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FOREST SERVICE MANUAL
NORTHERN RESEARCH STATION (NRS)
NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA
FSM 6700 – SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM
ZERO CODE
Supplement No.: NRS-6700-2007-1
Effective Date: June 6, 2007
Duration: Effective until superseded or removed.
Approved: MICHAEL T. RAINS
Station Director
Date Approved: 06/06/2007
Posting Instructions: Supplements are numbered consecutively by Title and calendar year.
Post by document name. Remove entire document and replace with this supplement. Retain this
transmittal as the first page of this document. The last supplements to this series were
NE-6700-1991-1 and NC-6700-1994-1.
New Document(s):
Superseded Document(s):
(Last supplements were NE-67001991-1 dated 01/04/1991 and NC6700-1994-1 dated 08/29/1994.)
6702
6703
6704
6702
6704
5 Pages
8 Pages
Digest:
6703-6704
States the objective, mission and policy of the Safety and Health
Program. States the roles and responsibilities of the Director, the
Director’s Representatives, Safety and Health Coordinator and the Local
Safety and Health Committees.
NRS SUPPLEMENT 6700-2007-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 06/06/2007
DURATION: Effective until superseded or removed.
6700, 0 Code
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6702 – OBJECTIVE
The Northern Research Station (NRS) is committed to the elimination of all workplace injuries
and illnesses. Our mission is to foster a commitment to safe practices in the workplace, at home
and within the communities where we reside. NRS will furnish its employees with places and
conditions of employment that are free from on-the-job safety and health hazards. The NRS
Safety and Health Program will permit the Station to achieve the critical mission of an injury free
work culture.
6703 – POLICY
1. Adoption of Standards. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standards
are maintained at the Station Headquarters and are provided to field locations upon request.
Field sites may maintain their own set of OSHA standards. Standards can also be found in the
Safety, Health and Security website at http://fsweb.nrs.fs.fed.us/eng/safety.
2. Supplementary Standards. At a minimum, members of the NRS Leadership Team, Project
Leaders, Group Leaders, and all supervisors will have an up-to-date copy of the Health and
Safety Code Handbook FSH 6709.11. Employees will have access to the handbook at all times
or will be provided a copy upon request.
3. Establishment of a local Safety and Health Committee.
a. The Headquarters Office and each field location will establish a local Safety and Health
Committee. At a minimum the Committee members will be represented by the leadership
members, maintenance staff and support staff at the field level.
b. The Safety and Health Committee will have a joint Station and Area membership in St.
Paul, Durham, Morgantown, Princeton and Newtown Square.
c. Committee membership will be voluntary.
d. The Director’s Representative at each location will serve as the Designated Agency Safety
and Health Official (DASHO) and will encourage employees from each unit to serve on the
local Safety and Health Committee.
4. Reporting of Safety and Health Committee Activities. The Headquarters and local Safety and
Health Committees will meet quarterly to enhance safety programs, exchange ideas and share
information on safety and health. The Committee will prepare minutes of quarterly meetings and
will forward a copy of the minutes to the Safety and Health Specialist. The meeting minutes will
be posted to the Safety, Health and Security website.
NRS SUPPLEMENT 6700-2007-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 06/06/2007
DURATION: Effective until superseded or removed.
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For the purpose of reporting requirements, quarterly meetings are based on the Safety Year
(July 1 through June 30). The quarters covered are as follows:
Quarters Covered
1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter
Months
July - September
October - December
January - March
April - June
6704 – RESPONSIBILITY
6704.7 – Station Director
The Station Director is responsible for:
1. Initiating and managing a safety and health program consistent with national direction.
2. Appointing a qualified individual to manage unit safety and occupational health programs
(i.e. a Safety and Health Specialist).
Director’s Representatives
It is the responsibility of each Director’s Representative to appoint a Safety and Health
Coordinator. The Director’s Representative will establish a Chemical Safety Officer for
locations that contain chemical laboratories. The Chemical Safety Officer will be responsible for
chemical laboratory safety and health. In all instances, the Safety and Health Coordinator and
the Chemical Safety Officer will work together to advise on chemical lab safety and health
issues.
Safety and Health Coordinator
The Safety and Health Coordinator is responsible for:
1. Monitoring and coordinating day-to-day safety and health activities at the respective field
location.
2. Advising and assisting the Chemical Safety Officers on chemical safety and health matters at
locations that contain chemical laboratories.
3. Soliciting committee members and providing leadership for committee activities.
NRS SUPPLEMENT 6700-2007-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 06/06/2007
DURATION: Effective until superseded or removed.
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4. Completing a course for collateral duty Safety Officers.
5. Receiving training on an as-needed-basis in order to understand and to plan activities at their
respective locations. This training will lead to:
a. familiarity with overall program content and requirements.
b. general knowledge of inspection requirements.
c. capability to identify high-hazard situations.
d. ability to conduct reviews in response to complaints and to be a participating member in
local inspections.
e. becoming the focal point for safety and health information at their respective location.
f. serving as the Safety and Health Designee at each location, and being listed by name on
the “Occupational Safety and Health Protection for Employees of the USDA Forest Service”
posters that are prominently displayed throughout the locations’ offices and workplaces.
Local Safety and Health Committee
It is the responsibility of the Local Safety and Health Committee to:
1. Meet quarterly to carry out Safety Program actions that are identified by the DASHO, Safety
and Health Manager, Safety and Health Specialist, Leadership Team or Safety Committee
members.
2. Review and provide input on the Forest Service Safety and Health Action Plan.
3. Review and update the local Safety and Health Plan on an annual basis.
4. Provide leadership in carrying out the plan’s requirements; i.e., training, drills, etc. At a
minimum each plan will include information on security, fire, hazardous weather, medical
attention, safety measures in shops, laboratories, greenhouses and the field, motor vehicle
operations, and safety and health training. A copy of the plan will be reviewed with new
employees and posted on the Safety, Health and Security website.
5. Provide safety and health program information and sponsor safety and health training,
activities, talks, films, etc.
6. Perform periodic “walk-throughs” of facilities to identify unsafe issues and report them to the
local Safety and Health Coordinator or Safety and Health Specialist.
NRS SUPPLEMENT 6700-2007-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 06/06/2007
DURATION: Effective until superseded or removed.
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7. Perform follow-up to make sure any unsafe issues have been rectified.
8. Periodically analyze safety records, identifying potential problems, and recommend ways to
reduce accidents.
9. Act on employee reports of unsafe and unhealthy working conditions.
10. Recommend safety awards when appropriate.
11. Recommend revisions or amendments to the safety and health policies and procedures.
12. Promote accident and injury/illness prevention.