Charter
Hoisting and Rigging Technical Advisory Committee
US Department of Energy
1.0 PURPOSE
This charter describes the function and role of the
Department of Energy (DOE) Hoisting and Rigging
Technical Advisory Committee (HRTAC). The HRTAC
serves as an
advisory body to the Office of Health, Safety and
Security (HSS) by providing support to their policy
efforts aimed at ensuring the safe performance of
hoisting and rigging activities at DOE facilities
and in the review and resolution of identified generic
hoisting and rigging safety issues. The HRTAC also
serves as a Topical Committee to provide advice and
support on hoisting and rigging issues to the DOE
Technical Standards Program (TSP).
2.0 BACKGROUND
The Office of Worker Safety and Health Policy (HS-11)
has the responsibility for developing and maintaining
the DOE Hoisting and Rigging Standard, DOE-STD-1090,
consolidating comments to national consensus standards
bodies addressing hoisting and rigging, and providing
comments to OSHA on any proposed rulemaking activity
involving hoisting and rigging. The establishment
of the HRTAC fosters an increased level of discussion
and coordination on hoisting and rigging concerns
and guidance among DOE program and field elements.
In addition, the HRTAC will provide a mechanism to
gain an operational perspective in the development
of program guidance and in the resolution of program
issues and will aid in ensuring uniform hoisting and
rigging safety criteria and implementation throughout
the DOE complex.
3.0 FUNCTION
This HRTAC is established to provide the Office of
Worker Safety and Health Policy (HS-11) with technical
advice in the development and maintenance of policy
and guidance documents supporting DOE's hoisting and
rigging safety program. In fulfillment of this mission,
the HRTAC will perform the following functions at
the request of HS-11:
| 3.1 |
Review, evaluate, and recommend
actions necessary to ensure that the DOE Hoisting
and Rigging Standard (DOE-STD-1090) remains current
and is consistent with Departmental guidance and
referenced source standards. |
| 3.2 |
At the direction of HS-11, act as
the Preparing Activity for draft technical standards
addressing DOE Hoisting and Rigging activities.
In this capacity, the committee will also provide
assistance to HS-11 in local coordination of proposed
standards. |
| 3.3 |
Act in the capacity of a topical
committee to the TSP Office for hoisting and rigging.
It will practice and promote cooperation between
other TSP technical committees in areas of common
interest. |
| 3.4 |
Participate with representatives
of other topical committees and the TSP manager
to establish guidance and protocols for topical
committee operations under the TSP. |
| 3.5 |
Interface with non-DOE standards
development bodies (i.e, American National Standards
Institute [ANSI], OSHA) in their work involving
hoisting and rigging operations. Review and recommend
a DOE-wide position on hoisting and rigging standards
in development or under coordination. |
| 3.6 |
Review and recommend solutions to
generic hoisting and rigging safety issues arising
from incidents, appraisals, assessments, and technical
assistance reviews as directed by HS-11. |
| 3.7 |
Conduct special interest projects as directed
by the HS-11. Typical projects may include:
3.7.1 Analyze DOE hoisting and rigging accident/incident
data to identify trends;
3.7.2 Research and review available interpretations
to assist in the resolution of hoisting and
rigging safety-related issues; or
3.7.3 Research available literature and develop
recommended solutions for DOE unique situations
where little or no hoisting and rigging guidance
is available.
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4.0 SPONSORSHIP
HRTAC shall perform the duties as a standing technical
committee sponsored by HS-11.
The following principles will govern its operation:
| 4.1 |
Openness
Participation in HS-11 policy, guidance and
standards development process will be open to
persons who are directly and materially affected
by the activity in question.
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| 4.2 |
Balance of Interests
Activities undertaken by the HRTAC will ensure
representation of all categories of interest
that relate to the subject matter.
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| 4.3 |
Due Process
The process will ensure that any individual
or organization within DOE who believes that
an action or inaction of the HRTAC causes unreasonable
hardship or potential harm is provided the opportunity
to have a fair hearing of their concerns.
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| 4.4 |
Reporting
The HRTAC will report on hoisting and rigging
policy, guidance and standards-related activities
to HS-11 on a frequency that is appropriate
to the activity and consistent with program
needs.
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5.0 MEMBERSHIP
| 5.1 |
Selection
HRTAC members shall be limited to DOE and DOE
contractor employees whose normal job duties
include the management or operational direction
of hoisting and rigging operations at DOE facilities.
Members will be nominated by their management
on the basis of technical expertise and ability
to participate in committee activities. HRTAC
membership should, to the greatest extent possible,
provide a fair and balanced representation of
the entire DOE complex.
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| 5.2 |
Tenure
Membership is voluntary, and any member may
resign from the HRTAC by notifying the chairperson
in writing. Members who fail to attend three
consecutive committee meetings will be automatically
removed from the committee and will require
renomination by their management to again participate
on the committee.
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6.0 OFFICERS
| 6.1 |
Chairperson
The HRTAC chairperson will be selected by the
Director of the Office of Worker Safety and
Health Policy (HS-11). The chairperson's duties
are to:
6.1.1 Convene and preside at HRTAC meetings;
6.1.2 Designate special tasks to HRTAC members
and ad hoc subcommittees;
6.1.3 Review and amend its charter, as necessary.
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| 6.2 |
The HRTAC coordinator secretary will be appointed
by the chairperson and perform the following
duties:
6.3.1 Maintain a record of meeting attendance;
6.3.2 Record meeting minutes and provide them
to committee members;
6.3.3 Handle HRTAC correspondence as directed
by the chairperson; and
6.3.4 Preside at meetings in the absence of
the chairperson.
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7.0 MEETINGS
| 7.1 |
Frequency
Regular meetings will be planned annually and
will be formally called by the chairperson.
Frequency of the meetings may be adjusted by
the chairperson, based on current activities
and/or needs.
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| 7.2 |
Agenda
Agendas will be developed for each meeting
based on input from the members, assignments
from the chairperson, etc. Written notices of
meetings and the agenda will be prepared and
communicated to the HRTAC members in advance
of the meeting.
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8.0 VOTING
| 8.1 |
When proposed changes to the DOE Hoisting and
Rigging Standard or other issues presented to
the HRTAC at the regular meetings require action
by the HRTAC, the chairperson may call a vote
of members present to resolve these issues.
The following guidelines will govern the voting
process:
8.1.1 Three voting options will be given to
the members present:
Agree
Disagree (with or without comment)
Abstain (with or without comment)
8.1.2 A count of the votes will be recorded
in the minutes of the meeting. If a member chooses
to offer comments to accompany a vote of Disagree
or Abstain, then the member's name and comments
will be included in the minutes.
8.1.3 A simple majority approval of members
present at the time of the vote is required
for an issue to pass.
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| 8.2 |
Letter Ballots |
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There may be occasions outside the
regular meetings when the chairperson will seek
input to changes to the DOE Hoisting and Rigging
Standard or other issues presented to the HRTAC.
A letter ballot process may be initiated to
resolve these issues. The following guidelines
will govern the letter ballot process:
8.2.1 Ballots will be sent by the coordinator
to all members of the HRTAC. Four voting choices
will be
Agree with Comment [ ]
Disagree with Comment [ ]
Abstain with Comment [ ]
8.2.2 Any member who fails to respond to a
ballot by the established deadline will be counted
as Abstaining.
8.2.3 First Ballot Consideration: One or more
"Disagree" votes causes the ballot
to fail, unless the "Disagree" vote(s)
is changed to "Agree" during comment
resolution.
8.2.4 Second Ballot Considerations: A simple
majority approval of non-abstaining members
is required for a second ballot to pass.
8.2.5 A summary of actions taken by letter
ballot since the previous meeting will be presented
at each meeting and included in the minutes
of the meeting.
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Approved: Jeffrey D. Feit, Manager
DOE Technical Standards Program
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Approved: Patrick F. Finn, Chairperson
DOE Hoisting and Rigging Technical Advisory Committee
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