High Risk Operations

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish a High Risk Operations assessment and control process that is intended to comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and avoid Incompatible Groupings between occupancies within a facility under the jurisdiction, custody or control of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), through screening of new Federal Agency Space Requests and review of existing Federal agency space during environmental, health and safety, and fire protection (EHSF) facility surveys. 

Authority

The Department of Labor, OSHA, established standards for Basic Program Elements for Federal Employees in 29 C.F.R. § 1960.  29 C.F.R. §1960.34(a)(7) of the standard requires GSA to “[e]stablish an occupancy permit program which will regulate the types of activities and occupancies in facilities in order to avoid Incompatible Groupings, e.g., chemical or biological laboratories in office space." 

Background

Section 19 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. § 668, requires Federal employers to provide a safe and healthy work environment for their employees. GSA’s Public Buildings Service (PBS) has the added responsibility of ensuring that facilities under the jurisdiction, custody or control of GSA are constructed, operated, and maintained in a safe and healthy manner. 

Scope and Applicability

This order is intended to meet the occupancy permit program as defined by the aforementioned OSHA standard, and applies to all facilities under the jurisdiction, custody, or control of GSA. The requirements specified herein are required for all future Federal Agency Space Requests and existing Federal agency space occupancies. PBS staff are required to follow the procedures described herein.