This orientation guide provides a description of most, but not necessarily all, of the points to be made to the user during the SER-CAT specific orientation and tour. It is to be used as a reference for the SER-CAT mentor as well as a handout to be given to the user for future reference.
The user’s parent institution must have an approved Institutional Agreement with the APS before the user can conduct experiments at the APS.
The APS User Orientation is a brief introduction to the APS facility and the safety requirements associated with its use. Contact the APS User Office (630-252-9090) to schedule taking this
APS requires that all badged users maintain their General Employee Radiation Training (GERT) certification in order to use the facility. GERT training at the APS is accomplished through a computer-assisted training program followed by a computerized examination and is scheduled through the APS Users Office (2-9090). Training must be renewed every two years. APS maintains records of user GERT status and will notify users by email when GERT training must be renewed. See GERT Study Guide. Expiration of GERT training will result in deactivation of the user’s badge.
Issuance of a user badge is part of the APS user-orientation process. Under most circumstances the user will receive a badge while at the user office. The badge must be worn visible at all times when within the Argonne premises. The badge is needed for admittance to Argonne, the APS LOMs and experimental floor, and designated user areas of SER-CAT’s LOM. Users are required to report loss of a badge immediately to Argonne Security (2-5737).
After 10 years of testing Dosimeter readings, the APS has determined there is no need for users to wear dosimeters if their time on the beamline is less than 4 months in a year.
The Registration Form requires users to provide the names of their institutions, the proposed beginning and ending dates of their visit to SER-CAT, a brief description of their experiments, and a request for special needs from the SER-CAT staff and facility. This Form must be submitted to SER-CAT at least two weeks before the proposed start of experimentation in order to allow sufficient time for review and resolution of any issues. This form is available in (.pdf) or (.doc)
A copy of the SER-CAT Safety Plan is available in the main book shelf located in the central office of 436B. The Argonne Environmental and Safety Manual is available on-line at Argonne Environmental Safety and Health Manual. For APS specific information, contact John Gonczy, SER-CAT Safety Coordinator (2-0642 or Pager 4-0642) or Bruce Glagola (APS User Safety Representative, 2-9797 or Pager 4-9797).
The on-site emergency number is 911 and can be placed from any Laboratory telephone or pay phone. Call 911 in any medical, fire, or safety emergency; then notify the APS and SER-CAT staff afterward. You can notify the APS by contacting the APS Floor Coordinator (see below).
The Sector 22 Floor Coordinator is Wendy (Telephone 2-0600). If unavailable, call the on-duty floor coordinator's number at pager 2-0101. When paging, dial the number, respond to the prompt by entering the number from which you're calling, and hang up. The Floor Coordinator will generally return the call within five minutes.
Complete information can be obtained by viewing the Emergency Notification video tape available through SER-CAT.
Briefly:
Fire Alarm- A continuously ringing alarm requires immediate evacuation of the building. Evacuate through any exit in Building 436. Assemble outside 436 LOM central Pentagon C and await directions from the Area Emergency Coordinator.
Severe Weather Warnings- A public address announcement and/or steady outdoor sirens. Proceed quickly to the Tornado Shelters located in the men’s and women’s wash rooms in Building 436 LOM, central Pentagon C. The route to the Tornado Shelters is indicated by signs.
A laboratory telephone is located on Column 131, near 22-ID-D. At the rear of each of the endstations, 22-ID-D and 22-BM-D, are base units and wireless phones that have the same functionality as the Laboratory telephones. Current emergency call listings are located near each phone/base unit. Users can place calls to SER-CAT’s Sector 22 by dialing 2-1822 from within the Laboratory.
Users are not allowed to open the 22-ID-A , 22-ID-C, 22-BM-A, and 22-BM-C radiation enclosures and/or enter without SER-CAT staff present.
Users must not disturb any equipment with yellow or red tags marked “APS Configuration Control”.
Users are not allowed to operate the beamline vacuum system, e.g., opening/closing valves.
Materials of BSL-2 or higher designation are not allowed to be used at SER-CAT.
Food must not be taken onto the experimental floor. Eating is confined to the lunch area located in the central Pentagon area C. However, beverages (non-alcoholic) are allowed in the user data collection areas and offices but not in the radiation enclosures and laboratories.
For safety reasons, shoes with closed toes and heels must be worn on the experimental floor. Wearing of sandals is not allowed. Wearing of shorts or skirts in the experimental areas is only allowed if a laboratory coat is worn over them.
A designated SER-CAT staff member will conduct an individualized tour of the facility for the users. This tour will include an overview of the facility, operations instructions specific to the user's experiment and required safety and procedural information. This tour will include all the points listed on the Beamline Orientation Checklist. Safety issues will be emphasized.
Prior to beginning an experiment, the user must complete the APS Experimental Safety Approval Form (ESAF) which is submitted to APS on-line and the SER-CAT Hazard Assessment Form (SERHAF) which may be filled out on-line and e-mailed to Sharon Granger (sharon@anl.gov) or faxed (630-252-0652) to SER-CAT for review and approval. Normally, the completed forms should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the experiment to allow adequate time for review and resolution of issues. Prior to beginning the experiments, a copy of the approved ESAF form and necessary supporting documentation must be posted on the Sector 22 Notice Board located on column 132.
If samples are considered non-hazardous by the Department of Transportation, they can be transported to and from APS by private vehicle or commercial carrier. If shipments contain hazardous materials (such as crystals frozen in propane) they must be shipped by a common carrier such as FedEx, following Department of Transportation requirements. Helpful internet links for information regarding the requirements for transport of materials can be found at the link www.aps.anl.gov/Safety_and_Training/User_Safety/index.html. Specific instructions can be obtained by contacting the SER-CAT User Support Coordinator, Sharon Granger, 630-252-0648 or sharon@anl.gov.
Shipment of non-hazardous materials to APS should be addressed as follows:
Shipment of hazardous materials to APS should be addressed as follows:
A designated SER-CAT staff member will instruct the user on how to use the Personnel Safety System (PSS), conduct a successful search routine, and provide instructions on how to avoid radiation exposure and open the door of the radiation enclosure in case of an emergency if trapped inside.
A designated SER-CAT staff member will train the user in all phases of data collecting; i.e., how to mount and align crystals, control the beamline, and take data.