CERN's Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental protection objectives
CERN has a robust Safety organisation in place, underpinned by the Safety Policy which spans all areas of occupational health and safety, including environmental protection and the safe operation of CERN’s facilities.
The Safety Regulation SR-SO, which defines the responsibilities and organisational structure in matters of Safety at CERN, specifies that “Safety Objectives shall be defined regularly for the Organization” to guarantee the health and safety of everyone working on the CERN site. As such and for many years, annual Health and Safety objectives have been defined for the Organization.
The annual Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) objectives 2023/2024 were presented at the Enlarged Directorate meeting of 11 April 2023, with a new chapter to integrate those pertaining to the ‘E’ of HSE, i.e. the ‘Environment’. They mix the traditional annual objectives with longer term ones at horizon 2025 and the start of the third Long Shut Down (LS3, currently foreseen to start in 2026). The objectives are the result of close collaboration with Departments, the Departmental Safety Officer Committee (DSOC) and the Safety Policy Committee (SAPOCO).
Below you can find the OHS objectives and their related measures for implementation and monitoring. They are divided into four main areas.
Environment
Long-term objectives (horizon 2025 / horizon 2030):
- Limit the increase in electricity consumption by 5% up to LS3
- Reduce Scope 1 emissions by 28% by the end of Run 3
- Limit the increase in water consumption by 5% up to LS3
The updated objectives at horizon 2030 by domain were approved by the Enlarged Directorate in January 2024 and can be consulted in full in this document. These are also presented in both a detailed visual and a summary visual.
The implementation measures for all these goals can be found in CERN Environment reports.
Annual objectives 2023/2024
Reduce the number of non-conformities in CERN effluents discharged into watercourses from CERN worksites to fewer than 10
Implementation measures:
- Monitoring and optimisation of the effluent management from worksite activities at CERN by the worksite supervisors.
- Application of guidelines for effluent management from worksite activities as defined by the Host States.
- Collaboration with the CERN worksite supervisors to implement corrective actions for the identified non-conformities to avoid
reoccurrence.
UPDATE August 2025: Thanks to the various measures implemented, the objective has been achieved, with 8 non-conformities identified in CERN effluents discharged into watercourses from worksites in 2024. Monitoring the quality of effluents is an ongoing priority for CERN as underscored by the 2030 objective in this domain.
Reduce to maximum 1 (justified) claim from known CERN noise source
Implementation measures:
- Identification by Departments of operational deviations generating noise in the environment.
- Assessment by HSE of the noise footprint according to CERN's Noise Policy.
- Collaboration with Departments to implement corrective actions for the identified noise sources to avoid reoccurrence.
UPDATE August 2025: 2 justified claims were received in 2024, and measures have been taken to resolve them as well as to mitigate the issues in the future.
Occupational Health & Safety
Long-term objectives (end of 2025)
Increase awareness of personnel to Life-Saving actions by LS3
Implementation measure:
- 40% of CERN employed members of personnel to participate to Life-Saving Actions training by LS3.
Update August 2025: between January 2023 and June 2025, a total of 1617 participants have been trained in Life Saving Actions, with an additional 326 trained in SST (104 for SST refresher training). Note: the course is open to all CERN personnel independently of their status, with employed members of the personnel (MPE) representing the majority of participants. NB: MPE at 31.12.2024: 3885, 40% = 1554. Source 2024 personnel Statistics)
Reinforce Electrical Safety by LS3 and Reduce incidents of electrical origin
Implementation measure:
- Electrical Safety Project, a joint effort of the Accelerators & Technology sector, the Research & Computing sector and the HSE Unit, to address:
- regulatory framework;
- organisational aspects;
- associated documentation;
- qualification and training of personnel working in electrical installations;
- equipment conformity.
Update August 2025: The Electrical Safety project (ESP) was initiated in 2021 by the Accelerators and Technology sector, in close collaboration with the HSE unit, the Research and Computing sector and the SCE department with the objective of reinforcing electrical safety, particularly in the accelerator complex, and reducing the number of incidents of electrical origin. Its overarching goal is to improve the management of electrical risks through the development of a clear regulatory framework. This includes, the training of personnel working on or near electrical installations and the required authorisations, ensuring equipment conformity and reviewing how electrical safety is organised and documented.
Following a first phase of analysis and definition of the scope and objectives of the project, clear progress on the second phase started in 2024, which covers implementation measures regarding electrical activity management and equipment compliance. A proof-of-concept pilot was successfully conducted during the year-end technical stop. The general principles of new electrical safety rules have also been defined. Some rules are set to be approved in 2025.
Work will continue on several fronts:
- Issues of conformity/compliance of equipment and installations.
- Management of activities on or near electrical installations, both for planned work and interventions (e.g., on-call duty).
- Improving documentation of electrical installation and what should be done to bring it up to the desired standard.
- IT tools and associated processes.
Annual objectives 2023/2024
Reduce number of incidents/incivilities related to road safety on CERN sites (reference year 2022)
A. Ensure that PMs using bicycles (and scooters) offered by CERN receive training and are tested on their ability to ride
Implementation measures:
- Measures for renting a bicycle by the Mobility Center:
- follow the e-learning course Road Traffic - Bike Riding;
- carry out a practical test:
- define and set up a practical test for cyclists renting a bicycle;
- define and set up a "back in the saddle" training course for people who have failed the test or wish to refresh their skills.
- Prohibit the use of the bicycle rental service for visitors.
- Make it compulsory to wear a helmet for all users of bicycles and scooters and have the means to enforce this obligation.
Update August 2025: the number of incidents/incivilities related to road safety was 85 in 2022, in a context still impacted by the effects of the pandemic on telework and mobility. In 2024, it was 110.
The SCE Department in collaboration with the HSE unit constantly works i to improve the safety of CERN roads for all users, whatever their mode of transport. In 2024, a detailed cycling Safety poster was installed at the mobility centre and the dedicated Road safety webpages were updated with cycling safety tips and other important information, notably for options of various ‘back in the saddle’ training courses provided in Geneva Canton. Safety equipment (helmet, high-visbility jacket) is provided by the mobility centre on request.
B. Secure the pathways shared between different users
Implementation measures:
- Complete connecting the bicycle lanes, to guarantee a path for bicycles from one entrance to the other and between the main buildings, without having to leave the bicycle lanes.
- Continue marking parking spaces, making reverse parking mandatory.
- Like bicycle lanes, identify and secure the main pedestrian paths leading from one entrance to another by the main roads (curbs, accessibility for people with reduced mobility, etc.).
Update August 2025: several actions have been undertaken in 2024, including:
- Improving the access to the SPS1-2-4 sites creating an independent entrance for bicycles and pedestrians.
- Creation of a safe access for pedestrians to SM18 site.
- Creation of a bus terminus stop on Route Marie Curie improving the safety to overtake parked buses.
- Completion of the adaptation of the pedestrian way on Route Rutherford.
Further work is ongoing in 2025:
- The Fermi/Jenske road has just been re-developed (June 2025) to improve safety by creating cycle lanes. This will create a second crossroad connection for cyclists.
- The road near the water tower will be widened in its upper section to accommodate a dedicated cycle path in place of the current cycle lane (to be completed in 2026).
- Reverse parking is compulsory along all main roads.
- The car park in front of buildings 13 and 14 has yet to be rebuilt. This will be done at the same time as future works foreseen on Entrance B.
- To improve pedestrian safety, a pedestrian zone will be created in 2025 in front of B40 and the hotel.
- A comprehensive study has been conducted by a consultant at the request of SCE/SSC on the accessibility of the central part of the campus (B40, hotel, restaurant 1, main building), taking into account all types of disabilities. The SCE WG in charge of diversity will take charge of the standards project.
Further actions in collaboration with entities outside CERN:
- Improvement of the cycle path des Aglands (Prévessin site entrance).
- Improvement of safety by reducing the speed limit in the “Chemin du Moulin des Ponts”.
- Plans are under way for the improvement of the entrance/exit at the Route du Maroc (Prévessin site, existing turnstile entrance)
Radiation Protection
Long-term objectives (end of 2025)
Limit maximum annual personal dose to 3 mSv
Implementation measure:
- Application of Work and Dose Planning (WDP) analysis and intervention optimisation.
Update August 2025: the objective to limit maximum annual personal dose to 3 mSv has been achieved. The maximum individual dose in 2024 was 1.5mSv.
Reduce radioactive waste production by considering it in the design of upgrades and new facilities
Implementation measure:
- Include HSE's Radiation Protection group (HSE-RP) in studies at an early stage.
Update August 2025: an RP-internal working group was set up to formalise aspects of radioactive waste production in RP design studies for upgrade and new facilities. Moreover, all major upgrade projects, such as HL-LHC, systematically took into account radioactive waste aspects in the removal of old installations through radioactive zoning studies, and in the selection of materials for new beamline elements.
Annual objectives 2023/2024
Pursue identification of stored old accelerator and experimental equipment and include radiological controls
Implementation measure:
- Departments to carry out inventory and ask HSE-RP for characterisation analysis.
Update August 2025: HSE-RP is actively supporting radiological measurements during the removal of old accelerator and experimental equipment from storage areas. Items identified as radioactive waste are transferred to the Radioactive Waste Treatment Centre (RWTC), following a defined workflow, with measurements in central storage and upon delivery to the RWTC, followed by final waste package characterisation before elimination.
With the inventory phase complete, the focus has shifted to removal and waste processing, with radiological controls applied throughout.
Emergency Preparedness
Long-term objectives (end of 2025)
Increase preparedness for emergency situations
Implementation measures:
- Organise evacuation exercises of all accelerator and experimental areas before LS3
- Organise evacuation exercises of most populated buildings, including restaurants and hotels, before LS3
- Integrate lessons learned in ad-hoc intervention plans, if relevant
Update August 2025: the objective is on target to being reached. By June 2025, evacuation exercises involving 9 457 people from surface buildings have been undertaken. A further four evacuations are planned in 2025, that will bring evacuee numbers beyond the 10 000 mark (some 85 unique buildings).