Safety Update
improvements to CFN safety
June 26, 2024
Wai Lin Ng
Summertime brings much excitement and energy to the CFN as we anticipate the arrival of student interns, visiting faculty, and guest researchers. In this issue’s message from CFN Director Chuck Black, he emphasized the importance of teamwork and doing work that is meaningful and enriching. These factors can make us happy, and I can’t agree more. A happy and positive workplace promotes efficiency, productivity, and a safer environment. Below is some guidance for staff and visitors on getting into a mindset focused on safety in research.
Come with a questioning attitude. As a guest researcher you will learn how to use advanced instruments and will be introduced to safety requirements and processes that are there to protect you, your co-workers, the facility, and the environment. It is your job to understand the hazards associated with your tasks and the materials you will be using. Ask your CFN point of contact or supervisor to provide you with sufficient information to assess the experiment or work processes focusing on specific hazards and risks, and the necessary safe practices to do your work. If you are unsure about a procedure, please STOP and ask questions.
Leaders value the safety legacy they create. There is a lot of activity and new work going on. Don’t be surprised if you see a manager or safety staff walking around to look at how workers do their jobs. This is a meaningful way to connect with workers, talk about their experiments, and to address any safety concerns or suggestions for improvement.
Workers raise safety concerns. Anyone can respectfully challenge unsafe behavior. Speak to your co-worker, CFN staff, or your point of contact if you see something that does not seem right. Brookhaven's “Stop Work” order may be called out when there is a hazard that could result in serious injury or death, a significant impact to the environment, equipment damage, or when immediate action is needed. When there is not imminent danger, work may be paused to review and address a potential hazard or when a work plan is not being followed.
We have a team of operational, safety, and expert staff at the CFN to support your research. Safety is fully integrated into all we do, with procedures and processes in place to aid in our operations. We look forward to interacting with all of you on a deeper level as we operate with a common goal for discovering new science and fostering a safe experience.
Enjoy your summer at the CFN!
— Wai Lin Ng
Manager, ES&H
Energy and Photon Sciences Directorate
2024-21980 | INT/EXT | Newsroom
