Recent Projects

Integrated Safety Management System Surveillance Team Operations and Technical Management

Polestar provided key personnel and expertise to one of the prime contractors to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) at the Hanford Site near Richland WA for the purpose of conducting surveillances on the effectiveness for implementing the Department of Energy’s Integrated Safety Management System.  The Department of Energy (DOE) and its contractors are required to systematically integrate safety into management and work practices at all levels. Compliance with DOE’s Integrated Safety Management (ISM) Policy ensures that work is accomplished while protecting the public, the worker, and the environment.

The prime contractor provides infrastructure and essential services to the other Department of Energy contractors performing site remediation at the Hanford Site.  The range of services consist of a wide range of operations such as electrical utilities, fire protection, field projects, security, transportation, and training.

Process:

Polestar’s ISMS Surveillance Team is a multi-disciplined group of experienced professionals that can provide critical, independent assessments, across different work groups, for DOE contractors.

Polestar has developed a proven independent process that provides:

  • A reality check on client’s program implementation
  • Organizational coaching and mentoring
  • Metrics to measure progress

Polestar’s ISMS Surveillance Team provides real time feedback to management and workers on use of work process execution, emerging issues, program weaknesses, and continuous improvement. This is accomplished through:

  • Observation of work, including pre‐and post‐job briefings
  • Document reviews
  • Evaluation of management systems
  • Process gap analysis
  • Coaching and mentoring
  • Interviews
  • Facility tours and jobsite walkdowns
  • Observations of both positive practices and apparent non‐compliances are documented, along with recommendations for improvement.

Summary

In summary, the ISMS Surveillance Team provided valuable insights into how well the health and safety program has been integrated into how the organization conducts work.  The ISMS Surveillance Team was recognized as a Good Practice by the Department of Energy EA-31, Assessment of Safety Culture Sustainment Processes at U.S. Department of Energy Sites.