Conference 7.286::digital

    You might try:
    
    
    Product Safety                  Contact LESREG::SEGAL for membership     
    
    
    from easynotes.lis.
    
    
    Tim
    

    <-- I looked at that and saw that it is a members only and the title
    suggests and says "Product Safety".  I'm looking for general safety
    for DEC: labs, offices, sites, policies, procedures, etc.
    
    I guess I'll just have to find out what Product Safety is all about.
    
    Thanks,
    Reg.

    Reg,

    To the best of my knowledge there is no notes file specifically dealing
    with the issues you mentioned. The closest thing I know of deals with
    environmental and site planning issues for the field. you can find that
    on GUMMO::ENVIRONMENT. It is an open conference. 

    If you have a specific question about policies you can look it up in
    VTX - ORANGE BOOK EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND SAFETY or call Chuck McGrail at
     DTN:229-7897.

    Thanks for the new pointer; I never would have thought of looking in
    the environment file.  I'll go once again to the orange book, but it
    never really has a steadfast hardcore policy under which to operate.
    
    Everything is so gray (in more ways than one)
    
    Reg.

    Well, I've searched high and low and find nothing.  At least through
    this type of medium and some local sources.  Does DEC have a corporate
    level safety org that basically dictates how it expects it's people to
    work under various environments?
    
    I mean we had one person die in 35 years (that I know of), it should be
    none, but it could've been many more.  So, in essance, I'd say we have
    a pretty good awareness of safety.
    
    However, accidents happen and in a laboratory environment or a
    manufacturing environment where chemicals are used, who in these
    various locations spells out what has to be worn/not worn, etc.
    
    I get a lot of answers, but they're ususally in the form of finger
    pointing.  I see some things written/documented, but rarely do more
    than one follow a set operating procedure layout (if DEC has such an
    animal).  I hear a lot about, "well, OSHA says...", but nothing as to
    what DEC says.
    
    People say safety is unique to each site; I say hogwash to that!  Very
    thourough blanket procedures could be developed to handle the whole
    corp; from there, each site and subsequently each group could have
    something to go by.  
    
    It's very hard to attempt to warn people of possible hazards, such as
    wearing contact lenses when present around chemicals, when there is
    nothing to back one up that DEC supports.  Now, I may be totally out to
    lunch here and there maybe safety operating policy and procedures out
    there that DEC has bought off on that everyone can use to fit into
    their present orgs, BUT I've yet to see anything like this.
    
    Reg.
    
    FWIW: I've been my group's safety coordinator for 5 years and have had
    to deal with many people in site safety orgs and have constantly run
    into these problems of "whose job is it?" "whose responsibility is it?"
    etc.  I can only suggest what I can within my power, but I'm constantly
    confronted with, "does DEC say that?"  I mean, there has to be
    something to protect DEC legally, at least.

I looked in the phone book under "Safety."  The first listing is "Corporate
Manager."  DTN is 223-8374.

    Each facility does/should have a "safety manager".  I remember when I
    worked in facilities years ago we had one in our group - he is still
    part of the safety organization.  Just what are you looking for?  Would
    Gerald's suggestion help?
    
    -sandy
    

    Try Polly Strife in Environmental Health and Safety or Ron Lamb in
    Risk Management (insurance related issues).

	I don't think you'll get the same saftey procedures everywhere.

	Different offices and plants are built differently, with different
	numbers of people, and different ways of working, and each country
	has its own health and saftey legislation that it has to comply
	with.

	We have a health and saftey manager, and also health and saftey reps in
	each area who have recieved training.
	

	Heather