Basic Sector-Specific Orientation

for

Users of the BESSRC Facilities

(Sectors 11 & 12) at the APS

Version 3

12/00

Basic Sector-Specific Orientation for Users of the BESSRC Facilities (Sectors 11 & 12) at the APS

Version 1.05

1.FOREWORD

By reading, signing, and returning the attached signature page to the BESSRC CAT Safety Officer, you will have completed the basic sector-specific orientation for Users of the BESSRC facilities at the APS. However, you may need additional equipment-specific training and/or experiment-station-specific PSS training when you begin your work at the BESSRC beamlines.

2. INTRODUCTION

2.2. The BESSRC CAT

The BESSRC CAT is comprised of scientists from the Chemistry, the Materials Science, and the Physics Divisions and the Geosciences Group at ANL, as well as scientists from Northern Illinois University (NIU). However, the research activities at the BESSRC beamlines will involve internal as well as outside Users.These Users may either be members of the BESSRC CAT or Independent Investigators.

Users of the BESSRC facilities can request temporary office space in the center portion of the 433/E001 open office area. This space will be allocated by BESSRC Management on a first-come-first-served basis and will be available to a User only when he/she has beam time on one of the BESSRC beamlines. The bench tops in 433/E020 as well as the fume hood and the cabinets and bench tops adjacent to the fume hood in 433/E030 are considered to be common/shared laboratory facilities and will be available to a User of the BESSRC facilities only during those times when the User has beam time on one of the BESSRC beamlines. The office space and the two laboratories in Pentagon D of LOM 433 are for the exclusive use of the BESSRC Technical Staff. The equipment and supplies in those offices and laboratories are the property of BESSRC and should not be considered "public property" (i.e., "available for the taking") by Users of the BESSRC facilities.

Please note that Users of the BESSRC facilities will not be permitted access to the offices and laboratories in Pentagon D of LOM 433 or to the BESSRC mini enclosures and FOEs.

2.2.1.General Safety Policies of the BESSRC CAT

BESSRC CAT is committed to the safe operation of its facilities at the APS and to the safe conduct of the research activities performed therein.BESSRC CAT shall give highest priority to protecting the health and safety of its members, other users of the APS, visitors, ANL personnel, and the general public and shall take all reasonable measures to prevent accidental damage to property and the environment. Each individual working in the BESSRC facilities is responsible for maintaining a safe work environment for him/herself and for those nearby.

2.2.1.1. Shielding and configuration control

It is BESSRC policy that no shielding or personnel safety system installed by the APS or included in an APS-approved configuration shall be modified, moved/removed, or disabled without following the APS-mandated procedures. [See Sections 2.6 and 8.1 in the APS User Safety Guide.]

2.2.1.2. Safety analysis of all proposed activities in the BESSRC facilities

All proposed activities in the BESSRC facilities are subject to a safety analysis by the BESSRC CAT. The level and extent of the safety analysis are dependent on the types and the severity of the potential hazards associated with the proposed activities.Written approval for the proposed activities must be obtained from the BESSRC Management before the activities are begun.

  • The Principal Investigator or the Independent Investigator is required to submit a completed BESSRC CAT Safety Analysis Form to the BESSRC CAT Office for each experiment proposed for the BESSRC beamlines.
  • While an experiment is in progress in one of the BESSRC experiment stations, an up-to-date completed APS Experiment Safety Approval Form for that experiment must be posted appropriately. The Principal Investigator or the Independent Investigator is responsible for completing and submitting this form to the BESSRC CAT Safety Officer on a timely basis.
  • No equipment, system, or apparatus at the BESSRC facilities shall be operated outside the envelope of its designed safety parameters.

    2.2.1.3. Restriction regarding personnel occupancy of FOEs and experiment stations

    [See Section 2.5 in the APS User Safety Guide.]

    It is BESSRC CAT policy that no person shall be inside a BESSRC first optics enclosure or experiment station when all doors to that enclosure/station are closed. However, if you need a one-time exception to this rule in order to perform a special task, consult the BESSRC CAT Safety Officer and an APS Floor Coordinator when planning the work.If an exception is granted, the Floor Coordinator will take appropriate precautions to ensure that the photon beam cannot enter the occupied enclosure/station when all doors to that enclosure/station are closed.

    2.2.1.5. Eating and drinking in the BESSRC facilities
  • In accordance with ANL policy (see Section 1.6 in the APS User Guide), alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the BESSRC facilities.
  • Both eating and drinking are prohibited inside the FOEs, the mini enclosures, and the experiment stations in Sectors 11 & 12.
  • Except for snack foods such as candy bars, eating in the BESSRC facilities should be confined to the break room in the central pentagon of the LOM.
  • Eating is prohibited in the LOM laboratories associated with the BESSRC facilities.
  • Except for sites where chemical hazards are present, drinking of non-alcoholic beverages is allowed at the experiment control stations along the beamlines and in the LOM laboratories and office spaces associated with the BESSRC facilities.
  • 2.2.4.Visitors

    Children under 18 yrs. of age are not allowed to visit in any buildings in the 400 area except the visitors' gallery of the Experiment Hall and the office and public areas of the Central Laboratory/Office (CLO) building and the Laboratory/Office Modules.

    Visitors who have not received the APS User Orientation must be escorted whenever they are in hazardous areas such as chemical laboratories or radiological controlled areas. If you plan to take the visitor onto the Experiment Hall floor, dosimeters for visitors are available from the BESSRC CAT Secretary, from an APS Floor Coordinator, or from the APS User Office. When you have a group of visitors who are traveling together as a group while in the Experiment Hall, one visitor dosimeter for the entire group is sufficient; however, the required information (e.g., name, social security number, and/or badge number) for each of the visitors must be recorded in the visitor-dosimeter logbook.

    Persons who escort visitors in areas administered by BESSRC CAT have the following responsibilities:

  • Remain with the visitor whenever the visitor is in a potentially hazardous area, including every chemical laboratory and radiological controlled area;
  • Ensure that the visitor does not inadvertently trigger an emergency;
  • Warn the visitor of hazards in these areas and discuss required precautions;
  • Make sure that the visitor uses appropriate personal protective equipment and complies with dosimetry requirements;
  • Accompany the visitor to Òsafe groundÓ during any emergency situation; and
  • Ensure that the visitor's emergency medical needs are met as soon as possible.
  • 3.EMERGENCIES

    The designated tornado-shelter areas in each LOM are the men's and women's toilet and locker facilities which are located in the center pentagon (i.e., Pentagon C) of the LOM. The User Staff Shop in the center pentagon of each LOM is approved for use as a tornado shelter area, but these shops are not always unlocked and therefore may not be readily available for use as a tornado shelter.

    3.1.Emergency Action

    Each individual conducting activities at the Laboratory must feel a personal responsibility for reporting a condition that appears to require prompt action by emergency response groups in order to prevent injury or property damage. Typical emergencies include, but are not limited to, fire, explosion, personal injury, personal illness, security incident, accident involving a motor vehicle, tornado sighting, utility failure, chemical spill (e.g., toxic, corrosive, highly reactive, or flammable material), radiation incident, and radioactive spill. The Laboratory prefers to have too many incidents reported rather than having even one emergency situation lead to serious consequences because an individual delayed too long or failed to report at all.

    If you are uncertain, don't take a chance; call 911 on an ANL telephone or call 252-1911 on a non-ANL telephone

    When the 911 Operator answers, calmly and clearly state the location  (e.g., if you are referring to a location in a LOM, state the LOM number, the pentagon designation, and the room number; or, if you are referring to a location in the Experiment Hall, state Building 400 and the sector number)  where the "emergency" situation is (not the location from which you are placing the call). Be sure to include other relevant information such as what the emergency situation is, are there injuries, and are special hazards involved (e.g., radioactive materials, highly toxic substances, pyrophoric or water-reactive chemicals, or live electrical equipment). Through this process, the entire emergency-management organization is available to assure effective response. Be sure that you stay on the line until you are instructed to hang up.

    A 911 call should be placed any time you or a co-worker needs medical assistance. Persons who are ill or injured should not be transported in personal vehicles.

    However, there may be situations where you know that no emergency exists. In such cases, notifying the BESSRC CAT Project Manager, the BESSRC CAT Safety Officer, or an APS Floor Coordinator may be a more expedient and less rancorous way to handle the situation. For example, odors can be quite strong, but may not pose a health or explosive threat. This type of situation would be better handled by the one of the individuals mentioned above. However, if none of the individuals mentioned above can be reached or if a doubt exists about the hazard, do not hesitate to call 911.

    Remember that evacuation of a building or area may be necessary during an emergency situation. If it becomes necessary to evacuate an area in LOM 433 or in Sectors 9 - 12 in the Experiment Hall (i.e., Building 400), occupants should exit the area quickly--but safely--and assemble in a safe location (e.g., the patio area) outside the central pentagon (i.e., Pentagon C) of LOM 433 so that personnel can be accounted for. Once outside, do not re-enter the building until the emergency is secured and an "all clear" bulletin is issued. For information and instructions during an emergency situation, look for an Area Emergency Supervisor (AES)--usually an APS Floor Coordinator, who will be wearing an orange hat bearing the letters "AES".

    3.2. Location of Emergency Equipment in LOM 433

    It is of vital importance that you know the location of the emergency equipment that is available in the areas in which you work.

    3.2.1. Fire-Alarm Pull-Boxes

    The locations of fire-alarm pull-boxes are quite visible.

  • In LOM 433, a fire-alarm pull-box is located at each exit to the outside.
  • One fire-alarm pull-box is located along each radial/cross corridor that exits to the outside. These fire-alarm pull-boxes are mounted on the wall just inside the door to the outside.
  • A fire-alarm pull-box is also located in Pentagon C, inside the vestibule of the main entryway to the LOM.
  • In the Experiment Hall, fire-alarm pull-boxes are located on building support columns #94 & #100 which are adjacent to the blue-colored doors along the outboard perimeter of the main aisle around the Experiment Hall. These doors are identified by an illuminated "EXIT" sign mounted above the door.
  • Inside the equipment mezzanine, fire-alarm pull-boxes are located on the wall adjacent to the doorway at the top of the stairways leading from the Experiment Hall to the equipment mezzanine.
  • 3.2.2. Fire Extinguishers

    The locations of most fire extinguishers are clearly marked. However, rather than you stopping to fight a fire--even if it is sufficiently small and you have been properly trained to use a fire extinguisher, the preferred action is for you to go to a safe location and call 911.

    In LOM 433, fire extinguishers are located--

  • In cabinets recessed in the wall along the inboard perimeter of the main corridor of the LOM at the intersections of the radial/cross corridors that exit to the outside, and
  • On the column just inside the door to the LOM Machine Shop (i.e., the User Staff Shop) in the center pentagon (i.e., 433/C002). The existence of this fire extinguisher is not obvious from outside the shop.
  • In the Experiment Hall, fire extinguishers are mounted on every fourth building support column (e.g., on columns #95, #98, & #101) along the inboard perimeter of the main aisle around the Experiment Hall. Signage facing the Experiment Hall and mounted at a height of approximately 10 feet on the building support columns indicates the location of the fire extinguishers in the Experiment Hall.
  • Inside the equipment mezzanine, fire extinguishers are mounted on every fifth building support column, including columns #105 and #93 which are opposite the doorway at the top of two of the stairways leading from the Experiment Hall to the equipment mezzanine. The stairways near building support columns #105 and #93 provide the most convenient access to the equipment mezzanine for individuals working in the BESSRC facilities.
  • 3.2.3. Emergency Showers

  • An emergency shower is located near the window in each LOM Chemistry (i.e., "wet") Lab (e.g., in 433/D030 & 433/E030).
  • An emergency shower is located near the BESSRC water scrubber unit at building support column #100 in the equipment mezzanine.
  • 3.2.4. Eye-Wash Stations

  • An eye-wash station is located near the window in each LOM Chemistry (i.e., "wet") Lab (e.g., in 433/D030 & 433/E030).
  • An eye-wash station is located near the BESSRC water scrubber unit at building support column #100 in the equipment mezzanine.
  • 4. HAZARD COMMUNICATION AND CONTROL

    4.1. Hazard Communication

    [See Section 2.6.4 in the APS User Guide and Chapter 4-1 in the ANL-E ES&H Manual.]

    Activities at the BESSRC facilities shall be conducted in conformance with the ANL-E Hazard-Communication Program which is an important component of the ANL-E Environment, Safety, and Health Program. BESSRC uses a combination of methods for communicating information about the hazards or potential hazards its members and guests might encounter while engaged in activities at the BESSRC facilities. These methods include, but are not limited to, posting of appropriate signage, ensuring that the Users have received training appropriate for the tasks they are engaged in at the BESSRC facilities, making available written standard operating procedures (SOPs) for operations involving hazardous materials or hazardous procedures, and making available hard copies of the Material Safety Data Sheets for the hazardous materials used routinely in the BESSRC facilities. A copy of standard operating procedures for the BESSRC facilities is available in the loose-leaf binders entitled "BESSRC CAT Operations Manual" that are located at each experiment station, in each of the laboratories in the BESSRC facilities, and in the office of the BESSRC CAT Secretary.

    Each individual engaged in activities at the BESSRC facilities has a responsibility to--

  • Know how to manage all hazards posed by the equipment and the substances with which he/she works;
  • Provide the ANL-E, the APS, and the BESSRC CAT Managements with any relevant information he/she has pertaining to the hazards associated with his/her activities at the BESSRC facilities; and
  • Adhere to the BESSRC CAT Hazard Communication Program.
  • 4.2. Hazard Control

    BESSRC uses a combination of methods (e.g., engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment) for controlling the exposure of its members and guests to hazardous materials and to hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions in its facilities. Hazard control for the BESSRC beamlines is discussed in Section 3 in the BESSRC CAT Environment, Safety, and Health Plan for Beamline Commissioning.

    4.2.1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

    [See Section 2.6.8 in the APS User Guide,  Section 2.1 in the APS User Safety Guide, and Chapter 12-1 in the ANL-E ES&H Manual.]

    Users of the BESSRC facilities shall wear items of personal protective equipment wherever required by procedure, regulation, or performance-based requirement. Only PPE that has been approved for your task and that is in good repair shall be used. Discuss the matter with the BESSRC Safety Officer if you think that the recommended PPE may not protect you properly.

  • Eye protection is required in areas posted "Eye Protection Required".
  • Safety glasses for visitors are available in the LOM 433 User Staff Shop and from the BESSRC CAT Secretary.
  • 4.2.3. Restrictions on Working Alone

    The term "working alone" means the performance of work by an individual who is out of visual and audio range of another person for more than a few minutes at a time. BESSRC CAT discourages its Users from working alone. However, the restrictions/requirements for working alone are discussed in Section 2.4 in the APS User Safety Guide and in Chapter 1?6 in the ANL-E ES&H Manual.

    4.2.5. Stop-Work Authority

    [See Section 2.6 in the APS User Guide, Section 1.2 in the  APS User Safety Guide, and Chapter 1-1 in the ANL-E ES&H Manual.]

    Both the BESSRC CAT and the APS, as well as other ANL-E personnel with safety responsibilities, have the authority to stop any CAT-related activity at the APS that, in their judgment, poses a clear and present threat to health, safety, or the environment.

    If you notice a serious safety problem in your work area, stop working immediately. Secure your equipment and cordon off the work area; then notify the BESSRC CAT Safety Officer or an APS Floor Coordinator.

    4.2.6. Authorization to Use Administratively Controlled BESSRC Equipment

    Through the appropriate training and/or qualification certification, Users can be authorized to use certain administratively controlled facilities or equipment [e.g., the LOM 433 User Staff Shop, the cranes in the BESSRC experiment stations (but not the cranes in the FOEs), and the chemical fume hood in the 433/E030 chemistry lab]. Contact the BESSRC CAT Safety Officer for additional information.

    5. GENERAL SAFETY ISSUES

    [See Section 2.6 in the APS User Guide, Chapter 1 in the APS User Safety Guide, and relevant sections in Guidelines for Laboratory Safety.]

    Because you are the best person to assure your safety and health, you are responsible for the general safety in your work area. Please work defensively by planning your work with safety in mind.

    5.1. Housekeeping

    [See Section 2.7 in the APS User Safety Guide and Section 2.2 in Guidelines for Laboratory Safety.]

    Good housekeeping and safety go together. In fact, housekeeping issues are the most frequently encountered breaches of safety that are observed during routine safety inspections. Usually these problems are easily and quickly mitigated.

    Use good housekeeping practices in your work areas. To this end, work spaces should be neat, clean, uncrowded, and uncluttered. Access to exits, emergency equipment, and utility controls must not be blocked. The accumulation of combustibles in the work areas should be kept to a minimum.

    Upon completion of an operation or at the end of each day--

  • Clean up your work areas; and
  • Leave the work areas clean, orderly, and free of debris (e.g., packing materials and other potential fire hazards).
  • 6. SAFE LABORATORY PRACTICES AND THE HANDLING, STORAGE, AND USE OF CHEMICALS

    [See Section 2.6.4 in the APS User Guide; Chapters 4-1 & 4-3 in the ANL-E ES&H Manual; and Chapters 6, 7, & 8, relevant sections of Chapter 2 (e.g., Section 2.13), and Appendices B, C, D, E, F, & G in Guidelines for Laboratory Safety.]

    For most experiments conducted at the BESSRC beamlines, it is expected that any chemistry-intensive work required will be carried out in laboratories at the User's home institution (or home building, in the case of ANL-based investigators)--rather than in the User chemistry laboratory 433/E030. Because the facilities in the BESSRC User chemistry laboratory are limited, the use of this laboratory should be limited to relatively simple chemical procedures. Ultimately, the safe handling and storage of all chemicals, gases, and samples at the BESSRC facilities is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator or the Independent Investigator who requested or arranged for that chemical or sample to be at the BESSRC facilities.

    Before you arrive at the BESSRC facilities, you should inform the BESSRC CAT Safety Officer about any hazardous materials you plan to use there. The transportation of hazardous materials must be in compliance with DOE, ANL-E, and APS policies and procedures. Hazardous materials shall not be transported in personal vehicles. Prior to your arrival at the BESSRC facilities, you should also check with the BESSRC CAT Safety Officer to determine if adequate storage of the appropriate type(s) is available for the materials and equipment you will be using--especially hazardous materials. You should also arrange for the handling and storage of materials and equipment that might be delivered to ANL-E when you are not present.

    6.1. General Laboratory Practices

  • Eating and drinking are prohibited in areas where potentially hazardous materials are stored, handled, or used. Prohibited areas include all chemical laboratories, radiological controlled areas, and shop areas where chemicals are used or stored.
  • Before leaving a laboratory area, wash your hands thoroughly--especially before going to the restroom, applying cosmetics, handling contact lenses, or ingesting food or drink. Also, wash your hands thoroughly before leaving the laboratory at the end of the work day.
  • All containers should be tightly closed except when material is being added or removed.
  • Hazardous chemicals from different reactivity classifications must be appropriately segregated during storage and transportation.
  • When not in use, razor blades must be stored in labeled containers (e.g., labeled "Sharps")--not left unprotected on bench tops or in drawers.
  • The water available from laboratory-sink taps (usually referred to as "lab" water, which also includes laboratory-supplied distilled water) at ANL is not potable (i.e., is not drinkable). Potable water (usually labeled "domestic water" on piping at ANL) is available from washroom-sink taps, locker-room showers, the laboratory safety showers and eye-wash stations, drinking fountains, and the taps in the LOM break rooms.
  • 6.2. Container Labeling

    All containers of any substances at ANL-E must be properly labeled with the identity of the substance. Refer to Chapters 4-1 & 4-3 in the ANL-E ES&H Manual and Chapter 8 in Guidelines for Laboratory Safety for details. Labels shall also contain appropriate hazard warnings (e.g., corrosive, flammable, carcinogenic, or reactive). Any special information (e.g., refrigeration needed, store in brown-glass container, or store under nitrogen) pertaining to storage of the material should also be shown on the label. Labels supplied by the manufacturer must remain intact. Chemicals that may present hazards due to aging (e.g., peroxide-forming ethers) must be dated both upon receipt and upon opening, and must display additional information such as their reactivity or peroxidizability and the time until testing, re-testing, or disposal. The containers of all User-owned chemicals in the BESSRC facilities must also bear the name of the User who is responsible for the chemical.

    6.3. Storage of Hazardous Chemicals

    Hazardous chemicals at the BESSRC facilities shall be stored only in designated cabinets, and then only in very limited quantities. Only short-term (i.e., only for the duration of an experimental run) storage can be accommodated at the BESSRC facilities. At the end of each experimental run, the Principal Investigator (PI)/Independent Investigator (II) [or his/her agent] is responsible for arranging that all User-owned chemicals (including sample/target materials) shall be either--

  • Returned--by means that are in compliance with ANL-E policies and procedures--to the home institution (or home building in the case of ANL-based investigators) of the PI/II [or his/her agent]
  • or

  • Disposed of in accordance with appropriate ANL-E Waste Management Procedures. [See Section 3.16 in the APS User Guide.] BESSRC Staff will not assume this responsibility.
  • 6.4. Storage of Flammables and Combustibles

    [See Appendix C in Guidelines for Laboratory Safety.]

  • The storage of flammable and combustible liquids must be in compliance with NFPA 30 and NFPA 45 and with Chapter 11?3 in the ANL-E ES&H Manual.
  • Each of the two BESSRC chemistry laboratories (i.e., 433/D030 & 433/E030) is equipped with a small UL-listed cabinet for the storage of flammable or combustible liquids (i.e., an "approved" flammable-liquids storage cabinet).
  • The storage of flammables and combustibles should be minimized and must be in appropriate containers and/or cabinets.
  • 7. SAFE MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

    [See Section 2.6.4 in the APS User Guide; Chapter 7 in the APS User Safety Guide; Chapter 4 in the ANL-E ES&H Manual; relevant chapters in the ANL-E Waste Handling Procedures Manual; and Chapters 6, 7, 8, & 9 and Appendices B, C, D, E, F, & G in Guidelines for Laboratory Safety.]

    7.1. Definition of the Term "Hazardous Material"

    In practical terms, a "hazardous material" is any material that is flammable, corrosive, reactive, unstable, cryogenic, pressurized, or toxic--including carcinogens, radioactive materials, biohazards, cryogens, and compressed gases.

    Each individual planning to use hazardous materials at the BESSRC facilities has a responsibility to--

  • Notify both the APS and the BESSRC CAT Managements that he/she plans to use hazardous chemicals at the BESSRC facilities; and
  • Inform both the APS and the BESSRC CAT Managements about any changes in his/her plans for using hazardous chemicals at the BESSRC facilities.
  • 7.2.1. Access to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)

    The APS requires that a current MSDS be readily available for each hazardous chemical used at the APS Facility. [See Sections 2.6.2 & 2.6.4 in the APS User Guide.] Individuals arranging to have chemicals delivered to the BESSRC facilities should also include the corresponding MSDSs for those chemicals. Hard copies of the Material Safety Data Sheets for the common chemical substances either in use or in storage at the BESSRC facilities can be found in the yellow-colored loose-leaf binder located just outside the door nearer the chemical fume hood in each of the BESSRC chemistry labs (i.e., 433/D030 & 433/E030). With the exception of a few common solvents, the chemicals in the 433/E030 chemistry laboratory will be transitory, remaining in this laboratory only for the duration of a User's beam time on a BESSRC beamline. While these transitory chemicals are present in 433/E030, their MSDSs will be collected together and placed in a separate folder which will be kept with the yellow-colored loose-leaf binder of MSDSs for 433/E030.

    A hard copy of the MSDS for each hazardous material currently in use at an experiment station should be included in the copy of the BESSRC CAT Operations Manual for that experiment station and/or placed in the document holder mounted on the pneumatically operated door of the experiment station.

    Before making arrangements for delivery of any hazardous material to the BESSRC facilities, be sure to advise the BESSRC Safety Officer of your intent and obtain his permission for the material to be delivered. Obviously these arrangements must be made well in advance of your scheduled beam time at the BESSRC facilities. When you do arrange to have a hazardous material delivered to the BESSRC facilities, be sure that it is accompanied by a corresponding MSDS.

    7.3. Handling Hazardous Materials

    [See Section 7.2 in the APS User Safety Guide.]

    7.4. Transporting Hazardous Materials

    [See Sections 2.6.4 & 3.10 in the APS User Guide and Section 7.1 in the APS User Safety Guide.]

    8. MANAGEMENT OF WASTES

    [See Sections 2.6.4 & 3.16 in the APS User Guide; Section 7.3 in the APS User Safety Guide; relevant chapters in the ANL-E Waste Handling Procedures Manual; and Chapters 6, 7, 8, & 9 and Appendices B, C, D, E, F, & G in Guidelines for Laboratory Safety.]

    There are three broad categories of wastes produced at ANL-E: radioactive, hazardous, and non-hazardous. The general criteria for a waste material are given in Chapter WMHPM-0006 in the UPFRONT Section of the ANL-E Waste Handling Procedures (WHP) Manual. The issues pertaining to the characterization, handling, and disposition of radioactive wastes are discussed in Section I in the ANL-E WHP Manual. The issues pertaining to the characterization, handling, and disposition of hazardous wastes are discussed in Section II in the ANL-E WHP Manual. The issues pertaining to recycling and recoverable materials are discussed in Section III in the ANL-E WHP Manual. Section 9.2 in Guidelines for Laboratory Safety addresses, among other topics, proper disposal of sharp objects, aerosol spray cans, used pump oil, and batteries.

    8.1. Responsibilities of Waste Generators

    Waste generators have the primary responsibility for ensuring the proper handling and disposition of the wastes they produce, and each waste generator is responsible for documenting (as prescribed in the ANL-E WHP Manual) the wastes he/she produces so that they can be shipped legally and safely or be disposed of legally, safely, and efficiently by the ANL-E Waste Management Organization.

  • All receptacles used to collect hazardous, special, infectious, or radioactive wastes (consult Chapter WMHPM-0021 in the ANL-E WHP Manual for the definitions of these terms) must be suitably labeled by the waste generator so that there is no question as to the identity of the contents.
  • Wastes of different chemical-reactivity types (e.g., acidic, alkaline, flammable, oxidizing, pyrophoric, water-reactive, or inert) must be segregated and stored appropriately in separate compatible containers.
  • It is imperative that the waste generator(s) maintain an inventory/log of all chemicals/chemical-constituents placed in each waste container.
  • BESSRC Management has established a satellite waste-accumulation area for solvents in the 433/E030 chemistry laboratory. Chapter WMHPM-0005 in the ANL-E WHP Manual addresses the waste generator's responsibilities when using the waste receptacles in a satellite waste-accumulation area.

    Chemical wastes are the type of wastes that Users of the BESSRC facilities are most likely to produce. To ensure that waste generators understand their responsibilities and obligations regarding the production and proper disposition of chemical wastes, Users of the BESSRC facilities who are potential generators of chemical wastes during their work there are encouraged to enroll in and attend ESH Training Course #574, "Chemical Waste Generator Training". Any ANL-E employee who generates a chemical waste as a result of his/her work activities at ANL-E is required to receive Chemical Waste Generator Training.

  • If the chemical wastes are to be disposed of by the ANL-E Waste Management Organization, the composition of the wastes must agree with the information on the EWM-197 Chemical Waste Disposal Form. This requirement applies to all chemical wastes, including solids, semi-solids, liquids, compressed gases, and used oil.
  • If the chemical wastes are to be considered as merely hazardous wastes (in contrast with radioactive mixed wastes), the waste generator must certify that the materials have not been contaminated with radioactivity added at a DOE Facility (i.e., ANL-E). This certification is usually based on the waste generator's "process knowledge" rather than on a more costly chemical analysis of the wastes. Obviously, a reliable baseline record of radioactivity for a material/chemical when it arrives at ANL-E would be very useful information to a waste generator who is using process knowledge to certify chemical wastes which involve that material/chemical.
  • Process knowledge requires the waste generator's knowledge of the origin; the use; the storage; andthe potential for contamination, adulteration, or activation of the material which is now considered as "waste". Sources and assurances of process knowledge include, but are not limited to:

  • Personal and intimate knowledge of the wastes (you used the chemicals; you generated the wastes);
  • Maintenance of records/logs for inventorying all waste chemicals;
  • Possession of the original labeled containers for the chemicals;
  • Results of analytical analyses of the wastes;
  • Utilization of good management practices; and
  • Having reliable/responsible co-workers.
  • 8.2. Non-Hazardous Wastes

    Non-hazardous wastes (e.g., "clean"/uncontaminated small carbon or alkaline batteries, glass, aluminum cans, aluminum foil, and plastic) can be discarded as ordinary trash in the laboratory and office trash containers. The Laboratory strongly encourages recycling. Therefore recyclable items will be separated from other trash after pickup by ANL custodial staff. Marked containers for metal scrap are located in the User Staff Shop in each LOM. To recycle large pieces or quantities of metals, ask the BESSRC CAT Safety Officer to contact your APS Floor Coordinator to arrange for a special pickup.

    8.3. Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes

    The proper disposition of hazardous wastes and radioactive wastes, including radioactive calibration sources, is the responsibility of the User who generated the wastes. Radioactive wastes and hazardous wastes require special disposal procedures. At the end of each experimental run, the Principal Investigator (PI)/Independent Investigator (II) [or his/her agent] is responsible for arranging that all User-generated radioactive wastes and hazardous wastes (including sample/target materials) shall be either--

  • Returned--by means that are in compliance with ANL-E policies and procedures--to the home institution (or home building in the case of ANL-based investigators) of the PI/II [or his/her agent]
  • or

  • Disposed of in accordance with appropriate ANL-E Waste Management Procedures. [See Section 3.16 in the APS User Guide.] BESSRC Staff will not assume this responsibility.
  • Each CAT is required to maintain inventories of hazardous materials and of radioactive materials; after the waste material has been picked up, the corresponding inventory records must be updated. Be sure to inform the BESSRC CAT Safety Officer if your plans for generating hazardous or radioactive wastes at the BESSRC facilities change.

    9. ELECTRICAL SAFETY

    [See Section 2.6.6 in the APS User Guide, Section 2.10 & Chapter 5 in the APS User Safety Guide, Chapters 9?1 & 9-2 in the ANL-E ES&H Manual, and Chapter 3 in Guidelines for Laboratory Safety.]

    ANL, the APS, and BESSRC strongly emphasize electrical-safety awareness. You should be aware of the potential hazards associated with the electrical equipment found in your offices and technical areas (e.g., in the LOM laboratories and machine shop and along the BESSRC beamlines). The primary ANL-E reference for electrical work is the current edition of NFPA 70, National Electrical Code. Where no existing code or standard applies, the design of electrical or electronic installations shall give prime consideration to personnel safety and shall be approved by ESH Safety Engineering as the authority having jurisdiction over matters of electrical safety and code requirements. When working at the BESSRC facilities, you must comply with the electrical safety practices required by ANL-E.

    9.1 Extension Cords

    The extension cord is an electrical device that is frequently misused. Extension cords (in good condition) are intended for temporary use with portable appliances, tools, and similar types of equipment that are not normally used at only one specific location. Additional information can be found in the references cited above.

  • The use of extension cords should be minimized.
  • Extension cords shall not be connected in series.
  • The use of cube taps (i.e., a direct single-to-multiple outlet converter) at ANL-E is prohibited. Instead, a power distribution strip with integral power cord, built-in circuit breaker, and built-in surge protection (if surge protection is needed) should be used.
  • 9.2. Electrical Plugs/Caps (Male) and Receptacles/Connectors (Female)

  • Plugs and connectors shall be of the "dead-front" type.
  • The use of metal strain reliefs which clamp directly on the insulation of an electrical cord is discouraged
  • The grounding pin on cord and plug connections shall not be removed or made inactive.
  • Any damaged plugs shall be repaired/replaced before any further use.
  • Where the power to an electrical device is supplied through an attachment plug which has a grounding pin, both ends of the grounding wire in the power cord must be properly connected so that when the device is energized, there is a closed, low-impedance, electrical path between the conducting case/enclosure of the electrical device and the ground at the power-distribution panel.
  • A grounding terminal or grounding-type device on a receptacle, cord connector, or attachment plug may not be used for purposes other than grounding.
  • 9.3. Grounding

  • All portable cord-connected electrically powered tools must be either double-insulated or  grounded through a polarized grounding plug and must be listed by Underwriters' Laboratories or another recognized listing agency.
  • 9.4. The Use of Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs)

  • All cord-connected electrically powered hand-held tools must be powered through GFCI-protected receptacles. Although the ANL-E ES&H Manual requires only cord-connected electrically powered hand-held tools to be powered through GFCI-protected receptacles, it is prudent to power all portable cord-connected electrically powered tools--even those that are double-insulated--through GFCI-protected receptacles.
  • All portable cord-connected electrically powered tools used in the vicinity of sinks and wet locations must be powered through GFCI-protected receptacles.
  • Heating tapes must be powered through GFCI-protected circuits.
  • Several extension cords with a built-in GFCI are available from the BESSRC Technical Staff for short-term loan to Users of the BESSRC facilities.

    9.5. Demarcated Areas in Front of Electrical Panels

    The demarcated 36-inch-deep space in front of circuit-breaker panels and disconnect switches must be kept clear to allow ready access to the panels and switches.

    10. COMPRESSED-GAS-CYLINDER SAFETY

    [See Section 2.11 in the APS User Safety Guide, Chapter 13?2 in the ANL-E ES&H Manual, and Chapter 6 in Guidelines for Laboratory Safety.]

    Cylinders of compressed gases are used routinely in the experimental areas at the APS. Chapter 13?2 in the ANL-E ES&H Manual establishes requirements and procedures for the identification, storage, handling, and use of compressed-gas cylinders, systems, and associated equipment.

    10.1. Restraint of Compressed-Gas Cylinders

    Compressed-gas cylinders must be restrained to insure against their being overturned. Single gas cylinders should be secured in an upright position by an approved cylinder tie-down bracket that is attached to a stable structure and is mounted above the center of gravity of the cylinder, but below the shoulder of the cylinder. If a compressed-gas cylinder is used where a tie-down bracket cannot be attached to a stable structure (e.g., in the middle of a laboratory), the cylinder may be supported by a cylinder stand of the appropriate size. Small laboratory cylinders may be properly secured by floor stands, wall brackets, or bench brackets. Bulk storage cylinders may be "nested" or stored with a chain restraint drawn firmly around their perimeter. Cylinders must not be left free-standing.

    10.2. Storage of Compressed-Gas Cylinders

    The storage of compressed-gas cylinders shall be in compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations, and in accordance with appropriate standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, (OSHA) the Compressed Gas Association (CGA), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

    10.2.1. Storage Conditions

    Compressed-gas cylinders shall be stored upright in cool, dry, well ventilated locations free of salt, corrosive chemicals, and fumes; away from direct sunlight; and away from objects that could strike or fall on them.

  • All compressed-gas cylinders shall be stored with valve-cover cap (if so equipped) screwed firmly in place, unless the cylinder is secured on a cart or in an approved cylinder tie-down bracket with regulator attached and ready for use.
  • Compressed-gas cylinders should not be stored on carts. The exception to this rule is where the cart is designed for use as a welding station.
  • 10.2.2. Segregation of Compressed-Gas Cylinders

    10.2.2.1. Segregation of compressed gases by reactivity type

    Where gases of different chemical-reactivity types (e.g., acidic, alkaline, flammable, oxidizing, pyrophoric, water-reactive, or inert) are stored at the same general location, the cylinders should be grouped by type, and the groups of incompatible types should be segregated appropriately.

  • Compressed-gas cylinders for use by the occupants of Sectors 11-12 are stored in lockable storage cages located in the sheltered open area adjacent to the truck-lock shared by LOMs 433 and 434.
  • At the present time, only one pair of storage cages is allocated for cylinders of flammable compressed gases in the Building 433/434 open storage area, but these storage cages are not a part of the common BESSRC facilities that are to be shared by all BESSRC Users. This pair of lockable storage cages--one cage for full cylinders, one for empty cylinders--was purchased and installed by the manager of 12-ID-D for the purpose of storing cylinders of compressed hydrogen gas that is used in the MOCVD system in 12-ID-D. These storage cages are located adjacent to the concrete pad that supports the liquid-nitrogen tank in the Building 433/434 open storage area. If you need to store a full cylinder or two of a flammable compressed gas that is compatible with hydrogen, ask the manager of 12-ID-D for permission to use his/her storage cage on a temporary basis.
  • At the present time, there are no storage cages allocated for cylinders of oxidizing compressed gases in the Building 433/434 open storage area. Note: any cages for storing cylinders of oxidizing compressed gases will have to be located so that they are adequately separated from the existing storage cages for flammable compressed gases.
  • 10.2.2.2. Segregation of full and empty compressed-gas cylinders
  • Empty cylinders for compressed gases of the types permitted to be stored in the APS-provided cylinder-storage cages should be taken to one of the two unlocked cylinder-storage cages labeled "Empty Cylinders" that are located near (and to the east of) the cylinder-storage cage for Sector 12. Empty cylinders for flammable compressed gases that are compatible with hydrogen should be taken to the hydrogen-gas storage cage labeled "Empty Cylinders".
  • The pressure in compressed-gas cylinders should not be reduced below 25 psig.
  • Before an empty compressed-gas cylinder is returned to the vendor, the cylinder valve shall be closed, and the valve-cover cap shall be replaced. Cylinders equipped with valve-outlet caps or plugs shall be returned to the vendor with those caps or plugs installed in a gas-tight condition.
  • Before moving or storing a compressed-gas cylinder, be sure that the cylinder valve is completely closed and that the cylinder-valve protective cap is securely in place.
  • 10.3. Transporting Compressed-Gas Cylinders

  • A cylinder cart with approved tie-down shall be used to transport a compressed-gas cylinder within a building. Three-wheelcarts shall not be used.
  • Gas cylinders with their valve-cover caps in place may be rolled on their bottom edge, but may not dragged, for transport over very short distances (e.g., within a room).
  • Do not use the cylinder valve or the handwheel as a handle to drag, lift, or move the cylinder. Such use could accidentally open the cylinder valve.
  • 10.4. Cylinder-Valve Protective Caps (Valve-Cover Caps)

  • The cylinder-valve protective cap should not be removed until the compressed-gas cylinder has been secured to a stable structure.
  • In general, valve-cover caps shall be securely in place when gas cylinders are being transported.
  • Valve-cover caps should be in place on all gas cylinders not in immediate use.
  • Do not hammer on a gas cylinder to loosen a stuck valve-cover cap. Do not insert fingers or tools into the openings in a valve-cover cap in an effort to loosen or remove the valve-cover cap. If a cylinder-valve protective cap cannot be removed easily, return the unused cylinder to the vendor.
  • Do not lift a compressed-gas cylinder by its valve-cover cap.

    11. CRYOGENIC SAFETY

    The cryogenic liquid argon, helium, and nitrogen in common use at ANL-E can expand to more than 700 times their liquid volume when vaporized. You should bear in mind that a cryogenic system is a pressure system waiting to happen!

    11.1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

    Eye, hand, and body protection are necessary to protect personnel from contact with cryogenic liquids and equipment in contact with cryogenic liquids. Protective equipment must be worn whenever the handling or transferring of cryogenic liquids may result in exposure to the cold liquid, boil-off vapors, or a cold surface.

    The following practices must be observed:

  • Safety glasses or goggles shall be worn at all times when handling cryogenic liquids or when in the proximity of someone handling cryogenic liquids. The use of side shields on safety glasses is encouraged. A full-face shield should be worn when splashing or spraying of cryogenic liquids may create a significant hazard (e.g., when pouring a cryogen into an open container or when opening small-diameter connections in a piping system).
  • Other PPE that must be worn by personnel handling cryogenic liquids includes loose-fitting insulating gloves of unfinished leather or other asbestos-free insulating material, a long-sleeved garment (e.g., a lab coat or a long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled down and buttoned), cuffless trousers, and closed shoes with the uppers made of a nonporous/nonabsorbent material. The gloves must be loose fitting so that they can be removed quickly (e.g., "flung off") if a cryogenic liquid spills into them. To prevent cryogenic liquid from spilling into the belt area, the shirt should be worn outside (i.e., not tucked in) the trousers if a lab coat is not worn. To prevent cryogenic liquid from spilling into your boots or work shoes, your trouser legs should be left outside of (i.e., should not be tucked into) your boots or work shoes.

    11.2. Transfer Operations for Cryogens

    For occupants of Sectors 9 through 16, the station for filling liquid-nitrogen Dewars is located along the north wall inside the truck-lock shared by LOMs 433 and 434. The filling operation at one of the three fill positions at this station is under automatic control; the filling operation at the other two positions is manually controlled. Note that the roll-up doors at the two ends of the truck-lock are interlocked so that only one of these doors can be open at a time.

    11.2.1. Transfer of Liquid Nitrogen to Open Dewars

  • Appropriate personal protective equipment must be used during the open transfer of cryogenic liquids. A full-face shield and insulated gloves appropriate for handling cryogenic liquids are provided in a pouch attached to each of the BESSRC CAT 240-liter storage Dewars.
  • The manual filling of open Dewars with liquid nitrogen shall not be performed unattended. Someone must stay at the fill station during the filling operation.
  • To improve the ventilation in the vicinity of the fill station, the truck-lock roll-up door to the outside should be opened at least 1 foot during the filling of open Dewars with liquid nitrogen.

    11.2.2. Transfer of Liquid Nitrogen to Closed Dewars

    Instructions for filling closed Dewars are posted on the wall at the liquid-nitrogen fill station in the truck-lock for LOMs 433 and 434.

  • Appropriate personal protective equipment must be used during the closed transfer of cryogenic liquids. A full-face shield and insulated gloves appropriate for handling cryogenic liquids are provided in a pouch attached to each of the BESSRC CAT 240-liter storage Dewars.
  • 12. NON-IONIZING RADIATION SAFETY

    You should inform the BESSRC CAT Safety Officer and obtain his permission well in advance of your arrival if you will be using equipment that utilizes radio frequency or microwave radiation, lasers, or high levels of electric or magnetic fields.

    13. RADIOLOGICAL SAFETY

    As an administrative control, the APS requires personnel to wear a thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) at all times in the Experiment Hall, regardless of whether or not the storage ring is in operation.

    All personal dosimeters issued through the APS User Office are subject to the same general rules. When your dosimeter is not in use, it should be stored in the rack to which it has been assigned. For most Users of the BESSRC beamlines, this dosimeter rack is mounted on the inboard wall--between rooms C004 and C005--of the main corridor in the center pentagon, across the corridor (and CCW a few meters) from the main entryway to LOM 433. Your APS-issued User dosimeter should be worn only at--and should remain at--the APS site, and it must be returned to its assigned rack at defined intervals for readouts. A notice will be posted near the dosimeter storage rack when the quarterly readout of the dosimeters is imminent.

    Personal dosimeters for visitors are available from the BESSRC CAT Secretary, the APS Floor Coordinators, and the APS User Office. Visitors to the APS Facility must be continuously escorted and their radiation exposure measured/monitored.

    13.2. Radiation Survey Instruments

    Although radiation survey instruments will not be routinely provided for Users of the BESSRC facilities, the APS Floor Coordinator does have a few calibrated radiation survey instruments that can be loaned to Users of the BESSRC facilities. If you wish to borrow one of these instruments, request one from the APS Floor Coordinator or from the APS Health Physics Office.

    13.3. Use of Radioactive Materials

    [See Section 8.3 in the APS User Safety Guide.]

    13.3.1. Sealed Radioactive Sources

    If you plan to use sealed radioactive sources for your work at the BESSRC facilities, be sure to inform the BESSRC CAT Safety Officer well before your arrival at ANL-E. You should read the BESSRC CAT Guidelines for the Management of Sealed Radioactive Calibration Sources (Appendix C in the BESSRC CAT ES&H Plan for Beamline Commissioning) and Chapter 5-20 in the ANL-E ES&H Manual to learn about the BESSRC CAT and ANL-E procedures for accountability and control that apply to all sealed radioactive sources at ANL-E.

    At the end of each experimental run, the Principal Investigator (PI)/Independent Investigator (II) [or his/her agent] is responsible for arranging that all User-owned sealed radioactive sources shall be either--

  • Returned--by means that are in compliance with ANL-E policies and procedures--to the home institution (or home building in the case of ANL-based investigators) of the PI/II [or his/her agent]
  • or
  • Disposed of in accordance with appropriate ANL-E Waste Management Procedures. [See Section 3.16 in the APS User Guide.] BESSRC Staff will not assume this responsibility.
  • 13.3.2. Dispersible Radionuclides

    Experiments requiring the use of dispersible radionuclides must be discussed with the BESSRC Safety Officer well in advance of the expected start of the experiment. Any use of dispersible radionuclides at the APS must be reviewed by the APS, and APS approval must be given before these materials are delivered to the APS Facility.

    18. SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF THE BESSRC FACILITIES

    [See attached foldout map of the BESSRC facilities at the APS.]

    Be sure your are wearing your dosimeter. Starting at the intersection of the Building 433 LOM corridor and the radial cross-corridor that separates Pentagons B & C, proceed CW along the LOM corridor, moving toward Pentagon E. With the aid of the attached map, follow the path denoted by the dashed line and note the locations of the important facilities (e.g., fire-extinguisher cabinets, fire-alarm pull-boxes, restrooms, the break room, the dosimeter storage rack, the main entrance for LOM 433, the conference room, and the laboratories and office spaces associated with the BESSRC facilities).

    When you reach the intersection of the Building 433 LOM corridor and the radial cross corridor at the far end of Pentagon E, turn right and proceed along the cross corridor. As you pass through the double doors and enter the main aisle of the Experiment Hall, note the fire-alarm pull-box mounted on building support column #100 located at the outboard perimeter of the main aisle. Now proceed CW along the main aisle to the interior roll-up door to the truck-lock at building support column #102. Raise the roll-up door and proceed to the far end of the truck-lock. The liquid-nitrogen fill station for Sectors 9 - 16 is mounted there on the north wall of the truck-lock. Now proceed along the north wall of the truck-lock to the personnel door that is located just inside the interior roll-up door. This door opens outward into the open storage area where the cages for storing cylinders of compressed gases are located. If you look straight ahead through this doorway, you can see the APS-provided storage cabinets for cylinders of compressed gases used by the occupants of Sectors 9 - 12. The locations of these and other cylinder-storage cages in this area are indicated on the map. Return to the truck-lock and exit through the interior roll-up door, again entering the main aisle of the Experiment Hall.

    Now walk CCW along the main aisle of the Experiment Hall, noting the locations of the fire extinguishers; the fire-alarm pull-boxes; the pairs of circuit-breaker panels (one for clean power, one for dirty power) for beamlines 12-ID, 12-BM, and 11-ID; the control panel for the proprietary BESSRC ventilation system; the pay telephone; the LOM-433 User Staff Shop; the lockout/tagout station for LOM 433; and the office of the APS Floor Coordinators for LOM 433. The walking portion of this tour concludes when you reach building support column #94. A fire-alarm pull-box is mounted on the building support column #94 that is located along the outboard perimeter of the main aisle of the Experiment Hall.

    Before you conclude this tour, go to one of the receptacle strips mounted on an exterior wall of one of the BESSRC experiment stations (e.g., 11-ID-C). Using the information printed on the receptacle-strip labels, see if you can locate the circuit breaker that controls the power to one of the receptacles on that strip.

    Before you leave the area, don't forget to stop by and introduce yourself to the BESSRC CAT Safety Officer.

    BESSRC CAT Sector-Specific Orientation

     

    I understand these Important Safety Issues

     

    _______ I will not eat or drink in LOM labs E20, E30, D20, and D30 or in the experimental stations.

    _______ I will not move compressed gas cylinders without their protective caps on and I will always be sure cylinders are safely secured before use.

    _______ I will make sure all hazards associated with my experiment are posted on the APS safety form.

    _______ I will wear cryo gloves and a face shield when working with liquid nitrogen.

    _______ I will familiarize myself with the locations of exits, tornado shelters, fire extinguishers, fire alarm boxes, emergency showers and eye washes.

    _______ I will label all containers of chemicals I work with.

    _______ I will take away with me all chemical waste I generate.

    _______ I understand that I will need special permits to work with open flames, electrically hot equipment, or radioactive samples.

    After reading this material for the Basic Sector-Specific Orientation for Users of the BESSRC Facilities at the APS, the undersigned certifies that he/she understands and will comply with the requirements and regulations either stated or referenced within this document.

    Signature _______________________________________________ Date ______________

    Print Name ______________________________________________

    Payroll Number, if you are an ANL Employee __________________

    Print Name of Supervisor, if you are an ANL Employee _____________________________________________

    Please tear off this entire page and use the interoffice mail to send this completed form to:

    BESSRC CAT Safety Officer

    c/o Jeanne Cowan

    BESSRC CAT Office

    LOM 433, Room D007

    Signature _______________________________________________ Date&mbsp;______________

    BESSRC CAT Safety Officer