CSAC Charter

1.0 PURPOSE

This charter describes the function and role of the Department of Energy (DOE) Construction Safety Advisory Committee (CSAC). The DOE CSAC is an advisory body formed to provide the Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security (EHSS) field input and perspective in the development and maintenance of DOE construction safety program guidance and in review and resolution of construction safety issues. The CSAC also serves as a Topical Committee to provide advice and support on construction safety related issues to the DOE Technical Standards Program (TSP). It serves as a subject matter expert panel to advise the DOE in construction safety matters.

The Office of Worker Safety and Health Policy (EHSS-11) has the responsibility for developing and maintaining construction safety requirements and guidance documents for DOE, providing representation for the Department on national consensus standards bodies addressing construction safety, and providing comments to OSHA on any proposed rulemaking activity involving construction safety.

The establishment of a CSAC will foster an increased level of discussion and coordination on construction safety program concerns and guidance among DOE program and field elements. In addition, the CSAC will provide a mechanism to gain an operational perspective in the development of program guidance and in the resolution of program issues and will aid in ensuring uniform construction safety criteria and implementation throughout the DOE complex.

This committee is established to provide EHSS-11 with program and field advice and input in the development, implementation, and maintenance of the DOE construction safety program. In fulfillment of this mission, the committee will perform the following functions:

3.1 Provide input and support to DOE in developing, drafting or revising DOE construction safety policies, guidance and standards.
3.2 Interface with non-DOE standards development bodies (e.g., OSHA, ANSI,) on activities which may have impact upon construction safety in DOE. This may include review and comment on construction safety program guidance, policies, standards, and regulations published by these organizations as well as direct participation on activities having greater significance to construction safety in the DOE.
3.3 Evaluate proposed technical training courses for construction management and construction safety personnel.
3.4 Review and recommend the need for policy or guidance to address generic or specific construction safety issues arising from construction safety assessments of DOE sites.
3.5

Conduct special interest projects at the direction of EHSS-11 or as selected by the Committee. For example:

3.5.1 Analyses of DOE construction accident/incident data and/or inspection results to identify trends and advise on corrective actions;

3.5.2 Research available literature to develop recommended guidance for DOE unique situations and for situations where little or no construction safety guidance is available;

3.5.3 Research and review available guidance and interpretations to assist in the resolution of generic construction safety-related issues.
3.6 The CSAC shall act in the capacity of a Technical Standards Program (TSP) topical committee to the TSP Office for construction safety. It will practice and promote cooperation between other TSP technical committees in areas of common interest.
3.7 Participate with representatives of other topical committees and the TSP manager to establish guidance and protocols for topical committee operations under the TSP.
3.8 Assist in communicating lessons learned, advances in technical aspects of construction safety, and coordinating with DOE offices to assure common application of requirements.
 
A.   Communicate all types of construction safety and health information, including data on occupational accidents, injuries, illnesses, and injury and illness prevention.
B.   Planning, organizing, and conducting meetings or training sessions that provide technical advice and information on occupational safety and health to members and their organizations.
C.   Promoting improvement of construction safety and health programs.
D.   Providing information on administrative and technical aspects of construction safety and health programs to DOE.
E.   Evaluating construction safety problems particular to local conditions and facilitating solutions.
F.   Developing cooperative relationships with DOE organizations its contractors, and technical standards organizations.

 

CSAC shall perform the duties as a standing technical committee sponsored by the Office of Worker Safety and Health Policy (EHSS-11) The following principles will govern its operation:

4.1 Openness

Participation in EHSS-11’s policy, guidance and standards development process will be open to persons who are directly and materially affected by the activity in question.

4.2 Balance of Interests

Activities undertaken by the committee will ensure representation of all categories of interest that relate to the subject matter.

4.3 Due Process

The process will ensure that any individual or organization within DOE who believes that an action or inaction of the committee causes unreasonable hardship or potential harm is provided the opportunity to have a fair hearing of their concerns.

4.4 Reporting

The CSAC will report on construction safety policy and guidance related activities to the Director of the Office of Worker Safety and Health Policy (EHSS-11) on a frequency that is appropriate to the activity and consistent with program needs.

5.1

CSAC members shall consist of DOE and DOE contractor employees whose normal job duties include program management or operational direction of construction safety. Members shall be nominated by their management based on their construction safety expertise and on the needs of the committee. Membership of the CSAC shall to the greatest extent possible provide a fair and balanced representation of the entire DOE complex. The CSAC encourages participation from all DOE and Contractor organizations.

5.2

Subcommittees may be formed at the discretion of the chairperson to focus on special topics. Subcommittees shall consist of CSAC members with experience and/or an interest in the specific function of the subcommittee. A subcommittee chairperson shall be appointed by the chairperson and shall serve for the duration of the subcommittee, until relieved by the Chairperson or until resignation or retirement.

6.1 Chairperson

The CSAC chairperson will be selected by the Director of the Office of Worker Safety and Health Policy (EHSS-11). The chairperson performs duties discussed above and presides over committee meetings.

6.2 Coordinator

Keep and distribute minutes of committee meetings, handle committee correspondence, arrange and coordinate committee meetings and activities with the aid of the host location.

6.3

Deputy Chair Person

The deputy chairperson will be selected by the Director of the Office of Worker Safety and Health Policy (EHSS-11) and will be a representative from EHSS-11. The deputy Chairperson will be the point of contact within EHSS-11 and preside over committee meetings during the absence of the Chairperson.

6.4 Positions are appointed for two-year terms with an optional third year if approved by the Director of the Office of Worker Safety and Health Policy (EHSS-11).

7.1 Frequency

Regular meetings will be planned annually and will be formally called by the chairperson. Frequency of the meetings may be adjusted by the chairperson based on current activities and/or needs. Working meetings, teleconferencing, video conferencing and sub-group meetings and any meetings may be called as necessary to conduct CSAC business.

7.2 Agenda

Agendas will be developed for each meeting based on input from the members, assignments from the chairperson, etc. Written notices of meetings and the agenda will be prepared and communicated to the CSAC members in advance of the meeting.

8.1

Regular Meetings

When proposed issues or resolutions are presented to the CSAC at the regular meetings and warrant action by the CSAC, the chairperson may call for a vote. The following guidelines govern the voting process:

On DOE policy issues, only DOE and NNSA employees may vote. The Committee will vote as requested by the Chair to help determine which issues and recommendations are formally communicated to the DOE in support of policy making.

 

8.1.1 Three voting options will be to given the members present:

Agree (with or without comment)
Disagree (with or without comment)
Abstain (with or without comment)
 

8.1.2 A count of the votes will be recorded in the minutes of the meeting. If a member chooses to comment with a vote of Disagree or Abstain, then the member's name will be included in the minutes along with the comment.

  8.1.3 A simple majority approval of members present at the time of the vote is required for an issue to pass.
   
8.2

Electronic  Ballots

There may be occasions outside the regular meetings when the chairperson will seek input to issues presented to the CSAC. A letter ballot process may be initiated to resolve these issues. The following guidelines will govern the letter ballot process:
 

8.2.1 Ballots will be sent to all members of the CSAC. Three voting choices will be listed on the ballot:

Agree (with or without comment)
Disagree (with or without comment)

Abstain (with or without comment)
 

8.2.2 Any member who fails to respond to a ballot by the established deadline will be counted as Abstaining.

  8.2.3 First Ballot Consideration: One or more "Disagree" votes causes the ballot to fail, unless the "Disagree" vote(s) is changed to "Agree" due to comment resolution.
 
  8.2.4 Second Ballot Considerations: A simple majority approval of non-abstaining members is required for a ballot to pass.
 
  8.2.5 A summary of actions taken by ballot since the previous meeting will be presented at each meeting and included in the minutes of the meeting.

APPROVED:

Kristina Fehringer, CIH, CSP, DOE/HQ Program Lead
DOE Construction Safety Advisory Committee

Jeffrey D. Feit, Manager
DOE Technical Standards Program

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: