National Parks' Health and Safety Problems Given Priority; Cost Estimates and Safety Management Could Be Improved
RCED-83-59
Published: Apr 25, 1983. Publicly Released: May 05, 1983.
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Highlights
In its second in a series of three reports, GAO reviewed the National Park Service's (NPS) estimate of its current health and safety backlog of construction projects and its systems to identify, set priorities for, and fund health and safety programs.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of the Interior | The Secretary of the Interior should review, during Interior's annual review of the NPS budget, the NPS 5-year priority list of construction projects to determine if all health and safety projects are properly identified. |
Closed – Implemented
NPS provides the Interior budget office with a five-year construction program each year which includes an analysis of high priority health and safety projects. However, all projects are not reviewed by Interior, only those identified as important by NPS during its priority setting sessions and included in the five-year program.
|
| Department of the Interior | The Secretary of the Interior should include the updated 5-year health and safety estimate in Interior's annual budget submission to Congress which should be accompanied by an explanation of the estimate's reliability and comprehensiveness. |
Closed – Implemented
According to NPS and Interior budget officials, health and safety projects are submitted with analysis. However, the analysis does not specifically address reliability and comprehensiveness.
|
| Department of the Interior | The Secretary of the Interior should direct the NPS Director to develop an up-to-date, formal headquarters health and safety program to be used as a guide for regional and park programs. |
Closed – Implemented
NPS issued a directive (NPS-50) in May 1984.
|
| Department of the Interior | The Secretary of the Interior should direct the NPS Director to review regional health and safety activities and require their compliance with Service requirements. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of the Interior | The Secretary of the Interior should direct the NPS Director to develop procedures for the regional safety managers to use in reviewing the parks' health and safety activities, particularly health and safety inspections. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of the Interior | The Secretary of the Interior should direct the NPS Director to identify safety training needs to meet OSHA, Interior, and NPS health and safety requirements and require that NPS provide for a safety training program to meet these needs. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
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Topics
EducationEnvironmental policiesFacility maintenanceFinancial managementFuture budget projectionsInspectionNational parksOccupational health and safety programsWater supply managementWater systems