Charter

Version 3. May 10, 2011

PDF Version

Laser Safety is one of several Subgroups of the Environmental Safety & Health Working Group of the DOE Energy Facilities Contractors Group (EFCOG)

Mission

The Laser Safety Subgroup promotes excellence in all aspects of laser safety through the collaborative sharing of policies, best practices, written procedures, tools, lessons learned, and hazard control technology. This Subgroup establishes an effective network for laser safety experts from DOE facilities.

I. Vision

Laser work will be done safely at DOE facilities with minimal risk of hazardous exposure. Laser workers will have excellent laser hazard awareness and the necessary skills, equipment, and tools to mitigate this hazard. Affected personnel will also have an appropriate level of laser hazard awareness. The Laser Safety Subgroup will contribute to improvements in practices, policy, education, and training for laser safety.

II. Strategy

The Laser Safety Subgroup will achieve its mission by leveraging the expertise of its membership. This includes:

  • Sharing best practices;

  • Promoting, coordinating, and facilitating the exchange of successful laser safety programs;

  • Promoting consistency in laser safety policies and training;

  • Providing technical leadership for laser safety and laser-related projects to the Department of Energy ;

  • Collecting, consolidating and disseminating surveys;

  • Discussing means of regulatory compliance; and

III. Organization

A. Membership

The EFCOG Laser Safety Subgroup membership includes both DOE and DOE-Contractor personnel. DOE members act in an advisory capacity and ensure the goals of the Laser Safety Subgroup are consistent with those of the Department of Energy. DOE members are expected to actively participate in the Annual Laser Safety Officer Workshop. It is expected that each DOE facility is represented in the Laser Safety Subgroup.

B. Executive Board

  1. Chair - The term of the Chair is one year, commencing after the annual meeting.

  2. Vice Chair - The term of the Vice Chair is one year, after which this person assumes the role of Chair.

  3. Secretary - The term of the Secretary is one year, after which this person assumes the role of Vice Chair. A new Secretary is elected each year at the annual meeting. A call for nominations is made approximately one month prior to the annual meeting.

  4. Workshop Lead � The term of the Workshop Lead is one year. The Workshop Lead is selected each year by the other Board members.

  5. Past Chair, most recent

IV. Executive Board Roles and Responsibilities:

A. Chair

  1. Provides the overall direction for the Laser Safety Subgroup which must be consistent with the group�s mission and vision

  2. Maintains an understanding of the Subgroup�s needs and of the current developments within the laser safety profession

  3. Facilitates the Subgroup meetings and verifies that information is appropriately communicated to the membership

  4. Verifies the membership roster annually

  5. Presides over the election of new executive board member(s)

B. Vice Chair

  1. Supports the chair and workshop lead as needed

  2. Maintains information on the Subgroup�s webpage

C. Secretary

  1. Keeps meeting minutes

  2. Supports the chair and workshop lead as needed

D. Workshop Chair

  1. Organizes the Annual LSO Workshop

E. Past Chair

  1. Provides guidance to the Executive Board

  2. Assists in directing the efforts of the Subgroup

V. Meetings

A. Meeting Process

  1. The Laser Safety Subgroup operates in an open forum that encourages participation and contribution from all members.

  2. Formal decisions are adopted by a simple majority vote of members present.

  3. Designated representatives unable to attend a meeting may send an alternate from their organization to vote for them.

B. Quarterly meetings

  1. The Subgroup chair will coordinate a quarterly phone conference.

  2. These phone conferences will discuss current laser issues, such as new technological advances, changes in standards, shared concerns, recent events, or lessons learned.

C. Annual meeting

  1. The Subgroup meets in person at the annual LSO Workshop.

  2. New executive board member(s) will be elected during this meeting by a simple majority vote.

VI. Initiatives and Activities

A. Annual LSO Workshop

  • The first LSO Workshop was in 2005.

  • The Workshop typically consists of 2 � days of presentations, roundtables, tours, and vendor displays.

B. Training/Education

  • The DOE laser safety training course, SAF-115DE, was developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. This training, or a modified version, has been implemented at many DOE facilities as a core component of their laser safety training. The course is an excellent computer-based training program for laser safety in a research and development setting.

  • The Subgroup will regularly evaluate laser safety training and education at DOE facilities and recommend improvements as needed.

C. Surveys

  • The Subgroup conducts periodic surveys of laser safety policies and practices at the DOE facilities.

  • Surveys conducted so far include:

    • Service subcontractor laser safety

    • Training

    • Supervision

    • Alignment eyewear

    • Construction subcontractor laser safety

    • Laser Pointers

    • SOPs

D. Webpage

  • The Subgroup has a webpage on the EFCOG website.

  • The Subgroup will maintain all shared documents and the membership roster on this website.

  • Annual LSO Workshop information and presentations will be archived on the website.

E. Performance Measurement

The Subgroup plans to maintain records for these metrics:

  • Number of lessons learned that are shared

  • Surveys conducted

  • Number of active members

  • Number of near misses or concerns that are shared

  • Attendees at LSO workshops

  • Number of meetings held