Office of Environment, Safety, and Health
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Office of Environment, Safety, and Health (ESH) was part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) responsible for overseeing the safety, health, and environmental protection aspects of DOE operations across its facilities. It was instrumental in ensuring compliance with safety and environmental regulations at nuclear weapons sites and other DOE installations.
Mission
The mission of the Office of Environment, Safety, and Health was to protect workers, the public, and the environment from hazards associated with DOE activities. This involved developing policies and standards, providing technical assistance, and conducting assessments to ensure DOE facilities operated safely and in compliance with federal regulations[1].
Parent organization
The Office of Environment, Safety, and Health was housed within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), specifically under the Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security (EHSS)[2].
Legislation
The ESH office was not created by specific legislation but was part of the DOE's structure to comply with various environmental and safety laws, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA).
Partners
- Various DOE sites for implementing safety and environmental policies.
- External agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for regulatory compliance.
Number of employees
The exact number of employees in the ESH office isn't specified in the references provided.
Organization structure
The structure of the Office of Environment, Safety, and Health included:
Leader
The office was led by a Director.
Divisions
- Policy and Standards for establishing safety and environmental guidelines.
- Oversight and Assessment for conducting compliance reviews.
- Health Studies for understanding the health effects of DOE operations.
List of programs
- Worker Safety Programs to mitigate occupational hazards.
- Environmental Impact Assessments for new DOE projects.
- Health Screening for workers exposed to hazardous materials.
Last total enacted budget
Specific budget details for the ESH office are not publicly available from the references provided.
Staff
The office employed a range of professionals including safety engineers, environmental scientists, and health physicists, but exact numbers are not documented.
Funding
Funding for the ESH office came from the DOE's overall budget, directed towards ensuring safety and environmental compliance across DOE operations.
Services provided
The ESH office developed policies, conducted safety evaluations, managed health studies, and ensured compliance with environmental laws to protect workers and the environment from the hazards associated with DOE operations. This included oversight, training, and technical assistance[3].
Regulations overseen
The ESH office was responsible for ensuring DOE facilities adhered to various regulations, including those under OSHA, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Headquarters address
1000 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20585, USA
History
The Office of Environment, Safety, and Health was established to provide oversight for the dangerous work at DOE's nuclear facilities, particularly after criticisms regarding worker safety. It was later merged into the Office of Health, Safety and Security (HSS) in a reorganization effort to streamline DOE's safety and security functions. The transition and focus on these areas continue under EHSS, but the specific name "Office of Environment, Safety, and Health" was phased out[4].
External links
References
- ↑ "Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/ehss/office-environment-health-safety-and-security.
- ↑ "U.S. Department of Energy". DOE. https://www.energy.gov/.
- ↑ "Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/ehss/office-environment-health-safety-and-security.
- ↑ "Department of Energy * Office of Health, Safety and Security". AllGov. https://allgov.com/departments/department-of-energy/office-of-health-safety-and-security?agencyid=13644.