Chapter Eight - Radiation Safety

Interlocks:

There are four interlocks on the main experimental floor at CHESS, and one in G-line:

1. Adjacent to the Op area

2. Leading to the CESR tunnel near the A1 hutch

3. Leading to CHESS East, near the biological clean room doors

4. Just beyond the shield wall leading to CLEO

5. The G-line interlock is in the corridor leading to the G-line tunnel

The interlock system is an interdependent arrangement of gates and light beam sensors that prevent you from walking into an area when radiation is present.  Area status signs at each interlock indicate whether the area is open to access or requires a key, and indicates whether the interlock is set and if the CESR ring or synchrotron are on.  If you "break" an interlock, ie: walk through it when it is set, an alarm will sound and the linac and/or CESR will automatically be shut down.  If you break an interlock, go to the nearest beam phone and explain who you are and where you are to the CESR Operator.

Before locking hutch doors in preparation for opening the beam stops, CHESS workers search experimental areas and warn those who may be in a hutch.  All caves and hutches in CHESS are equipped with clearly marked search buttons.  These buttons activate an alarm that sounds for at least thirty seconds as a warning to whomever may be in the enclosed area.  Each station is wired so that it is impossible to lock the doors or remove the station enable key without first pressing the search button.

Last Update: 2006-09-21