Updating Personal Information in NED

 

Did you know that if you have a NED record, you can update most items in the NED system on your own? This includes your e-mail address, phone number, work address, etc.

 

To update your record, click on the "Update" button at the bottom of your NED record and use your NIH credentials to log in. After completing the required updates, click "Submit Update" for the changes to take effect. If you encounter any errors during the update process please contact your Administrative Officer.

 

The NIH IT Service Desk website provides a helpful tutorial on updating your information in NED and the Global Address List (GAL). A table posted on the site shows each NED field (e.g., Last Name,  First Name, etc.) and the 'Update Method' (i.e, who is permitted to make the entry into NED: Self Service and/or AO, other).

 

Reaching You When an Emergency Arises

While you're updating your personal information in NED, you might want to add your personal e-mail address as well as your home and mobile phone numbers. There may be occasions during off hours and weekends when NIH needs to reach out to its workforce in times of emergency.

 

To make sure you can be reached during an emergency, check that your contact information is available under the AlertNIH Notification section located at the bottom of the NED self service page. Detailed instructions on Managing AlertNIH Notifications in NED are posted on the IT Service Desk Knowledge Base. Click here to view these instructions.    

 

FAQs

 
 

Q. If I discover that my HHS ID Badge certificates are expired, can I have my IC's Lifecycle Work Station (LWS) operator reissue new certificates.

 

A.Yes. Once your PIV Card certificates are expired, you can have them re-issued either by an LWS operator within your IC or at a DPSAC Badge Issuance Station. In either case, you will need to make an appointment.

 

According to the HHS-wide HSPD-12 Help Desk, "as long as the Card Issuance Station (CIS) or LWS (both software operate identically in terms of certificate updates) has a pending cert update request in the Smart Card Management System (SCMS), users will be able to execute a certificate update.

 

Issues may still arise for users who have certificates that are CONSIDERABLY overdue. For instance, if individuals have been so delinquent in getting their certificates updated that they already surpassed their new certificate expiration date. There should not be many of these instances."

 

 

Q. We would like to install a Lifecycle Work Station (LWS) on one of our PCs located off campus. Are there any requirements that the person operating the machine have special training or be an administrative officer? Our preference is to have a program support person operate and manage the PC/LWS.

 

A. Any employee or contractor in your IC can be assigned as an LWS Operator. The individual must already have an HHS ID Badge (smart card) and must know their own PIN.

 

As for training, once your LWS is purchased (either software only - or - laptop and software) the HSPD-12 Program Office can arrange to have someone provide 'basic training' to the individual. Operating the equipment is straightforward.

 

Note: The LWS can only be used for PIN Resets and Certificate Renewals.

 

 

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

 

Awareness of Common Fire Safety Features in Laboratories Can Save Lives and Protect Research

Prepared by the Division of the Fire Marshal, Office of Research Services

 

Almost daily at the NIH, one can walk through any of the laboratory buildings and find a research laboratory under renovation. Cosmetic features such as new cabinets, counter tops, lighting and paint are easy to spot.

 

What often goes unnoticed, however, are the fire safety features which are provided as a part of the same renovation project. The following describes some of the common fire safety features which may be present in your laboratory and how they afford protection to you and your research should a fire emergency occur.

 

Fire Doors

The corridor door used to enter the laboratory is a "fire door." It is equipped with a closing mechanism and hardware that latches. Fire doors are designed to remain in the closed position at all times. Should a fire occur in a laboratory, a closed corridor fire door will help contain the fire and smoke to the laboratory and still allow you and your co-workers to exit the area safely.

 

Flammable Liquid Storage Cabinets

In all laboratory renovations, at least one flammable liquid storage cabinet is provided in each laboratory work area. Additional cabinets can be added to accommodate larger quantities of flammables that may be used.

 

These cabinets are typically constructed of heavy gauge steel, labeled or identified as flammable liquid storage cabinets, designed with a raised sill to contain any spills within the cabinet and have a three-point latch to keep the doors to the cabinet closed.

 

Automatic Sprinklers

In new NIH buildings, all laboratories are provided with automatic sprinklers.

 

Older laboratory buildings are being retrofitted with sprinklers as renovations occur. Sprinkler system piping is either painted red or has red bands. If a fire emergency occurs in the laboratory, only the individual sprinkler heads, which reach their activation temperature (typically between 135° and 165° Fahrenheit), will deliver water to the fire. When a sprinkler head activates, the NIH Fire Department is notified through the building fire alarm system that a "sprinkler water flow" is occurring.

 

In the past, laboratory fires have occurred in NIH buildings with complete sprinkler systems and were controlled by one or two sprinkler heads. Property damage was minimal and research activities resumed the following day.

 

To make sure the sprinklers are able to operate effectively in a fire emergency, it is important to keep all items at least 18 inches below them to allow proper water distribution.

 

Heat Detectors

Heat detectors are small, round, ceiling-mounted devices that detect either rapid temperature increases or sustained high temperatures in the laboratory. Should one of these two conditions occur, the NIH Fire Department will be notified through the building fire alarm system that a potential fire emergency is in progress.

 

Only laboratories which do not have automatic sprinkler protection are provided with heat detectors. Through renovations, all heat detectors will eventually be replaced with automatic sprinklers, which act as heat detectors and deliver water to control or extinguish a fire before it has a chance to grow and cause more damage.

 

If you have questions regarding Laboratory Fire Safety features, please contact the Division of the Fire Marshal, Office of Research Services at 301-496-0487.

 

 

ORS's Security and Emergency Response (SER) -- Did You Know? (from the publication 'About ORS')

 

ORS's Security and Emergency Response provides fire, police, security and emergency preparedness and response services to NIH employees, contractor and affiliates. Comprehensive oversight of security and life safety operations protects NIH staff, visitors and facilities and allows safe, secure fulfillment of the biomedical research mission at all NIH campuses.