolls, roller skates, ice skates, electronic toys and electronic equipment. Toy guns or toys in poor condition will not be accepted.
The drive is sponsored by Argonne's Waste Management and Pollution Prevention Advisory Committee in cooperation with Bethel New Life, a partner with Argonne in several recycling and environmental projects. For more information, call ext. 2-6778.
Baseball caps, lunch bags and pins will be on sale in Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria on Friday, Dec. 4 and Friday, Dec. 11.
Items will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The sale is sponsored by Argonne Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals.
Also for sale will be a clear glass ornament featuring the IAAP logo.
Judy Robson (IPD) will be selling these items in Bldg. 900; call ext. 2-7991.
The Argonne Pioneers are selling calculator-memo pad combination sets.
The large-button calculator runs on both batteries and a solar cell. Its black case, decorated with a silver Argonne deer logo, includes a memo pad and pen.
Cost is $10. For more information, or to order, contact Evie Fagan (OPA) at ext. 2-5578. At Argonne-West, call Dick Lindsay (RPS) at ext. 3-7754.
Electronics and Computing Technologies will offer several classes in office computer software during December.
Full descriptions, and a schedule, of ECT computer classes are available on-line at: http://www.anl.gov/ECT/courses/.
For information about enrollment procedures, call Diane Cavazos (ECT) at ext. 2-7153 or send e-mail to dkcavazos@anl.gov.
Unless otherwise noted, classes will be held in Building 221, Room A142, are limited to eight participants and cost $135.
Beginning Unix (ECT564) -- First session: Tuesday, Dec. 1, 9
a.m. _ noon. Second session: Thursday, Dec. 3, 9 a.m. _
noon. Note: This class consists of two three-hour sessions
for a total of six hours. Class size limited to seven. Cost:
$245.
Introduction to Windows
95
-- Tuesday, Dec. 8, 8:30 a.m. _ 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, Dec.
15, 8:30 a.m. _ 11:30 a.m.
Word
Helpers 97 (ECT346) -- Tuesday, Dec. 8, 1:30 p.m. _ 4:30
p.m. Prerequisites: Introduction to Windows 95 or Basic Word
Skills 97.
Excel
Charts, Graphics, and Files 97 (ECT349) -- Wednesday, Dec. 9,
8:30 a.m. _ 11:30 a.m. Prerequisites: Introduction to
Windows 95 and Basic Excel Skills 97.
Introduction PowerPoint 97 (ECT342) -- Wednesday, Dec. 9,
1:30 p.m. _ 4:30 p.m. Prerequisite: Windows 95.
Advanced
Access 97 (ECT334) -- Thursday, Dec. 10, 8:30 a.m. _ 4:30
p.m., Thursday, Dec. 17, 8:30 a.m. _ 4:30 a.m. Cost: $195.
Prerequisite: Intermediate Access 97.
Customizing/Automating Word 97 (ECT347) -- Tuesday, Dec. 15,
1:30 p.m. _ 4:30 p.m. Prerequisites: Introduction to Windows
95 or Basic Word Skills 97.
Excel
Organizational Tools 97 (ECT350) -- Wednesday, Dec. 16, 8:30
a.m. _ 11:30 a.m. Prerequisites: Introduction to Windows 95
and Basic Excel Skills 97.
Intermediate PowerPoint 97 (ECT343) -- Wednesday, Dec. 16,
1:30 p.m. _ 4:30 p.m. Prerequisite: Windows 95, and
Introduction PowerPoint 97.
