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U.S. Department of Energy POLICY
Washington, D.C. DOE P 450.7

Approved: 8-2-04

SUBJECT: DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ENVIRONMENT, SAFETY AND
HEALTH (ES&H) GOALS

PURPOSE
The purpose of this Policy is to establish ES&H goals for Department of Energy (DOE)
personnel and its contractors. These goals are designed to establish Departmental ES&H
expectations for: 1) DOE and contractor personnel ES&H behaviors and attitudes in the conduct
of their daily work activities, and 2) operational performance regarding worker injuries and
illnesses, regulatory enforcement actions, and environmental releases. This Policy is consistent
with, and furthers implementation of, the DOE Strategic Plan. The objective of this Policy is
achieved by other means for Naval Reactors (Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program).

CANCELLATION
This Policy cancels DOE P 450.1, Environment, Safety and Health Policy for the Department of
Energy Complex, dated 6-15-95 and DOE P 450.6, Secretarial Policy Statement Environment,
Safety and Health, dated 4-14-98.

POLICY
It is DOE policy that the safety of our workers, respect for the environment, and protection of
the public health and safety are paramount in all that we do. We must expect and demand
from ourselves as both Federal employees and contractors the highest levels of ES&H
performance. To meet our strategic goals in national security, energy security, environmental
cleanup, and science leadership, we must integrate ES&H into our work. This Policy reaffirms
the Secretary’s commitment to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of Integrated Safety
Management (ISM) and Environmental Management Systems (EMS). (Reference: DOE P
450.4, Safety Management System Policy, and DOE O 450.1, Environmental Protection
Program.)
The DOE’s ultimate ES&H goal is zero accidents, work-related injuries and illnesses,
regulatory enforcement actions, and reportable environmental releases. This goal is to be
pursued through a systematic and concerted process of continuous performance improvements
using performance measurement. As DOE and its contractors strive to achieve our ultimate goal,
DOE will continue to have “zero tolerance” for accidents that result in life-threatening injuries or
major environmental contamination. Furthermore, it is DOE policy that ES&H goals be
established that drive performance excellence, thereby reducing or precluding other work-
related injuries and illnesses, and adverse impacts to the public and environment. It is
anticipated that these goals will be established, and changed over time as necessary to improve
performance.
In achieving these goals, we will use appropriate performance measures, will accurately
report ES&H incidents, and will assess site and corporate ES&H performance. To this end, DOE
will:

* Establish Secretarial Office ES&H performance goals and site-specific ES&H
performance measures that are approved by the Cognizant Secretarial Officer (CSO) on
an annual basis to drive performance improvement or maintain excellent performance.
* Report progress in site-specific ES&H performance improvement, using such methods as
trending and analysis, on a quarterly basis through the CSO to their Under Secretary.
Separately, on my behalf, EH will monitor progress and keep me informed to ensure
DOE-wide ES&H goals are adequately assessed and driving desired performance
outcomes.
* Foster and maintain a work environment that encourages free and open expression of
ES&H concerns, and where employees have no fear of reprisal or discrimination for
reporting such concerns. Workers are our most important resource for preventing and
reporting hazards and potentially unsafe practices. Both workers and management must
feel a responsibility and obligation to report ES&H incidents and near-misses (both
nuclear and non nuclear). DOE must also ensure timely and accurate recording of
injury/illness information in the DOE Computerized Accident Illness Reporting System,
as well as incident and near miss reporting in the DOE Occurrence Reporting and
Processing System, within appropriate classified channels when classified associations
exist. This information provides the foundation for evaluating DOE ES&H performance
and determining progress in achieving these ES&H goals. Positive recognition and
analysis of incidents and concerns is fundamental to ensuring effective feedback and
improvement. Conversely, non-reporting should be viewed as an unsafe practice that is a
threat to a worker, co-workers and the public.
* Examine and demonstrate how these goals are being achieved through DOE
self-assessments. A rigorous assessment program shall be established that provides
sufficient data to determine within desired confidence levels that program goals for
ES&H are being achieved, that corrective actions and opportunities for improvement are
being identified and implemented. The assessment part of an effective ES&H program
serves to provide reasonable assurance that unknown factors do not exist in either the
physical workplace or the management systems that govern work that can cause injury or
loss. The assessments will provide a status of performance and corrective actions, if any.
* Continue to use and improve performance based contract management approaches for
assuring accountability for and achievement of ES&H performance goals.

CONTACT
Questions concerning this Policy should be addressed to the Office of Corporate Performance
Assessment, Office of Environment, Safety and Health at (301) 903-8008.
BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY:

KYLE E. McSLARROW
Deputy Secretary