Fire danger: High
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In this latest set of questions and answers, part 13, Laboratory Director John Browne answers questions about security, salary increases, parking at TA-3 and more (see the Director's home page under "Ask the Director"). The director is always open to employee questions and will answer those sent to him at future@lanl.gov. |
Flu vaccinations are available beginning
Oct. 25
Occupational Medicine (ESH-2) will again offer free flu vaccinations for Laboratory employees beginning Monday, Oct. 25 and continuing through Nov. 5 or until all the vaccine is administered.
This year, staff from ESH-2 will go to various sites around the Lab to make it easier for employees and subcontract personnel to receive a flu shot, said Carole Steinkruger of ESH-2.
The idea behind the immunizations is to decrease the likelihood of a flu outbreak at the Lab. "The greater the percentage of employees immunized, the less likely there will be endemic proportions of this illness onsite," Steinkruger said.
University of California Laboratory employees, Department of Energy Los Alamos Area Office employees and subcontract personnel from Johnson Controls Northern New Mexico, Protection Technology Los Alamos and the Los Alamos County Fire Department can receive a free flu shot, said Steinkruger. Subcontract personnel from other contractors also can receive a free flu shot with the approval of their employer, she said.
Occupational Medicine has faxed employee consent forms to subcontract companies.
Steinkruger said the vaccine will offer protection against the A/Bejing, A/Sydney and B/Yamanashi influenza strains. She said that influenza vaccinations don't protect people from common colds and reminded that frequent hand-washing and covering the mouth when coughing and sneezing are very important to prevent the spread of all viruses.
Flu shots will be administered by registered nurses from ESH-2.
The schedule for flu vaccinations can be found online at http://drambuie.lanl.gov/~wellness/fluclinic.html.
For more information, call 7-7839.
--Steve Sandoval
Elk duke it out in deadly harem battle
Much of the Lab sits directly on an elk migration path and wintering ground, so it's fairly common to look out the window and see an elk strolling by, peacefully making its way along, eating native grasses and trees. Given that most people have this calm impression of elk, employees should be aware that during this time of year, elk can be quite aggressive (rarely with humans, but often with each other). In fact, members of a Johnson Controls Northern New Mexico crew working at S site recently saw two huge bull elk, with horns locked, battling it out.
The two very well-antlered elk clashed for several minutes before one of them hooked his horns into the side of the other elk. The wounded elk then walked approximately 40 to 50 feet before collapsing and ultimately dying.
As the battle was taking place, Scot Bryan of Emergency Management and Response (EM&R) was notified. Bryan arrived at the scene, and was joined shortly thereafter by Manny L'Esperance, a maintenance supervisor with Johnson Controls as well as a reserve conservation officer with New Mexico Game and Fish.
Bryan said, "By the time we arrived, the elk was already dead, but it was obvious that it had happened very recently because the body was still warm. All I could think of was how big the other one must have been because the elk that was killed was huge."
Manny L'Esperance, a maintenance supervisor with Johnson Controls as well as a reserve conservation officer with New Mexico Game and Fish, shows off the impressive size of the elk that died in a recent elk battle at S site. Photo taken by Scot Bryan of EM&R.
According to L'Esperance, elk battles of this type are common. Elk "family" structures typically include one dominant male, known as a bull, who has a harem made up of numerous females, or cows. In some instances, a harem may include one or two subservient bulls, but typically a single bull has complete control of the harem.
L'Esperance said, "What you'll often see are satellite bulls that hang out on the periphery of the harem. The satellite bulls will size up the dominant bull -- the most common measure is the antler size -- to see if they can make a successful challenge. When the satellite bull feels he has a chance, he moves in and challenges the dominant bull."
The majority of the time, the fight is over before it starts, as one bull realizes that he will lose. In some cases, though, a full battle ensues, and occasionally, as in this case, it leads to the death of one of the bulls.
"It's most likely that in this instance it was the satellite bull that was killed. Reports we heard were that the other bull was even bigger," said Bryan. Because Bryan and L'Esperance arrived as soon as they did, they were able to salvage the elk carcass.
The elk that was killed was approximately seven- to eight-years-old. The maximum age for most elk is 12 to 13, said L'Esperance. One possible explanation for the battle is that now is the time of year when elk are "in rut." This mating season is quite short, usually lasting from September through the first week in October.
L'Esperance explained that although elk battles are fairly common, it is very rare -- although not unheard of -- for an elk to attack a human.
James Biggs of Ecology (ESH-20) said that the Lab has been doing research on elk and other large-animal populations at the Lab for some time. The studies, which often involve the use of very high frequency (VHF-stays caps) and Global Positioning System radio collars, track the movement of the elk, their feeding habits, and overall resource use, among other factors. Biggs estimates that during any given season there are roughly 100 to 300 elk on Lab property. "In winter, the number is likely closer to 300," he said.
L'Esperance provided the following safety tips to remember about elk:
Biggs also said employees can help ESH-20 with their research by doing the following:
--David Lyons
Notices issued concerning packaging and transportation LIR changes and freeze protection
The Laboratory recently issued two new notices.
The first notice, issued by the Business Operations (BUS) Division, concerns packaging and transportation LIR changes. The notice can be found online at http://labreq.lanl.gov/pdfs/ops/alerts/Notice0039.pdf (Adobe Acrobat required).
The purpose of the second notice, issued by the Facility and Waste Operations (FWO) Division, is to bring freeze protection issues to the attention of facility managers and their staffs to help avoid facility damage caused by freezing. The notice can be found at http://labreq.lanl.gov/pdfs/ops/alerts/Notice0040.pdf (Adobe Acrobat required).
Mentoring on the Web
The Laboratory is joining a national electronic mentoring program that pairs undergraduate and graduate students in science, engineering and mathematics with professionals in their fields. The program, called MentorNet, is designed to increase the retention rate in technical fields.
Mentors are now being sought for the current academic year. Because the Laboratory is a member of the program, Lab mentors will receive priority in being matched with students.
The deadline for signing up, according to a Master Management
memorandum, is this Friday. For more information about the program
or becoming a mentor, contact Wendee Brunish, the Laboratory's
MentorNet representative, at 7-5724 or wb@lanl.gov
or Georgia Pedicini of the Women's Diversity Working Group at
7-8117 or gap@lanl.gov.
The Master Management memo, which has additional information,
is available at http://int.lanl.gov/memos/MasterManagement/MM1129_ADS1245.PDF
(pdf required). Information is also available at the MentorNet
web site: www.mentornet.net.
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Lab Counsel offers guidance on dealings with investigators The Laboratory Counsel Office has issued a memorandum that provides guidance to employees who might be asked for documents or interviews by investigators with the Federal Bureau of Investigation or U.S. Attorney's Office. Click here for the memo. |
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