Vol. 59 - No. 19 May 27, 2005 ‘WSYFNY’ — Budget Picture Work Safely, Your Family Needs You “ ork safely, your family needs which exceeded 700 days; the Life Sci- ecent news out of Washington reported on the House Appropriations Committee’s you,” says James Tarpinian, ences Directorate, which has worked restoring money to the fiscal year (FY) 2006 budget that could directly benefit BNL's W R Assistant Director for Environment, over 2,700 days; and the Instrumenta- nuclear physics, National Synchrotron Light Source, and medical imaging programs. Safety, Health & Quality. tion Division, with over 11 years of no This news followed a visit to BNL by U.S. Representative David Hobson, Chair- Recently, BNL was treated to a live lost days to its credit. man of the House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, presentation from a world-renowned “We know that some workers in some and U.S. Representative Tim Bishop, who both attended the Center for Functional safety motivational speaker, Charlie of these groups have jobs in which inju- Nanoscience (CFN) site dedication on April 15. During their tour of the Lab, Hobson Morecraft. Says Tarpinian, “For those ries are less likely than in the work done had interacted with researchers, and he praised their enthusiasm and the value of who were fortunate enough to see by others,” says Tarpinian. “But it is not their work in his subsequent talk at the site dedication. Charlie, you may remember one of his a question of measuring one person The Bulletin asked BNL’s John Hauser, Interim Assistant Laboratory Director for main messages, ‘Safety is about families.’ against another. We stick together, and Finance, to explain some of the implications of the present more positive budget This theme will be prominently featured we need to be sure that everyone, one picture. Hauser responded with the following memo: during National Safety Month, which way or another, is working safely — first, On May 18, 2005, the House Appro- port of science. Only time will tell us the the National Safety Council sponsors because of the benefit to our own health priations Committee voted on their por- final amount. each year during the month of June. and safety, and also, because this effort tion of the Energy and Water Appropria- At the moment, with the action by the This year’s theme is ‘Safety: Where We directly furthers the national labs’ and tions Bill. This bill contains funding for House, nuclear physics funding is up Live, Work and Play.’” DOE’s goal of producing world-class sci- DOE. Included in this budget bill is $3.7 $37.6M, which includes “$31.6M provided It turns out that historically, June is a ence while maintaining absolutely safe billion for the Office of Science, BNL’s to restore operating time of the user facili- month when more accidents are likely and efficient operations.” prime DOE sponsor. This amount is $203 ties [such as the Relativistic Heavy Ion to happen at the Lab. “Last year we had This goal, which is constantly empha- million (M) above the President’s bud- Collider] to fiscal year 2005 levels.” Bio- five serious injuries in June,” says sized by Director of the Office of Science get of last February of $3.5 billion. logical and environmental research is up Tarpinian. “National Safety Month offers Ray Orbach, is extremely challenging. Although the increase is good news for $70M, which includes earmarking $35M us an opportunity to reverse this histori- But, “With continuing effort from all the Office of Science, there is the other side for medical applications and measurement cal trend.” of us, I am confident that BNL is up to of the equation yet to be determined by science. This is welcome news for BNL’s BNL Director Praveen Chaudhari it,” says Tarpinian. the Senate. Senators must now complete imaging program. Funds for basic energy strongly backs this goal. “I challenge the Says Williams, “In keeping with this their FY06 budget process and produce sciences are also up $27.1M above the Lab to strive to work injury-free during year’s National Safety Council theme, we their version of the budget. When the two President’s budget, with $19.7M “provided the month of June,” he says. “Staying will hold some events that help people sides are complete, they will “conference” to maintain operating time on user facili- focused is the key, and I ask everyone to and their families keep safe off the job. to determine a final and single budget ties at fiscal year 2005 levels.” Funds for redouble their efforts to think safely.” We are arranging some brown bag amount to be sent in the completed bill the BNL Center for Functional Nano- Tarpinian appreci- lunches during the ates the excellent safety month, when anyone for the President to sign into law or veto. materials remain at $36.55M. These in- It’s hard to share We are optimistic that the Senate will creases are welcome and definitely mov- efforts being made who is interested can appreciate the need to increase the sup- ing in the right direction. — John Hauser around the Lab. “We concerns about safety come and learn various know that many groups without everyone’s tips on things we have of BNL employees have to do at home. We’ll thinking, ‘Oh, not again!’ Urban Dispersion Field Study — Behind the Scenes successfully completed have some fun prizes for long periods without all who attend the talks having any injuries,” he says. “Together and a bigger raffle prize for people who Helping Plan Response to Potential with Pat Williams, I warmly congratu- attend more than one talk.” late all concerned for their many months “It’s hard to share concerns about safety Terrorist or Chemical Spill Events and in some cases, years, without inju- without everyone’s thinking, ‘Oh, not wo days of winter field studies for the Ur- month before the field studies began, ries that cause lost time on the job.” again!’” admits Tarpinian. “But our safety Tban Dispersion Program (UDP), designed Smith and Edwards began transporting Among the groups specially con- record means so much to every employee to contribute valuable data to computer mod- the equipment from Bldgs. 490, 815, and gratulated by Tarpinian and Williams, personally and to the Lab as a whole, that els of how gases move in urban winds, were 830 at BNL and assembling it on the who is the Manager of the Safety & we have to keep reminding ourselves held in New York City in March 2005. The roofs of One and Two Penn Plaza, the Health Services Division, are: the Staff that just one moment of distraction can four-year program has a budget of $10 mil- New Yorker Hotel and the U.S. Post Of- Services Division, celebrating a full year cause an injury, while just a little more lion and aims to improve existing models of fice on 8th Avenue to prepare for the two- without a lost work day; the Environ- concentration can keep us and our fami- how a gas or chemical release might move day experiment. While another BNL team mental & Waste Management Division, lies safe.” — Liz Seubert around Manhattan’s tall buildings and can- tracked the movement of small releases yons. Emergency management, law enforce- of tracer gases, the meteorological team Get Tips on Home Safety ment and intelligence personnel can use these headed by Principal Investigator Michael models to plan for, train for and respond to Reynolds, ES, would measure which way Brown Bag Lunch Sessions: Berkner Hall, Room D potential terrorist attacks and accidents involv- the wind was blowing. Noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, 6/1 — Home Chemical Safety ing toxic industrial chemicals. The March field “Everything comes together in the Noon-1 p.m., Monday, 6/6 — Bicycle Safety study, called Madison Square Garden 2005 computer models,” Reynolds said. “Our Noon-1 p.m., Friday, 6/10 — Yard Maintenance Safety or MSG05, involved detailed meteorological measurements will be used to validate observations and a tracer gas release. An ac- the existing models.” count of a field study day appeared in the April Operations staff, who helped set up some Principal Investigator, coordinated tracer 1 Bulletin. The following story profiles some Watching the Weather of the rooftop equipment. fieldwork, supervising the efforts of more of the BNL staff from the Environmental Sci- Tracer releases need to occur during “It was really cold up there,” he remem- than 40 students from two Brooklyn col- ences Department (ES), the Energy, Environ- specific weather conditions, and as the bered, “but the view was breathtaking.” leges who helped monitor samplers and ment & National Security Directorate (EENS), three-week window designated for the (continued on page 2) the Office of Educational Programs (OEP) and studies approached, Cassella was also re- BATS and CATS others who worked for many months behind sponsible for monitoring three-day The task of releasing the gas the scenes to ensure the success of this phase weather forecasts. Cassella teamed with and tracking its dispersion was of the ongoing project. National Weather Service colleagues on handled by the tracer team us- the Upton site and Professor Brian Colle ing Brookhaven Atmospheric Late last summer, Scott Smith and Ray of Stony Brook University to forecast the Tracer Samplers (BATS) and Cap- Edwards of ES began assembling the tri- most suitable days for the two experi- illary Absorption Tube Samplers pods, computers and other electronic ments. A conference call was held each (CATS). Other team members equipment they would use to build morning to discuss the forecast and take analyzed and produced visualiza- weather stations for the Urban Dispersion recommendations.