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TO ENTER THE SITE AFTER HOURS YOU MUST HAVE A PICTURE I.D.

You should plan to arrive at SSRL between 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Holidays. A knowledgeable person from your group should be available for consultation by the SSRL staff readying the beam line for your group the morning you are scheduled to go on line. A Safety Checklist (SCL) must be completed by the Operations staff before your experiment will be put on line. This cannot be done if your spokesperson has not signed the Safety Review Summary form (see Section 2, Safety Review of Scheduled Experiments).

If you arrive after hours and are listed on the User Support Form you will be allowed entry after providing proof of identification (usually a drivers license). If you are not on the user support form you will have to be escorted by a badged user, or make prior arrangements with Jackie Robleto.

Safety Matters

User Badges/Safety Guidelines/Safety Orientation
You will need a user badge to work at SSRL. Badges are issued on an annual basis for the duration of the user run. Additionally, all users must read the SSRL Safety Guidelines and sign the Safety Agreement annually. Safety talks for new users are given Monday through Friday at 2:00 p.m. and last approximately 30 minutes.

All onsite users must also complete a computer-based site safety training module.  The training may be accomplished on the computer in the general reception area of Building 120 and the user computer room on the mezzanine level of Building 131.
Dosimeters
The adoption of new Federal Regulations (Laws) on Radiation Protection of the Public and the Environment allowed SLAC to revise its policies and procedures with respect to personnel dosimetry.  SSRL is no longer considered a radiologically controlled area and dosimeters are no longer issued to most users.  If you feel you need a dosimeter you may discuss the matter with the Safety Officer, Ian Evans.

Anyone who handles radiactive sample materials at SSRL will still require a dosimeter.  These users should still report to the User Research Administration Office in building 120 and see Jackie Robleto to complete a badge card and the computer-based site safety training module.  To receive a dosimeter you must either attend the SLAC General Employee Radiation Training (GERT) or provide the training group with proof of GERT or RWT training from your home institution.  Users requiring a dosimeter should report to Trailer 206C between 8 AM and 5 PM.

When leaving the site for an extended period of time, please return your dosimeter to the User Research Administration office.  It will be filed and available upon your return.

User Badges should be displayed on the front of your torso between your neck and waist while you are at SSRL.
Hutch Operation
In most x-ray hutches, Hutch Operation means that you, the experimenter, are assigned the responsibility to search the hutch after each access to assure that no person is ever locked inside. In order to act as a Responsible Safety Search Person you must receive a hutch operation specific Safety Talk and sign a Hutch Authorization Agreement prior to going on line. This does not preclude Hutch Operation by others in the group. Each person who intends to act as a Responsible Safety Search Person at SSRL must reread and resign the Hutch Authorization Agreement every 24 months.

To determine if your Hutch Authorization certification is current, see Jackie Robleto in the User Research Administration Office or check the Hutch Authorization List. Hutch Authorization Safety Talks are given to new x-ray beamline users with their Safety orientation. (Monday-Friday, 2 p.m.)

Search reset keys are to remain on the premises at all times. To drop off the key, make a log entry in the experimental station logbook indicating the status of the key, page the Duty Operator and let him know that you are dropping off the key and leave the key in the drop box (there are boxes located in Bldgs.120 and 131).
Other ES&H Concerns
All equipment that is brought to SSRL must meet accepted standards for good laboratory and electrical practices.

Any hazardous waste, including solvent wipes, must be disposed of properly, i.e., not in the regular trash receptacles and not mixed inappropriately. There are disposal containers available on the experimental floor. For procedures for disposing of hazardous waste through SSRL see the section on Leaving SSRL.

The MSDS's for all gases and chemicals must accompany hazardous substances to SSRL.

Please list your local telephone numbers on the white board at your beamline so you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

Operational Matters

SPEAR Status
A recorded SPEAR status message can be heard by calling 926-BEAM. An automatically updated, computer generated display of SPEAR status is available on the central computer system. To access this display, type STALK at the $ prompt. SPEARtalk is also accessible on the web.
Changeover Shifts
  • X-ray Lines

    Users must be off-line and out of the hutch by 0700 on the last day of their assigned beamtime. The new user group will be put on line between 1000 and 1500 depending on the complexity of the changeover and the number of changes scheduled for that day. It is recommended that a representative from the on-going user group who is knowledgeable about the required set up be on-hand by 0900 to be available to the x-ray staff to answer questions regarding the desired configuration.


  • VUV Lines

    VUV users must discontinue taking data at 0700 and be completely cleared out of the area by 1000 on the last day of their beamtime assignment. The on-going user will be put on line no later than 1600 on the first day of their assigned beamtime. A user group representative should be available at 0900 to work with the staff to insure the set-up is correct.


  • Macromolecular Crystallography Lines

    Beamline 1-5, 7-1, 9-1, 9-2 and 11-1 users will go online at 1500 and come offline at 1100.
Changes to the Experimental Schedule
All schedule changes must be done by the User Research Administration Office (C. Knotts for X-ray and VUV and L. Dunn for Macromolecular Crystallography). The Safety Checklist (SCL) termination date must be extended, if this does not occur your group may be taken off line. SCLs are only extended after the User Administration staff has informed the Operations group of the schedule change.
Program Manager Rounds
On weekdays, at approximately 3:00 PM, the Beam Line Program Manager and the Duty Operator will tour the floor, stopping at each beam line to solicit questions/comments/complaints/compliments from experimenters.
Accelerator Physics (AP)
48 hours of accelerator physics are scheduled every other Monday-Wednesday (6:00 AM through 6:00 AM). At times the AP program will not interfere with data collection. Query the Beam Line Program Manager as to the likelihood of usable beam. If you are scheduled to come off at accelerator physics and there is usable beam, please contact Cathy Knotts (ext. 3191) for a decision as to whether or not you can remain on line. The decision will be based on scheduled changeovers, equipment availability, etc. The default position is that users go off as scheduled.

Leaving SSRL

Disposal of Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste which needs to be removed from the site is handled by SLAC. SLAC personnel must be contacted through SSRL staff. If you have waste to be removed from one of the SMB Sample Preparation Laboratories please fill out the appropriate form in the lab and then contact Serena George (ext. 4674) or Ian Evans (ext. 3110). If you have hazardous waste to be removed from other parts of the lab contact Ian Evans to get the appropriate forms. It is important that Serena or Ian speak with you in person regarding the waste before you leave the site.
Shipping Equipment
To arrange to have your equipment returned to your home institution please see Milo Lewis in the SSRL stockroom three days before the shipment is scheduled to leave. We have had problems returning equipment in cases where insufficient information was provided to SLAC Shipping. Return requests which are not filled out properly will not be shipped until the correct information is provided by you. Ian Evans must be contacted before packing hazardous materials. Shipping forms are available from the stockroom clerk or from Michelle Steger.
End-of-Run Summary Form
You will be given an End-of-Run Summary Form to complete. This form serves three purposes: feedback to the staff on problems, a record of the beam time received, and an informational vehicle for the DOE and the SSRL staff on the work which is performed here. These forms are read by all staff involved with floor support and summarized for the SSRL Users' Organization. It is important that this form be filled out legibly. They should be returned to Jackie Robleto in the User Research Administration Office.
Returning Borrowed Equipment
All equipment borrowed from SSRL must be returned. Equipment which is not returned will be billed to your user account.
Publications Based on Work at SSRL
Two copies of each publication or thesis based on work at SSRL should be sent to Lisa Dunn. The correct acknowledgment, which must appear on the paper is:
Work done (partially) at SSRL which is operated by the Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences.
All biology users and materials and environmental EXAFS users should add the following:
The SSRL Biotechnology Program is supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Center for Research Resources, Biomedical Technology Program, and by the Department of Energy, Office of Biological and Environmental Research.