F A C T

Society for Effective Lessons

Learned Sharing (SELLS)

S H E E T Lessons Learned Listserver

February 2003
they have to the listserver and allow learned contain information from
This fact sheet is part of a collection recipients to determine how the actual events that have seriously
developed by SELLS to support information will be used at their affected worker or public safety,
Department of Energy and National facilities. involved significant violations of
Nuclear Security Agency Lessons federal or state laws, or resulted in
Learned Programs. Only material approved for release major loss or damage to
into the public domain shall be equipment, property, or facilities.
Description electronically released to the
$ Yellow/Caution priority lessons
DOE/NNSA complex. Material that learned contain information on
The Lessons Learned Listserver is an contains classified information or
automated electronic mail system that potential events or conditions that
vulnerability information shall not be
provides the DOE/NNSA community could result in the same types of
placed on the Lessons Learned
easy-to-use tools for sharing lessons adverse conditions described in
Listserver. Listserver subscriptions
learned information. Sharing that Red/Urgent lessons learned.
will generally be limited to
information should encourage using DOE/NNSA Federal and Contractor $ Blue/Information lessons learned
good work practices at all facilities staff engaged in DOE/NNSA business. contain information that may
and help prevent recurrences of protect workers, the public, or the
adverse events. environment, improve compliance
Format and Priority or management performance, or
By simply posting formatted text to A copy of the Lessons Learned benefit public relations.
the Web-based listserver application, Template and a brief discussion of the
users can rapidly disseminate urgent information in the template fields are $ Green/Good Work Practice
lessons learned provide
information that can prevent included in this Fact Sheet. More
subscribers with a means to share
undesirable events. Preliminary complete guidance is available in the
good work practices. These
information can be updated as Lessons Learned Standard and on the
messages may include information
appropriate so listserver subscribers DOE Lessons Learned Web site.
on actions, activities, or practices
receive the most current and complete
that maintain or improve process
information possible. Lessons learned are prioritized
or equipment reliability, safety, or
according to their content and the
efficiency. They may also
In addition to urgent information, potential impact the information has
communicate initiatives that can
listserver messages can be used to had, or could have, on operations.
reduce costs and improve
communicate lessons learned that Specific prioritization guidance is
efficiency.
have significantly impacted or could provided in DOE-STD-7501-99, The
significantly impact the safety, DOE Corporate Lessons Learned
effectiveness or security of Program. That guidance is repeated Regardless of the priority level
operations. below to help message generators and assigned, originators are responsible
recipients apply a graded approach to for evaluating their lessons learned
The listserver is a general topics listserver information. information against DOE/NNSA
distribution service that does not allow information security requirements
tailoring delivery to limited groups of To assist subscribers in performing a before posting documents to the
subscribers. All subscribers receive quick evaluation of messages, each listserver. Subscribers are also
all posted lessons learned. Because of Lessons Learned is assigned a red, responsible for ensuring that all
the variety of organizations and yellow, blue, or green priority messages generated for, or received
activities served by the listserver, not descriptor that signifies the urgency of from, the listserver are appropriately
all lessons learned will be applicable the information in the message. handled at their individual sites.
to all subscribers. Subscribers are Questions regarding a specific lesson
encouraged to post any lessons learned $ Red/Urgent priority lessons which has been posted to the listserver

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Page 2 February 2003

should be directed to the contact

person indicated on the message, not If you followed these steps precisely
the list manager. in order and still were unable to
subscribe, contact John Bickford, the
list administrator, at
Use of Lessons John_C_Bickford@rl.gov or by
telephone at 509-373-7664.
The Society for Effective Lessons
Learned Sharing (SELLS) maintains a Lessons Learned are entered into the
Lessons Learned Information DOE Lessons Learned Database,
Screening Guide Fact Sheet to help http://tis.eh.doe.gov/ll/listdb.html,
site lesson learned personnel assess when they are distributed to the list by
the applicability of information from the listserver administrator.
multiple sources, including the
listserver. That screening guide and The listserver application also serves
other Fact Sheets are available on the two other lists related to lessons
DOE Lessons Learned Web site learned: The “SELLS” list transmits
(http://tis.eh.doe.gov/ll/sells/faq.html). administrative messages relating to
SELLS business, including conference
Subscribing call reminders and minutes and
meeting announcements, call for
To subscribe to the lessons learned
papers, etc; and the “SELLS-EC” list,
listserver, follow these steps in order:
a private list for SELLS Executive
1. Go to
Committee member use. Members in
http://hqlnc.doe.gov/list/SellsListServ
SELLS are encouraged to also sign up
er.nsf/
on the SELLS list following the same
2. Click the "Subscribe/unsubscribe"
process except for selecting the list
hyperlink.
named “SELLS” instead of “DOE-
3. Click the "Subscribe" radio
LL” in step 4.
button in the 'Action' list, even though
it is already selected. This step is
necessary to load the correct form into
your browser. Contact Information
4. Select list "DOE-LL" from the For more information about this fact
drop down box labeled 'Select a list'. sheet or the lessons learned process,
5. Fill in your name and e-mail please contact:
address.
John Bickford
6. Click on the Fluor Hanford, Inc.
button in the upper left corner of the Phone: (509) 373-7664
screen. (You may need to scroll up to Fax: (509) 372-3950
see it, depending on your display E-mail: John_C_Bickford@rl.gov
settings.)
7. Click on the second “Send”
Lessons Learned Program Fact Sheets, by
button that appears below the first one. the Society for Effective Lessons Learned
If either Send button does not appear Sharing (SELLS), are available from the
or nothing happens when you click it, DOE Lessons Learned Web Site:
you probably have a security setting http://tis.eh.doe.gov/ll/sells/faq.html
on your browser or network firewall
that prevents Java Script applications
from functioning. Please contact your
local computer support personnel for
assistance.
8. You should receive a "Thank you"
message that describes the list to
which you have just subscribed. If
not, your subscription was not
successful.

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Page 3 February 2003

Lessons Learned Template

Title:

Date:

Identifier:

Lessons Learned Statement:

Discussion of Activities:

Analysis (May be incorporated into the Discussion):

Recommended Actions:

Estimated Savings/Cost Avoidance (if applicable):

Priority Descriptor:

Work / Function(s):

User-Defined Category:

Hazard(s):

ISM Core Function(s):

Originator:

Contact:

Authorized Derivative Classifier:

Reviewing Official:

References:

Visit the Lessons Learned Program Web Site at http://tis.eh.doe.gov/ll

Page 4 February 2003

Lessons Learned Template - Field Descriptions

Title: Title of the lesson learned.

Date: Date the lesson learned was issued.

Identifier: Unique identification number to assist in referencing a lesson learned. Should include
calendar year, operations office identifier, organization or field/area office/contractor
identifier, and a sequential number (e.g., 1998-CH-BNL-0019; 2000-ID-BWXT-0118).

Lessons Learned Statement: Statement that summarizes the lesson(s) learned from the activity.

Discussion of Activities: Brief description of the facts which resulted in the initiation of the lesson learned.

Analysis: Results of any analysis that was performed, if available.

Recommended Actions : A brief description of management-approved actions which were taken, or will be taken, in
association with the lesson learned.

Estimated Savings/Cost Avoidance: If the lesson learned is implemented, an estimate of the savings from the application of a
good work practice or the costs avoided from the prevention of a similar event.

Priority Descriptor: A descriptive code that assigns a level of significance to the lesson. Options include
Red/Urgent, Yellow/Caution, Blue/Information, Green/Good Work Practice.

Work/Function(s): The work or function(s) to which the lesson applies. Enter all that apply. See listing.

User-Defined Category: Space for organizations to include categories for internal use.

Hazard(s): Hazards this lesson applies to or that were present in the original situation. See listing.

ISM Core Function(s): ISM Core Functions this lesson applies to. See listing.

Originator: Name of the originating organization or contractor.

Contact: Name, phone number, e-mail address of individual to contact for additional information.

Authorized Derivative Classifier: Name of individual who determined that the lesson learned does not contain classified
information. (Not required for lessons submitted by unclassified facilities.)

Name of Reviewing Official: Name of Reviewing Official who determined that the lesson learned did not contain
Unclassified Controlled Nuclear Information (UCNI). (Not required for facilities which
have no UCNI.)

References: References such as DOE Orders, Standards, Occurrence Report numbers, etc.

Visit the Lessons Learned Program Web Site at http://tis.eh.doe.gov/ll

Page 5 February 2003

Lessons Learned Categories

These bins are intended to help lesson authors assign categories to their products so lesson users can find information focused on their
needs. The three sets of bins (Work/Function, Hazard, and ISM Core Function) provide several avenues for zeroing in on applicable
lessons. Some of these bins are narrow (Hoisting and Rigging, Mechanical Injury) and some are broader conceptual areas
(Authorization Basis, Energy Conservation, Environmental Release). This division is meant to help work planners looking for
specific items, to help foremen looking for training anecdotes, and to help managers looking for big-picture lessons. The
Work/Function and Hazard bins were developed by the Lessons Learned Process Improvement Team and extended by SELLS after
several years of experience. They are open for further improvement and extension.

Work/Function Maintenance Hazards

Alternate Fuels Electrical Confined Space
Authorization Basis Facility Electrical/NEC
Business and Support Services HVAC Elevated Work / Falling Objects
Conduct of Operations Instrumentation and Control Environmental Release
General Mechanical Ergonomics / Lifting
Configuration Management Power Distribution and Utilities Excavation and Trenching
Lockout/Tagout Roads and Grounds Fire / Smoke / NFPA
Procedure Development Structural Firearms and Explosives
Procedure Adherence Safety Systems Lasers
Work Planning Heavy Equipment Natural Phenomena
Work Control Vehicle None
Construction Machining and Fabrication Other
Criticality Management Personal Injury / Exposure
Decontamination and Material Airborne Materials
Decommissioning Handling Ambient Temperature Extremes
Demolition Storage Asbestos
Driving Occupational Safety and Health Beryllium
Emergency Management General Hazardous Material (General)
Energy Conservation Personnel Protective Equipment Infectious Agents
Engineering and Design Operations Mechanical Injury
Nuclear Facility (Striking/Crushing)
Non-Nuclear Heavy Equipment Noise
Environmental Protection Other Other
General Packaging and Transportation Radiation / Contamination
Environmental Sampling Quality Slips and Tripping
Releases Radiation Protection Toxic Material
RCRA Management Research and Development Plants/Animals/Insects
Underground Storage Tanks Safeguards and Security Power Tools
NEPA Management Safety Design Pressurized Systems
TSCA Management Training and Qualifications Radiological Release
Environmental Restoration Waste Management Traffic
Excavation Waste Remediation Weather Related
Fire Protection Welding, Burning, Hot work
Hoisting and Rigging Well Drilling
Human Factors ISM Core Functions
Human Resources Define Work
Information Technology Analyze Hazards
Inspection and Testing Develop/Implement Controls
Laboratory Experimentation Perform Work
Feedback and Improvement

Visit the Lessons Learned Program Web Site at http://tis.eh.doe.gov/ll