CLF safety

Overview

Users must register in advance with the User Office each time they are scheduled to begin a session of work at the CLF. People will not be allowed on campus who are not properly registered with the User Office before arrival. At the start of each experiment you will be taken through any changes since your last visit and provided with a safety orientation, identifying key safety systems, fire exits, emergency stops etc – all of which are contained within the local safety card for the area in which you will be working.

Users may not work in any area until they have received proper authorisation from the CLF. Discuss your experimental plans with your link scientists in advance, so that they can arrange for the necessary authorisations and explain the procedures for safe working in the areas where you will be.

If you know of any hazards associated with your work, bring these to the attention of the facility as early as possible. If hazards are discovered during the course of your experiment, you must stop working and discuss them with the link scientists before you continue.

Your link scientist must be notified in advance of any equipment or materials you wish to bring to RAL for your experiment.

If inexperienced or personnel under the age of 18 will be working on your experiment, notify your link scientists in advance. In some cases, additional paperwork or training might be necessary.

If you have a health problem that could affect your work or cause a hazard to yourself or others, please raise this with your link scientists or local group leader in advance of your beamtime. They will put you in touch with relevant personnel to discuss the potential impact. Health matters will be treated with the upmost confidentiality, but might affect the types of work for which you can be authorised.

In case of injury, illness, exposure to a toxic substance, etc., contact a CLF staff member for assistance. For urgent cases, immediately call 2222 from a campus phone, or +44 1235 778888 from a mobile phone.

Authorisations

Without formal authorisation from the CLF, you cannot:

  • operate lasers
  • work on electrical apparatus
  • work with hazardous substances
  • work with biological materials
  • work with ionising radiation
  • connect, disconnect or modify toxic or high pressure gas supplies and vents
  • work with cryogenic liquids
  • enter or operate large vacuum or pressure vessels
  • lift or move heavy loads
  • use machine tools
  • work with naked flames or alternative heat sources
  • work more than 12 hours in a single day
  • work on or near cranes
  • work on roofs

If you need to do any of these things, speak to your link scientists first to see whether authorisation can be obtained.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

You must use PPE suitable to your work.

Your link scientists will provide PPE, but you must maintain it in good working order and use it properly. If any PPE is defective or ill-fitting, report this immediately to the link scientists.

Do not leave PPE in controlled laboratories.

Electrical safety

You must not work or attempt to work on any electrical apparatus without first obtaining authorisation. To request authorisation, contact your link scientists in advance.

If you are bringing electrical equipment to your beamtime, it must be approved before it is brought to site, and the CLF will need to perform safety tests and checks before it is used. Make arrangements for this with your link scientists.

Note that certain types of portable travel plug adaptors are not allowed to be used at RAL, even for laptops and personal devices. The CLF has a stock of adaptors that can be used if needed.

All portable electrical equipment (such as laptop power supplies) must be inspected at RAL and a PAT test label attached prior to its use on site.

Hazardous substances

Control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH), & biological safety​

If you need to use a hazardous substance, you must submit a COSHH or bioCOSHH form and get permission from beamline staff before bringing the substance onto site. Do this well in advance of your experiment, and note that certain COSHH hazards require a minimum of 30-days​’ notice.

Special regulations apply to the handling of Beryllium (Be). If your experiment involves Be, discuss this with your link scientists as early as possible in the experimental planning process. Pre-authorisation is required.

Cryogenic liquids

Users may not handle or use cryogenic liquids unless they have received training, have been explicitly granted permission by the CLF, and are wearing PPE appropriate to the particular cryogen. If your experiment will require cryogenic liquids, discuss this in advance with your link scientists.

Dewars should be kept inside buildings if possible. This is important during cold, damp or wet weather conditions. The tops of dewars should be checked periodically to make sure that they are free from ice and that gas venting paths are free from obstruction.

PPE must be worn when transferring cryogenic liquids, in order to protect yourself from splashes and cold burns. The PPE and training in its use will be provided by CLF staff.

If you believe you have suffered a cold burn, you must seek medical attention immediately and report the incident.

Hazardous and high-pressure gases

Hazardous or high pressure cylinders and gas lines may not be installed, tested or modified by anyone other than authorised CLF staff members.

It is forbidden to use any pressure-reducing valve that has not been specifically registered by the CLF, or to use a valve in a manner other than that for which it has been approved.

Use of mechanical equipment

Manual handling and lifting equipment

Users may not lift heavy loads or operate cranes, power-operated forklift trucks or mobile work platforms.

If your experiment will require the lifting of heavy loads, discuss this with your link scientists. They will make arrangements for the lifting work to be done by authorised CLF staff members.

Safety in the use of machine tools

Users must get formal authorisation and training be​​​fore they use machines in the CLF workshops. Discuss this with your link scientists in advance.

Hot working

If your experiment will involve naked flames or an alternative heat source, for example for welding, brazing, soldering, or paint stripping using blowlamps or hot air blowers, discuss this in advance with your link scientists. Such work requires special authorisation.​

Noise

If your experiment will involve high levels of noise (at or above 80 dB(A)), discuss this with your link scientists in the planning stage of the experiment. You will be provided with ear protectors, which you must wear. Other protective measures might also be implemented.

Be aware that hearing protection can prevent people from hearing alarm bells, klaxons, shouts, etc. Make sure that colleagues are aware of the need to alert each other by alternative means if an alarm would not be audible because of loud noises and the use of ear protectors.

High risk work

​Working at height​

Avoid working at height (i.e. on ladders, platforms, etc., or above trenches or pits) if possible.

If you must work at height, you might need to use a ladder or mobile access tower; however, the use of these requires prior authorisation by the CLF. Discuss any requirements with your link scientists. Only use ladders or mobile towers that have been provided by the CLF and specifically authorised for your purposes.

Lone & late working

Lone working is inherently more hazardous than working with others, and should only be undertaken when there is no alternative. Discuss with your link scientists whether lone working is permissible for your experiment.

If you are going to work alone in a potentially hazardous area, ensure you have at least one nominated person to provide emergency contact and support. If this is not possible, then the CLF can provide lone worker phones that offer a “remote” buddy and the ability to call for help in an emergency.

If you are going to have to work for more than 12 hours in a single day, prior authorisation must be obtained from the CLF: discuss this with your link scientists. In these cases, the CLF has a formalised late-working procedure that you must follow.​

Working in restricted environments

Working in confined spaces

Work in confined spaces can be dangerous and should be avoided as much as possible. If your experiment strictly requires this type of work, you must get authorisation in advance, and a safe system of work must be developed. Discuss this with your link scientists.

Note that, if a colleague is trapped in a confined space, a rescue effort made without proper training and equipment can pose serious danger to the rescuer.

Large vacuum chambers

Chambers, such as the TAP Interaction and Compression Chambers, are on a large enough scale to permit working inside. There is, however, a risk of asphyxiation due to oxygen deficiency in the chamber, or of the chamber being closed and vacuum operation being started.

There are special procedures for safe access to, and operation of, the vacuum equipment, and these will be explained to you by your link scientists. These procedures must be strictly obeyed.