In instances where employees have technical concerns related to environment, safety and health (ESH) that have not been resolved through established Argonne channels, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Differing Professional Opinion (DPO) process offers a supplementary approach.
Argonne National Laboratory’s LMS-PROC-205 Differing Professional Opinion for Technical Issues Involving Environment, Safety and Health outlines the use of DOE’s Differing Professional Opinion (DPO) process per DOE O 442.2. The DPO process is available to help resolve technical issues have the potential for a significant impact on environment, safety or health after all other local processes for resolution have been exhausted.
Several established processes allow federal, contractor and subcontractor employees to request further assessment when there is disagreement about appropriate actions to resolve an issue or concern. These include discussions with first-line supervisors or other managers, review and comment processes and other internal communications with safety committees, subject matter experts and the Director’s Safety Council. These processes are designed to resolve differing professional opinions at local and internal levels. However, in rare cases, despite efforts to resolve or address an issue at this level, concern about a technical matter may remain.
If you have a concern involving a technical issue and have tried unsuccessfully to ensure that it is adequately addressed at the laboratory level, please consider filing your professional opinion through the DOE DPO process. The DOE DPO process is discussed on the DPO website. To electronically author and submit a Differing Professional Opinion, use the DPO Submittal Form.
For additional information about the DPO program email or call John Locklar at (301) 903-7660.