Charter
 (revised November 2010)

I.      PURPOSE

The Safety Analysis Working Group (SAWG) is a self-directed contractor working committee whose intent is to facilitate the objectives of the Energy Facility Contractors Group (EFCOG) and meet the challenges of contractors implementing Nuclear Safety Regulations, Directives, Technical Standards, and Guides as related to the area of Safety Analysis. The purpose of the working group is to promote excellence in the Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear safety and safety analysis programs through technical exchange, training, and application of lessons learned.

II.     OBJECTIVES

Operating within the EFCOG Charter, the objectives of the SAWG are the following:

  • Provide planning and actions necessary to see that the overall objectives of the EFCOG come to fruition in the area of nuclear safety and safety analysis.
  • Promote, coordinate, and facilitate the active exchange of successful safety analysis programs, practices, procedures, lessons learned, and other pertinent information of common interest on safety analysis, which have been effectively utilized by DOE contractors.
  • Promote training on safety analysis by sharing of management and technical information among contractors through mechanisms such as workshops, subgroups, interest groups, formal training, and written material.
  • Interact with EFCOG Working Groups and DOE in ways that produce value-added change for both DOE and the contractor community.

III.    SCOPE

The scope of SAWG activities includes a focus on aspects of DOE facility management pertinent to promoting excellence and cost efficiency over the entire life cycle of a facility, to include programmatic, management, operational, and technical areas such as:

  • The planning, development, review, approval, implementation, and maintenance of Safety Basis documentation, e.g., Documented Safety Analyses (DSAs) and Technical Safety Requirements (TSRs).
  • Integration of safety into the design process as it relates to safety analysis supporting project critical decisions.
  • Designation of safety class and safety significant structures, systems, and components.
  • Hazard categorization of facilities and operations.
  • Safety analysis supporting both nuclear and non-nuclear activities and facilities throughout their life cycles.
  • Nuclear safety design criteria.
  • Management and technical safety areas as they pertain to safety analysis such as criticality safety, risk assessment, fire protection, environmental protection, project management, configuration management, and the Unreviewed Safety Question process.

The SAWG will facilitate the exchange of information through workshops, subgroups, interest groups, written materials, and liaisons with DOE, other EFCOG Working Groups and industry technical groups.  Meetings, conferences, and Working Group activities will be conducted periodically on pertinent issues and open to member companies and the DOE.  The SAWG will not lobby, advocate independent positions, or try to change DOE policy. However, practices within the scope of SAWG as applied to DOE missions may be discussed and suggestions for improvement made to the DOE.

IV.    ORGANIZATION

The SAWG is composed of EFCOG Member Company Representatives, DOE Sponsors, and other liaisons, as necessary.  The SAWG is organized into a Steering Committee and Subgroups, supplemented by Interest Groups or Task Groups as needed.  The EFCOG member companies are listed in the EFCOG Annual Report, located in the EFCOG Home Page (www.efcog.org).

  • All DOE contractors that are members of EFCOG are eligible to appoint one or more company Representatives to the SAWG.

  • The SAWG is governed by its Member Representatives who annually elect the SAWG Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary.  These officers must be from a member company of EFCOG.

  • The term of the SAWG officers (Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary) begins with one of the SAWG Representative Meetings (nominally the Fall Meeting).

  • Officer nominations for SAWG and its subgroups will be coordinated with the EFCOG Sponsoring Director.

  • Member companies may choose to appoint more than one SAWG Representative, or more than one may be �grandfathered� in based on prior experience, but only one Representative is eligible to vote on behalf of the Member Company in matters governing the SAWG.

  • The SAWG Steering Committee is comprised of the SAWG officers, DOE Sponsors, Subgroup Chairs, Interest Group leads, Liaisons, and three to five �at large� members nominated and elected by the Representatives.  The EFCOG Sponsoring Director is an ex-officio member of the Steering Committee.

  • The SAWG Vice Chair generally becomes the Chair for the following term unless one or more Representatives nominate another candidate for consideration.

  • The SAWG Chair and Vice Chair serve a one-year term with option for a second year if requested by the Steering Committee and approved by the Representatives.  The Secretary and �at large� members may be elected to serve multiple terms.

  • The SAWG Representatives annually nominate a Vice Chair, Secretary, and three to five �at large� members.  A Chair may be nominated by one or more Representatives in lieu of succession by the Vice Chair.

  • The SAWG Steering Committee encourages participation of DOE HQ and Field personnel and seeks sponsors from the DOE Office of Primary Interest for nuclear safety and safety analysis requirements (e.g., HSS) as well as Program Offices (e.g., NNSA, EM, SC, and NE) to participate in Steering Committee and Representative meetings and conference calls.

  • SAWG Subgroups are formed and maintained according to current issues and topics.  Subgroup Chairs are company Representatives; Subgroup members and participants may be composed of any individual that is welcomed by the Subgroup Chair.

  • The formation of a Subgroup may be requested by the Steering Committee or Representatives.  Subgroups are expected to develop and maintain a charter with objectives, scope, and planned deliverables.  The charter is subject to review and approval by the Steering Committee and the EFCOG Sponsoring Director.  Subgroup officers should be elected by the members of the group; first-time officers may be appointed by the Steering Committee.    

  • An Interest Group (alternately referred to as a Task Team) may be formed as requested by the Steering Committee or Representatives for an issue or topic that may be transient or limited in scope.  The Interest Group lead is typically the individual taking point on resolving the issue or addressing the topic. A scope statement should be prepared for the group�s intended task.

  • One or more liaisons (e.g., Training Liaison) are assigned by the Steering Committee for the purpose of facilitating an activity or relationship with other organizations or working groups.

  • SAWG Representatives are encouraged to remain active participants.  Those not serving in the Steering Committee should be members of one or more subgroups or interest groups.

  • Lack of participation by a SAWG Representative is grounds to seek replacement.

V.     PROCESS

  • The SAWG Representatives should meet as needed but at least annually. This is typically at the Annual Safety Analysis Workshop in the Spring or Summer, and/or at the Safety Basis Workshop in the Fall or Winter.
  • The SAWG Steering Committee should hold monthly conference calls.  Meetings during a workshop or conference may substitute for a conference call.
  • Subgroups and Interest Groups meet or hold conference calls as frequently as necessary to carry out the tasks assigned by the Steering Committee.
  • A quorum for voting purposes is at least half of all Steering Committee members or Representatives, as applicable.
  • Minutes are prepared for each Representative, Steering Committee, Subgroup, and Interest Group meeting or conference call and posted in a timely manner to the EFCOG webpage after approval.
  • Annual SAWG Reports are prepared as requested by EFCOG and are the responsibility of the Steering Committee.
  • SAWG deliverables, including SAWG Best Practices, white papers, lessons learned, etc. are reviewed and approved by the Steering Committee before release.
  • The goals, objectives, and effectiveness of the SAWG are reviewed annually by the Steering Committee and documented in the Annual Report to the EFCOG Directors.
  • A change to this Charter requires concurrence from two-thirds of the SAWG Representatives membership and approval by the EFCOG Directors.

VI.    DELIVERABLES

The SAWG deliverables include Best Practices, technical positions, guides, white papers, workshops, training, reviews, lessons learned, procedures, programs, and standards developed by the SAWG membership via its subgroups, interest groups, or in collaboration with DOE or other working groups or organizations.

The SAWG documents in the Annual Report to the EFCOG Directors its achievements and any cost savings or other benefits for its members resulting from its deliverables or other activities.

Specific planned deliverables are required of each subgroup and interest group.  These are reviewed annually by the Steering Committee and documented in the Annual Report to the EFCOG Directors.

VII.   DURATION

The SAWG is a long term working group intended to support safety basis and safety analysis needs for as long as DOE contractors are responsible for the safe operation of nuclear and other high hazard facilities.  It is understood that the EFCOG Directors will determine on an annual basis whether the SAWG should continue or be disbanded.

VIII.  COST BENEFITS (EFFECTIVENESS)

The EFCOG Board of Directors tracks the effectiveness of SAWG activities to determine whether there have been reasonable benefits.  The SAWG acknowledges that effectiveness is most readily demonstrated by tangible deliverables that are planned on an annual basis and pursued with project management type discipline. It is understood that effectiveness may also be demonstrated by tangible or intangible cost savings to the DOE.