Cornell University Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source

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Use of Hazardous Materials

As a prerequisite for work at CHESS it must be established whether or not hazardous materials are involved.  If such materials are to be brought to CHESS, certain information must be provided and internal procedures followed before actual beam-time is granted.

These procedures involve two parts;

1. Those that must be completed well in advance of arrival at CHESS and

2. those to be carried out when the hazardous material actually arrives at CHESS.

Upon submission of a User's proposal, any hazardous or potentially hazardous, explosive, toxic, radioactive materials, or radiation producing sources, must be declared and submitted in writing.

The following information is required for each material.

1. Name of material (one form for each material)

2. Description of substance (powder, liquid, solution, etc.)

3. Amount (several pounds, several micrograms)

4. Means of containment (sealed in glass capillaries, flasks, encapsulated)

5. Toxicity routes (ingestion, subcutaneous, absorption, inhalation)

6. Procedures in case of emergency (clean-up, evacuation, emergency first-aid)

Especially useful to us are the safety precautions in User's institution requires or suggests in the proper handling of the material and what actions should be taken in the event of an emergency.

Proposals will NOT be processed if they do not have the appropriate Hazardous Materials, Non-Hazardous Materials, Viral Materials, or Heavy Atom Compounds Materials declaration forms attached.  These forms are also provided in the CHESS proposal package, or can be obtained from the User Administrator.  Users may also consult the Safety Committee Chairman with additional questions.

Users may not bring hazardous materials into the building before meeting with a member of the CHESS Safety Committee.  When the User checks in, the operator on duty will put them in contact with a CHESS Safety Committee member.  In certain instances (such as with gas cylinders) a preliminary inspection will be required before entry of the material into the building is allowed.