CERN's Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental protection objectives
CERN has a robust Safety organisation in place, underpinned by the Safety Policy which spans all areas of occupational health and safety, including environmental protection and the safe operation of CERN’s facilities.
The Safety Regulation SR-SO, which defines the responsibilities and organisational structure in matters of Safety at CERN, specifies that “Safety Objectives shall be defined regularly for the Organization” to guarantee the health and safety of everyone working on the CERN site. As such and for many years, annual Health and Safety objectives have been defined for the Organization.
The annual Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) objectives 2023/2024 were presented at the Enlarged Directorate meeting of 11 April 2023, with a new chapter to integrate those pertaining to the ‘E’ of HSE, i.e. the ‘Environment’. They mix the traditional annual objectives with longer term ones at horizon 2025 and the start of the third Long Shut Down (LS3, currently foreseen to start in 2026). The objectives are the result of close collaboration with Departments, the Departmental Safety Officer Committee (DSOC) and the Safety Policy Committee (SAPOCO).
Below you can find the OHS objectives and their related measures for implementation and monitoring. They are divided into four main areas.
Environment
Long-term objectives (horizon 2025 / horizon 2030):
- Limit the increase in electricity consumption by 5% up to LS3
- Reduce Scope 1 emissions by 28% by the end of Run 3
- Limit the increase in water consumption by 5% up to LS3
The updated objectives at horizon 2030 by domain were approved by the Enlarged Directorate in January 2024 and can be consulted in full in this document.
The implementation measures for all these goals can be found in CERN Environment reports.
Annual objectives 2023/2024
Reduce the number of non-conformities in CERN effluents discharged into watercourses from CERN worksites to fewer than 10
Implementation measures:
- Monitoring and optimisation of the effluent management from worksite activities at CERN by the worksite supervisors.
- Application of guidelines for effluent management from worksite activities as defined by the Host States.
- Collaboration with the CERN worksite supervisors to implement corrective actions for the identified non-conformities to avoid
reoccurrence.
Reduce to maximum 1 (justified) claim from known CERN noise source
Implementation measures:
- Identification by Departments of operational deviations generating noise in the environment.
- Assessment by HSE of the noise footprint according to CERN's Noise Policy.
- Collaboration with Departments to implement corrective actions for the identified noise sources to avoid reoccurrence.
Occupational Health & Safety
Long-term objectives (end of 2025)
Increase awareness of personnel to Life-Saving actions by LS3
Implementation measure:
- 40% of CERN employed members of personnel to participate to Life-Saving Actions training by LS3.
Reinforce Electrical Safety by LS3 and Reduce incidents of electrical origin
Implementation measure:
- Electrical Safety Project, a joint effort of the Accelerators & Technology sector, the Research & Computing sector and the HSE Unit, to address:
- regulatory framework;
- organisational aspects;
- associated documentation;
- qualification and training of personnel working in electrical installations;
- equipment conformity.
Annual objectives 2023/2024
Reduce number of incidents/incivilities related to road safety on CERN sites (reference year 2022)
A. Ensure that PMs using bicycles (and scooters) offered by CERN receive training and are tested on their ability to ride
Implementation measures:
- Measures for renting a bicycle by the Mobility Center:
- follow the e-learning course Road Traffic - Bike Riding;
- carry out a practical test:
- define and set up a practical test for cyclists renting a bicycle;
- define and set up a "back in the saddle" training course for people who have failed the test or wish to refresh their skills.
- Prohibit the use of the bicycle rental service for visitors.
- Make it compulsory to wear a helmet for all users of bicycles and scooters and have the means to enforce this obligation.
B. Secure the pathways shared between different users
Implementation measures:
- Complete connecting the bicycle lanes, to guarantee a path for bicycles from one entrance to the other and between the main buildings, without having to leave the bicycle lanes.
- Continue marking parking spaces, making reverse parking mandatory.
- Like bicycle lanes, identify and secure the main pedestrian paths leading from one entrance to another by the main roads (curbs, accessibility for people with reduced mobility, etc.).
Radiation Protection
Long-term objectives (end of 2025)
Limit maximum annual personal dose to 3 mSv
Implementation measure:
- Application of Work and Dose Planning (WDP) analysis and intervention optimisation.
Reduce radioactive waste production by considering it in the design of upgrades and new facilities
Implementation measure:
- Include HSE's Radiation Protection group (HSE-RP) in studies at an early stage.
Annual objectives 2023/2024
Pursue identification of stored old accelerator and experimental equipment and include radiological controls
Implementation measure:
- Departments to carry out inventory and ask HSE-RP for characterisation analysis.
Emergency Preparedness
Long-term objectives (end of 2025)
Increase preparedness for emergency situations
Implementation measures:
- Organise evacuation exercises of all accelerator and experimental areas before LS3
- Organise evacuation exercises of most populated buildings, including restaurants and hotels, before LS3
- Integrate lessons learned in ad-hoc intervention plans, if relevant