Classification of Chemical Occurrence Reports

Background

All events at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that could adversely affect the public or DOE worker health and safety, including those that are chemical-related, are reported in the DOE Occurrence Reporting and Processing System (ORPS). Under ORPS, events are filtered through a descriptive classification scheme to allow better understanding the nature of the occurrences. Often, however, occurrences involving chemicals or chemical safety events and conditions are classified under broad categories that obscure the identification of chemical involvement. EH-HQ has been monitoring ORPS and extracting all chemical-related occurrences for tracking, analyzing and trending since August 1992. Much of this work and the classification of these incidents had been performed by contractors up to the end of September 1998, following which time all such tasks were assumed by DOE HQ EH-52. This was consistent with DOE HQ policy at the time of doing more with the existing federal work force and relying less on contractors. Contributing to this decision were problems with past reporting where a lack of clarity for classifying chemical occurrences resulted in numerous inconsistencies in categorizing accidents and incidents.

An EH HQ committee was subsequently formed to prepare improved guidance and classification criteria. Occurrences were categorized into four better-defined classes. Briefly stated, these classes are:

  • Class 1: Occurrences characterized by serious energy release, injury or exposure requiring medical treatment, or severe environmental damage.
  • Class 2: Occurrences characterized by minor injury or exposure, or reportable environmental release.
  • Class 3: Occurrences that were near misses including notable safety violations.
  • Class 4: Minor occurrences.