Frequently Asked Questions

Immediately alert and return the dosimeter to your User Administrator or notify the RP Dosimetry Office. Complete the SLAC Lost/Damaged Dosimeter form

We welcome and encourage user feedback. Users can provide feedback by contacting their User Administrator or SLAC Beam Line Point of Contact. Additionally, SSRL and LCLS users are asked to complete the end-of-run survey after each scheduled experiment, log in to the user portal to review scheduled experiments and submit a survey . User feedback helps us to continue to improve our service and to meet DOE reporting requirements.

Also contact the Safety Officer, management or users organizations to discuss questions or provide feedback or suggestions.

SSRL and LCLS are part of the www.lightsources.org consortium which maintains a consolidated list of scientific conferences and events and job opportunities.

Contact your User Administrator and SLAC scientific contact whenever exciting results are about to be published. We can work with users and the SLAC Office of Communications to develop the story and to communicate user research findings to a much broader audience. Information on user publicaitons is extremely important as metrics of scientific achievements and productivity as well as meeting reporting requirements to our funding agencies.

In the event of an emergency or life threatening situation while at SLAC, immediately call 911, then call SLAC extension 5555 from any SLAC telephone (650-926-5555). While at SLAC, also notify your SLAC Contact, Safety Officer, Duty Operator/Floor Coordinator. There is an Occupational Health Center at SLAC which is open Monday-Friday 8 AM-5 PM in Building 28, Room 11 for non-life threatening injury assistance, counseling and other wellness services.

A. We take very seriously the challenges of user safety. Everyone who uses the facilities shares in the responsibility of ensuring a safe workplace. This includes planning experiments properly, taking extra efforts in identifying related hazards, and working closely with us to develop mitigations and controls.

SLAC is committed to protecting the health and safety of on-site personnel, the public, and the environment as it carries out its scientific mission. Consistent with SLAC's Integrated Safety and Environmental Management System (ISEMS), job/task specific hazards and controls are covered by a work planning and controls (WPC) process which plans for safe work by identifying tasks and their hazards, establishing controls to mitigate risks, documenting results and monitoring effectiveness. Each person who works here is required to be familiar with the hazards associated with his/her work and experiment, the hazards associated with work areas, and to properly implement all necessary training, procedures and protocols for mitigation of those hazards. Work planning and controls require that users plan experiments properly, take extra effort to identify potential hazards, and work closely with us to develop mitigations and implement controls. Consider and apply these steps (as well as the environmental impact of all tasks performed):

• Define scope: What do I want to do?
• Analyze hazards: What are the risks of doing it?
• Control for hazards: How can I control those risks?
• Perform work: Do it (controlling for risks)
• Feedback and Improvement: Evaluate performance. How can I do better next time?

For users, including visiting scientists and students, this safety review is conducted each time a proposal is submitted or scheduled to use the user facility, so it is important that proposal spokespersons/PIs fully disclose any potential hazards when submitting a proposal, requesting access, or before arrival. This process prompts the training, controls, procedures, and personal protective equipment necessary to safely complete experiments or activities by seeking the participation of those who will perform the work.

The proper use, storage and disposal of hazardous substances is critical to maintaining a healthful workplace and protecting the environment. All experimenters, especially Proposal Spokespersons and PIs, are responsible for informing the Safety Officer of hazardous substances they wish to bring, and to arrange for their proper shipment, storage and disposal. The Safety Officer can arrange for storage and waste containers.

All work at SLAC requires review prior to authorization and release. A knowledgeable SLAC employee, such as the Safety Officer, Facility Scientist or Engineer, will review the proposed experiment and potential hazards with the user to ensure that the procedure follows best known methods/practices and that the user can adequately explain the steps, hazards and controls of the procedure. Work authorization is dependent on required ES&H training, agreements, and safety checklists. Should the experimental conditions change, re-authorization is required to ensure that potential hazards that may have been introduced are controlled.Everyone who uses the facility must immediately report any unsafe work practices or safety concerns to the Safety Officer, Duty Operator, Floor Coordinatorand/or staff to continue to keep our user facilities safe.

In addition to commonly accepted hazards, SLAC is in a high earthquake risk area. In the event of an earthquake, 'duck and cover under a table or against an inside wall'. Be aware that objects can shift suddenly, so it is important that equipment be earthquake braced. Be aware of your surroundings and the nearest emergency exits. Wait until the shaking has stopped before trying to leave the building. When safe and instructed to do so after an earthquake, fire or other emergency, proceed to the nearest emergency assembly area.

In the event of an emergency or life threatening situation while at SLAC, immediately call 911 or extension 5555 from any SLAC telephone (650-926-5555). While at SSRL or LCLS, also notify your supervisor, the Duty Operator, Floor Coordinator, or Safety Officer.

No alcoholic beverages may be consumed or stored on the SLAC site except when preapproved by the SLAC Director for special events at specific locations.

Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed buildings and facilities. Smoking is permitted only in designated outdoor areas away from doorways and ventilation systems.

Visitors, including children, may only enter experimental floor areas with pre-approval and a qualified escort for brief guided tours.

Most routine costs are absorbed by the user facility (e.g., common chemicals or gases), so there is usually no need to establish a user financial account. However, unusual requests, special services or items that exceed a threshold will trigger the need for a user financial account. Contact User Research Administration to determine if you should establish a user financial account. FACET users do not need a user financial account. The most common method of establishing or renewing a user financial account is by providing a purchase order (PO) (or a letter from the financial officer of the user institution). The PO should be made to SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory for the amount of expenditures desired to support user experiments. The PO should include the following information:

• Name of Proposal Spokesperson, PI, users
• Contact name and billing address for invoices
• Amount authorized ($2,000 suggested minimum; contact staff if estimates needed for supplies or services)
• Period covered, including expiration date
• Funding agency, grant/contract number, and whether expenditures are taxable in California

The Stanford Marguerite provides FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE to several locations in the Palo Alto area. The SLAC line operates Monday-Friday (except holidays) between SLAC and Hoover Tower on the Stanford campus every 20-40 minutes from ~7:20 am-8:10 pm. The Guest House also provides complimentary shuttle service available evenings and weekends for guests; contact the front desk for more details.

For information on other Bay Area bus and train schedules, call CalTrain 800-558-8661,SamTrans 800-660-4287, or 408-321-2300 for other Bus and Light Rail Routes.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car is located on campus and offers a free pick-up service from the Stanford Guest House lobby. Guests can take advantage of discounted rates by mentioning the Stanford Guest House.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car
360 Oak Road
Stanford, CA 94305
(650) 833-8060

Users and visitors are encouraged to reserve accommodations at the Stanford Guest House which is located on the SLAC campus and conveniently located within a short walk to the user facilities. Guests have access to high-speed Internet access, a fitness center, a 24-hour reception desk, laundry facilities, and free parking. The Guest House offers single as well as shared rooms, and all rooms have their own bathroom, and at reasonable rates for the area. All rooms are non-smoking. Reserve 'USER' rooms on-line. During periods of peak demand, the Guest House sets aside rooms for users; access these rooms by identifying yourself as a 'user' and asking to be put on the wait list to be notified if rooms open up. There are several additional accommodations nearby. The SLAC Housing Office may also be able to provide advice about local rental properties.

SLAC is located at 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, California 94025 USA. In general, the SLAC campus is open 24 hours a day. Directions to SLAC and site entry information are available online.

If you have a valid badge and your training and proximity access is up to date, then you should be able to swipe and go. Otherwise, you need to arrive weekdays during working hours.

If this is your first time or if your badge has expired (and you are a US citizen), Security will check to confirm that you’re on the User Access List which is linked to the registrations and approved proposals in the User Portal. So, if you’ve registered, are associated with a scheduled proposal/beam time/experiment, have completed training and other requirements, Security will be able to give an badge to let you through. If you arrive outside of working hours and you’re given a temporary badge, you need to visit the VUE Center on the next business day to complete your check-in and get your official ID.

If you’re a FACET/Test Beam Facility user, you will need to contact the FACET manager before traveling to SLAC so that advance arrangements can be coordinated.

International users are required to arrive weekdays during working hours with the appropriate identification, CV and other documentation. Before traveling to SLAC, review the access requirements for non-U.S. citizens as these have changed (access requirements for foreign nationals).

Most user ID badges/proximity access expire at the end of the current fiscal year (September 30th), so if you have an experiment planned from October to next September and haven't already checked in at the VUE Center, please review the access requirements before traveling to SLAC, particularly for non-U.S. citizens as these have changed (access requirements for foreign nationals).

If you haven’t registered in the User Portal with a scheduled experiment (therefore not on the User Access List) or have not arranged with your User Services Manager, we won’t be able to grant you access. However, if you are registered at the Stanford Guest House, then you will be able to proceed to the Guest House. After arrangements and requirements have been completed, you can go to the VUE Center to check in and obtain a SLAC ID. The best way to avoid this situation is to register and contact your user facility as soon as you know you want to conduct work at SLAC so the user office can process your registration and provide instructions to help you prepare to visit.

• SSRL
• CryoEM
• LCLS
• FACET and Test Beam Facilities

To avoid headaches, check if your training is up to date before you get here by logging into the User Portal and from the ‘Welcome Page’ click on ‘Review SLAC training and access requirements' , then scroll down to check your training and proximity expiration dates.  If you need to take online training, we recommend you do it before you get here so you can maximize your time at the facility. Contact your user office or host if you have questions.