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January 11, 2012 issue of the DPSAC NEWS

In This Issue
HHS ID Badge Rollout Scorecard
Finding Answers to Your Badging Questions
NED Self Service - How NIH Staff Can Update Their Own NED Record
Helpful Tips
News Briefs
FAQs
Safety Corner

   

 

Contact Us

 

Division of Personnel Security and Access Control

 

Personnel Security 

Helpdesk: 301-402-9755

e-QIP: 301-402-9735

Appointment Line: 301-496-0051

E-mail: orspersonnesecurity@ 

mail.nih.gov

 

Access Control

Helpdesk: 301-451-4766

E-mail: facilityaccesscontrol@ 

mail.nih.gov

 DHHS Logo gif   NIH Logo gif    ORS jpg

    

HHS ID Badge Rollout Scorecard

  

Here are the most recent NIH badging statistics provided by HHS as of January 6, 2011.  

 

Sponsored: 39,532    Enrolled: 38,616   Issued: 38,239 *

 

*This figure represents 96.7% of individuals who have been sponsored.

 

          IDBadge Scorecard Pie Chart 1-6-12
             IDBadge Scorecard Excel Table 1-6-12

 

 

NED Training Schedule Set for January, February, March, 2012

 

The HSPD-12 Program Office is offering a series of classes in January, February and March for NED beginners and experienced NED users. Take advantage of this opportunity to quickly master NED in a hands-on computer lab environment.

 

NED for Beginners
 
    Date: Friday, January 13, 2012  
CANCELLED

    Time:  9 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

    Location: Building 12A, Room 49/51

   

    Date:  Friday, February 3, 2012

    Time:  9 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

    Location: Building 12A, Room 51

 

    Date:  Thursday, March 22, 2012

    Time:  9 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

    Location: 6120 Executive Blvd., Room 6 (EPS) 

 

 

NED for Advanced Users
 
    Date: Friday, January 13, 2012 
CANCELLED

    Time:  1 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

    Location: Building 12A, Room 49/51

   

    Date:  Friday, February 3, 2012

    Time:  1 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

    Location: Building 12A, Room 51

 

    Date:  Thursday, March 22, 2012

    Time:  1 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.   

   Location: 6120 Executive Blvd., Room 6 (EPS) 

 

Contact Lanny Newman at [email protected] to reserve a space. In your e-mail, provide Lanny with your name and IC and which course you would like to attend. Sign up soon to ensure your place in the class. Seating is limited.

 

NED Self Service - How NIH Staff Can Update Their Own NED Record

 

The accompanying graphic, prepared by the HPSD-12 Program Office and the NED Project Team, illustrates the steps individuals can take to update their NED record.

 

       NED Self Service Graphic 

Finding Answers to Your Badging Questions

 

Got a question about resetting your PIN or updating certificates? What about completing your background investigation forms or replacing a broken HHS ID Badge?

 

The answers to these and many other badge-related questions may be a few clicks away under the FAQ section of the ID Badge website: http://www.ors.od.nih.gov/ser/dpsac/Pages/FAQ.aspx

 

There you can conduct a custom search by typing likely keywords into the 'Search this site' text box located on the top right of the page.

Helpful Tips  

 

Don't Miss a Single Issue of DPSAC News in 2012 -- if you know someone who would benefit from receiving DPSAC News, just have that person send a request to be added to the DPSAC News listserv along with his/her e-mail address to: [email protected]. Also, all past issues of DPSAC News can be found on the ID Badge website at: http://www.ors.od.nih.gov/ser/dpsac/resources/newsletter/Pages/newsletter.aspx). 

 

                                                                           

Do not lend your ID badge to anyone to gain access to NIH facilities -- lending out your ID card is prohibited. The issuance of the new HHS ID Badge is based on strict identity proofing and the determination of one's suitability for a specific position classification.

   

News Briefs

 

Stamp prices going up in January, 2012

 

Stamp prices will go up by 1 cent starting in January, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) reported recently. 

 

The cost of a first-class stamp - also known as a Forever Stamp - will climb to 45 cents on Jan. 22, the first price increase in more than 2 1 / 2 years, USPS said. The cost of sending magazines, standard mail and some package services will also rise, but prices for Express Mail and Priority Mail will stay the same.

 

The price increase is expected to generate an additional $888 million in revenue, postal officials said Tuesday.  Read more....

 

FAQs

 

Q. Do I need to be connected to the NIH network to schedule a Certificate Renewal appointment?

 

A. No. An individual does NOT need to be connected to the NIH network to schedule a Certificate Renewal appointment.

 

The HHS e-mail notification, which is automatically sent to cardholders six weeks in advance of their certificate expiration date, now includes instructions for users to schedule appointments themselves without the assistance of their AO. Click here to see a sample notification from HHS.

 

Note: Scheduling an Enrollment and Badge Issuance appointment online does require the user to be connected to the NIH network

 

 

 

Q. What is NIH's policy for returning an HHS ID Badge for someone leaving NIH?

 

A. If you plan to leave the employ of NIH, whether you're an employee, contractor or affiliate, you will need to turn in your HHS ID Badge to your Administrative Officer so that s/he can deactivate your badge in NED. The AO will turn over the deactivated badge to DPSAC.

 

Note: if you are moving from one Institute/Center to another, your badge will not change.   

 


Safety Corner 

 

Help Us Help You! - Know How to Spot Common Fire Safety Hazards in the Workplace 

The following article was prepared by the Division of the Fire Marshal, ORS.

 

The Division of the Fire Marshal, Office of Research Services, is once again kicking off the New Year with a fire safety awareness outreach campaign with the NIH community entitled "Help Us Help You! - Know How to Spot Common Fire Safety Hazards in the Workplace."  

 

Even though all facilities on the NIH Bethesda and Poolesville campuses are surveyed by the Division of the Fire Marshal (DFM) on a regular basis, fire-safety hazards in the workplace can still pop up. With this in mind, the NIH community should not assume the DFM is aware of and/or working to correct every fire safety hazard. Peer responsibility plays a large part in keeping NIH facilities fire-safe. Therefore, it is extremely important for the NIH community to be able to spot and correct the more common workplace fire safety hazards before a fire incident occurs.

 

Below are the top 10 fire safety hazards that are frequently encountered in NIH facilities that can be easily spotted, corrected, and more importantly, prevented.

 

1. Blocked or locked exit doors

 

Exit doors are required by fire codes to be unobstructed so that they are readily obvious in the event of an emergency. In addition, exits doors are required to be unlocked and readily available any time the building is occupied.

 

2. Storage in stairwells

 

Stairwells are prohibited by fire codes to be used for storage or for the installation of equipment not necessary for safety. The objective is to not use the stairwell for any purpose that has the potential to interfere with its use as an exit.

 

3. Fire doors propped open

 

Required fire doors in NIH facilities are typically doors to stairwells, mechanical/electrical rooms, and corridor doors to laboratory work areas. Fire codes prohibit the blocking or wedging of fire doors in the open position so that fire doors are always ready to serve their intended purpose -- to prevent the spread of fire, smoke and hot gases.

 

4. Improper use of extension cords

 

Make sure all extension cords and power strips are approved by the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) and have a UL label. Sometimes extension cords and power strips that are not UL approved do not have a sufficient protective coating over the wires. Electrical shocks, burns or fires can result from using unapproved equipment.

 

Do not "daisy chain" power strips with extension cords. In other words, do not hook several extension cords together to energize a power strip located far away from an electrical outlet. Electrical resistance increases with cord length and can cause overheating, leading to a fire or equipment failure. In addition, hooking several power strips together can result in an overload, which can cause a fire, trip a circuit breaker, or cause a loss of power to the electrical equipment plugged into the power strips.

 

Do not use power strips or extension cords for high power loads such as microwave ovens, refrigerators or space heaters. Power strips and extension cords are for use with low power loads such as computers and audio or visual equipment according to the Occupational and Safety Health Administration. In addition, inspect the wattage of everything plugged into a power strip. Add up the total wattage of all items plugged into the power strip. Do not exceed the total electrical wattage the power strip or extension cord is rated to handle to avoid the hazards of a fire or damage to the electrical equipment plugged into the strip.

 

5. Material/equipment in corridors that impede egress

 

A proper means of egress allows unobstructed travel at all times. Fire codes require means of egress to be continuously maintained free of all obstructions or impediments for full instant use in the case of a fire or other emergency.

 

6. The use of portable space-heating devices in laboratories and health care areas

 

Fire codes and NIH policy prohibit portable space-heating devices in all health care areas and laboratory work areas.

 

7. Flammable or combustible liquids and compressed gas cylinders in corridors

 

NIH Policy Manual 1361 (Corridor Utilization) prohibits the use of corridors for the storage of flammable or combustible liquids and compressed gas cylinders of all sizes. The restriction on the storage of flammable or combustible liquids in corridors is intended to eliminate significant fuel sources for a fire. Cylinders containing compressed gases present a particular hazard because of their high pressure and can act as a missile by reaching a high speed in an extremely short period of time if the valve mechanism breaks. For additional information, please use the following link to NIH Policy Manual 1361 (Corridor Utilization): http://oma.od.nih.gov/manualchapters/management/1361/.  

 

8. Tampering with fire protection equipment

 

Fire codes prohibit any person from tampering with or rendering any portable (i.e. fire extinguisher) or fixed fire protection system or device (i.e. automatic sprinklers, fire alarm system devices, etc.) inaccessible or obstructed from view and/or for proper operation.

 

9. Missing ceiling tiles

 

A missing ceiling tile can easily allow hot products of combustion from a fire to rise through the ceiling opening and collect in the space above the ceiling. This effect can severely delay the activation time of automatic fire sprinklers that have been installed at the ceiling level. If you see ceiling tiles being removed by workers in your workplace, please remind the workers to have the ceiling tiles reinstalled in their exact location.

 

10. Use of equipment with damaged or exposed electrical wiring

 

Do not use equipment with wiring that is damaged, including cuts or exposed wires. In addition, do not place power cords where they can incur damage during use. Damaged wiring on extension cords or power strips can cause fires and touching a single exposed wire can cause an electrical shock or burn.

 

The Division of the Fire Marshal (DFM), Office of Research Services, greatly appreciates the ongoing assistance and support of the NIH community as our advocates for keeping NIH facilities fire safe. For questions or assistance regarding any workplace fire safety matter, please contact the DFM at 301-496-0487. 

 

 

 

Cold Weather - Prime Time for "Warm-up Thefts"

The following advisory, prepared by the ORS Division of Police, was sent recently to the NIH workforce via the ORS Information Line.

 

The term "Warm-Up Theft" is a widely used term among car thieves to describe the stealing of a car that has been left running and unattended to "warm-up."

 

During the winter months, many motorists are tempted to leave their vehicle running in an attempt to warm up the interior of the vehicle prior to getting behind the wheel. However, this practice is one that causes two problems. First, leaving a car unattended and running is a violation of the State of Maryland Vehicle Law, Article 21 Section 1101 (a) and second, the practice of leaving your vehicle running and unattended provides for a quick and easy target for car thieves.

 

Following these simple tips will help keep you from being left out in the cold:

  • Never leave your car running or the keys in the ignition when you are away from it, even for "just a minute."
  • Keep valuables out of sight or in the trunk. Purses, credit cards, and cell phones in plain view only help attract thieves.
  • Always roll up the windows and lock your car, even if it is in your driveway, garage, or in front of your home.
  • Never leave the vehicle title in your car. If stolen, it makes it easier for the thief to dispose of your vehicle. It can also make you a target for identity theft.
  • Be alert when approaching your car, have a plan of action, and have your keys in your hand. Check around, under, and in your vehicle for suspicious individuals. Immediately leave the scene to get help if you have any concerns for your safety.
  • Only park your car in busy, well-lit areas. Install a mechanical locking device - commonly called a club, collar, or j-bar - that locks to the steering wheel, column, or brake.
  • If your vehicle has an alarm or other anti-theft device, USE IT.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Research Services, Division of Police, Community Policing Coordinator, Corporal Matthew Catherwood at 301-496-3020 or [email protected].

 

A biweekly e-newsletter from the Office of Research Resources, Division of Personnel Security and Access Control (ORS/DPSAC) to keep you informed as NIH rolls out "Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12" (HSPD-12) establishing a common identification standard to better safeguard NIH and its workforce.