CHAPTER 10: 

A. Policies

B. Responsibilities 

1. Telescope System Specialist (TSS) and Work Leaders (WL)

The sections below place particular responsibilities on the TSS/WL for safety of visitors and observers, and for co-ordinating the activity of staff during the day at JCMT and UKIRT.

2. Staff

3. Supervisors

C. Summit Facility Safety

1.  Operator safety certification

No person shall serve as TSS at a JAC summit facility without a current operator safety certification.  Certification is granted upon successful completion of practical, written, and oral testing covering all relevant aspects of facility and TSS safety policies, procedures, and practices.  The Chief Engineer and Safety Advisor jointly design, administer, and score the tests.

Certification is valid for a period of 24 months.  It is contingent upon successful completion of all required training during the period of certification and upon the holder’s administration of all JAC safety polices and procedures in good faith.

Restricted certification will be granted to those persons whose duties do not include the supervision of daywork at the summit.  A person holding only a restricted certification may not act as a TSS at any time other than normal observing/normal weather conditions.

Certification is immediately invalid upon expiration of required training.   Training shall expire under this rule on a “calendar month” basis.  As an example, a course required yearly passed on July 4, 2017 would expire at midnight July 31, 2018.

2. Rules for operation and performance of work at summit facilities without a TSS

These rules and procedures apply when the TSS is not on duty and has changed over the responsibility to the WL:
 
1. The 14 hour rule must be followed.  Note that the rule applies to time above HP and not time at the summit.  Thus the practical limit for time at the summit is 13 hours.
1. A JAC summit facility may not be manned under any circumstances unless a JAC staff member currently certified in first aid is present.  This rule, however inconvenient it may be for observatory operations, is not negotiable as it is a requirement of both US Federal and Hawaii State Law.  Reference Hawaii Administrative Rules paragraph 12-62-3, Hawaii State OSHA Chapter 62.1, and Federal OSHA 1910.151.
 
2. There must be a single person, the WL, in charge of work coordination and facility safety at any time a summit facility is manned.  The identity of the WL must be clear to all persons present in the facility.
 
3. The doors or doors and roof at JCMT may not be opened under adverse weather conditions unless a person trained in the emergency closure procedures is present at JCMT.  Adverse weather conditions procedures as declared by the Site Safety Advisor (SSA), are those which may reasonably require either closure of the roof and doors to protect the facility or may reasonably require an evacuation of the facility.  The SSA , with the consent of the Chief Engineer, shall determine when adverse weather conditions are in effect.
 
4. A JAC summit facility may not be left unattended with the doors, doors and roof, or dome shutters open.  An exception to this rule is where there is an unarguable clear and immediate danger to the life safety of personnel.  An obvious example would be if only two persons were present in the facility and one suffered a heart attack. It is also permissible in suitable weather to leave the facility unattended while personnel go to the lunch hut.
 


2. The following procedures are intended to meet the above requirements with minimum disruption of normal operations.

1. The WL is the person designated as responsible for coordinating the safety and operation of summit facilities.
 
2. The WL will coordinate work at the facility, be responsible for ensuring that JAC safety procedures are followed, and have full authority to close and if necessary evacuate the telescope.
 
3. The WL need not be the staff member trained in first aid.  However, the WL is responsible for ensuring that such a staff member is present in the facility at all times.  If a first aid certified staff member is not available the WL is required to close the telescope.
 
4. A WL will be assigned for each facility with scheduled work during the engineering scheduling meetings on Friday.  The WL for each day will be shown on the daywork schedule.
 
5. The WL may change during the day due to the normal needs of summit work.  If this occurs an announcement shall be made on the facility paging system identifying the new WL.  It is expected that the WL will have a face to face meeting with the new WL to discuss on-going activities and safety concerns.
 
6. The qualifications required of the WL will depend upon the nature of the work to be performed.  It is expected that staff will use reasonable judgement in selecting a new WL when a change is required. Any questions concerning the qualifications required of a WL shall be referred to the Chief Engineer or Site Safety Advisor.  The decision of the Chief Engineer concerning the required qualifications shall be final.
    

7. Under normal weather conditions the dome shutters or doors and roof may be opened by any person who has received the appropriate training to operate them.
 
8. The JCMT Head of Operations is responsible for determining the qualifications required for operating the telescope at JCMT. The Associate Director UKIRT is responsible for determining the qualifications required for operating the telescope at UKIRT.  “Operating the telescope” means, in this context, any observatory function requiring run up of the telescope control system.  This rule is not meant to preclude manual operation of the telescope or carousel in support of normal engineering and maintenance activities.

3.  Guidelines for coordination of summit daywork

DEFINITION

The WL, when assigned, is unambiguously in charge of the facility.  In the JAC system there will never be more than one WL/TSS in a facility other than during a change of responsibility (i.e. shift change).

PURPOSE

The purpose of this guidance  is to promote communication between the TSS/WL and staff or visitors performing work at the summit facilities.  It is intended that this be a cooperative process that assists in assuring that the work of the observatory is done safely and with the knowledge of the TSS/WL.  JAC management has the ultimate responsibility for safety at the JAC.  Supervisors and employees also have a role to play as set out in this Safety manual. As far as the summit facilities are concerned, the TSS/WL has been designated  for ensuring, as far as is reasonably possible, the safety of all persons within it, as well as responsible for coordinating the safety of the facility. All employees working at the summit (at the JCMT or UKIRT) are required to follow all safety rules/procedures applicable to that facility for the job they are performing.  Any violation or non-compliance of applicable safety rules will be reported by the TSS/WL to the JAC Site Safety Advisor and employee’s supervisor/line management for appropriate action.  They have the authority acting in this capacity to forbid work that can not be done safely, can not be completed within the established safety policy, or for which people are not properly certified or trained.

WORK PROCEDURES

1. Immediately upon arrival at a summit facility, all persons are required to communicate with the TSS/WL concerning the nature of all intended work.  The TSS/WL is responsible for determining that the various working groups do not conflict. It is the primary responsibility of supervisors to ensure that employees are aware of all applicable safety procedures for the work that has been assigned. However, the TSS/WL may at any time check whether staff has had the appropriate training or are aware of applicable safety procedures.
 
2. Upon completion of the initial  briefing, the TSS/WL and each person working in the facility must initial a printed copy of the daywork schedule in the space adjacent to each task they are to perform.  The daywork form is to be kept as a permanent record in the daywork record book provided for this purpose.
 
3. After completion of the initial briefing and initialing the daywork form, the following may be agreed upon:
• The TSS/WL may ask an individual working with others in the same workspace if he/she could look after the safety in that area.
• If the individual accepts that responsibility, it will not be necessary for the TSS/WL to check on the safety of that workspace.
• However, the TSS/WL may check on that workspace if he/she chooses and has the authority to stop any unsafe practices.
 

4. It is anticipated that changes in scheduled work may not be immediately reflected on the computerized daywork schedule.  In this event, the new task shall be written on the daywork form or upon a blank sheet and initialed as above.  If a blank sheet is used, it should clearly indicate the date, the nature of the work, the name of the TSS/WL, and the names of all workers. 
   

5. In no circumstance shall work be performed prior to it being discussed and approved via the above procedure.  This procedure applies regardless of the nature of the work to be performed.  Visiting observers are not required to follow this procedure provided their activities are limited to normal observing.

6. If on arrival, and prior to communicating with the TSS/WL, a person encounters any hazardous situation, the person shall remove themselves to a safe location where he/she can contact the TSS/WL to receive instructions specific to that hazard. If the person identifies a hazardous situation, at any time, that is not appropriately signed, they shall immediately inform the TSS/WL so that appropriate action can be taken. Warning signs in use at JCMT and UKIRT are defined in Addendum 13 of the Safety Manual.
   

REMOTE EQUIPMENT OPERATION SAFETY PROCEDURES

The following procedure is being implemented to minimize the risk of injury to staff or damage to equipment when observatory systems are remotely operated. It is applicable to the remote operation of any UKIRT or JCMT system or software, which operates or has the potential to operate a mechanical system. Remote operations are approved and coordinated by the Work Leader (WL), or in their absence the Remote Ops Work Leader (RWL). The WL is the person of authority but will coordinate with the RWL, e.g. the WL notifies the RWL of their arrival and departure. The RWL's main prupose is to approve and coordinate remote equipment operations when the appointed WL is not at the telescope facility, e.g. in route from Hilo or HP.

Procedures:

1. Check the daywork schedule and identify the Work Leader (WL).

2. Call the summit facility at which you want to operate the system.

3. Obtain the WL's permission to remotely operate the system. The WL may need to consult other daywork staff before granting permission.

4. If nobody answers the phone at the facility, contact the RWL.

5. Obtain the RWL's permission to remotely operate the system.  The RWL may need  to contact/consult the WL before granting permission.

6. If the RWL grants permission to operate a system, he/she shall send out an email as follows:

• Subject:  <telescope> Daywork Notice: <work to be done>
• To:         <telescope>_ops,  <the person who maintains the daywork list, normally m.dougherty>
• Contents:  whatever is necessary to clarify the daywork to be done and that this was authorized by the RWL
  

7. Upon arrival to the telescope the WL shall contact the telescope RWL to see if any remote equipment operations were granted.  The WL shall write the RWL approved remote system work into the daywork log along with any other remote system work granted by himself.

8. If there is a WL (and RWL) identified and neither can be contacted then the system cannot be operated.

9. If there is no WL or RWL identified (e.g. on weekends or holidays) systems may be operated remotely after verifying by phone that there is nobody at the telescope and sending out a daywork notice by email.
   

D. JCMT Safety 

1. Responsibility for safety of personnel at the JCMT

1. The TSS has the role of co-ordinating all activity at the JCMT, especially with regard to safety. See further information in section C3 of this chapter.
 
2. The TSS is responsible for the safety of all visiting and support astronomers; during the night time this will typically mean that the TSS is responsible for the safety of everyone at the JCMT.
 
3. No visitor (other than observers) shall be allowed to work in a JAC summit facility without an officially assigned staff member who is responsible for his or her safety and training.  The responsible staff member for each such person shall be listed on the engineering daywork schedule. See further information in Chapter 9 section G2c.
 
4. Work rules when a TSS is not present are covered in section C2 of this chapter.
 

2. Policy for Unattended Observing at the JCMT

Unattended observing at the JCMT, i.e. without any person present in the facility, is allowed for a period not exceeding 1 hour e.g. to transport non-driving observers to/from HP, under the following conditions:
1. Explicit permission has been obtained from the JCMT Head of Operations prior to leaving the facility.
2. Current and forecasted conditions until noon the next day are:
• humidity < 65%
• wind-speed < 25 mph sustained
• no cloud cover, with the exception of thin, high cirrus
• no precipitation or fog.
3. No significant change of the weather pattern in the forecast for the next 16 hours.
4. All doors to facility have been checked to be securely locked.

3. Ice and Snow Condition - Procedures

There are a number of actions to be conducted on arrival at the JCMT following a snow storm:

1. The lower exterior of the Carousel, i.e. the section adjacent to the concrete foundations shall be examined from a distance (see section D15 of this chapter below) for any drifting of snow and/or accumulations of ice which might impede rotation or opening of the doors; this examination must be conducted by no less than two people.
 
2. The basement area and lower sections of the interior of the Carousel shall be examined to determine if there are accumulations of snow/ice (these accumulations might have melted and thereby present a water hazard!) which might impede door opening.
 
3. The roof shall be inspected from both 'Penthouses', to establish the amount of snow/ice which has accumulated in this region. Particular attention shall be paid to the limit switches which are situated at the end of the support gantry.

Note: It is recognized that some of these investigative actions would be extremely difficult and hazardous to effect by the observing team if the team arrived at the telescope after nightfall.  Therefore, on such an occasion, the team shall exercise caution, maintain a dialogue with staff members in Hilo and be prepared to postpone the various investigations until daylight. Any decision to postpone the listed examination process would have the full support of management.

4. Procedures if a Storm Threatens (This section now covered under Chapter 9C3)

5. Procedures for High Winds

1. The telescope roof and doors shall be closed when the sustained wind speed is 40 mph or greater.  They shall also be closed if peak gusts of 50 mph or greater occur regardless of the sustained wind speed.
   
2. The TSS/WL shall evacuate the telescope if the wind reaches 60 mph, unless there are compelling reasons not to do so. The situation shall then be monitored from HP.
 
3. In either case, the TSS/WL shall exercise their judgement as to interpretation of weather station data and as to the precise time at which to abandon, taking into account other factors such as precipitation, wind direction, weather forecasts and the level of experience of drivers.

Because of the JCMT's flat roof and apron areas, it is often necessary in the winter to clear snow in order to allow the roof and doors to be opened. This is potentially very hazardous and close attention must be paid to the procedures in section 7 below on access to the carousel roof, catwalk, and apron. When a snow crew is called for, the crew must include a designated snow-crew leader chosen from the list in Addendum 1. The snow-crew leader must confer with the TSS/WL on arrival at the telescope (or at HP, if the summit road is closed), in order to be fully briefed on conditions, before making a decision as to the safety or otherwise of access to the roof and apron. The snow-crew leader must work closely with the TSS/WL so as to be aware of any changes in conditions, and so that the TSS/WL knows what the snow-crew is doing. If any doubt exists about the decision to go onto the roof or the apron, then the primary concern must be to err on the side of safety. When clearing snow our policy is to clear in the following sequence:

• Roof panels, catwalk sides and rails
 
• Roof side areas around penthouse, catwalk middle portion, gantry (it is important to clear the areas around the penthouses otherwise snow will subsequently blow into the building; the side parts of the catwalk must be clear to allow access to the limit switches)
 
• Apron (though work shall not start on the apron until the ice fall hazard from the gantry has been minimized)

Follow the lockout procedures in Chapter 13 Appendix 3 for access to the roof and door areas. Normally the snow-crew leader will be responsible for this and will implement a group lockout.

7. Access to Carousel Roof, Catwalk, and Apron

1. Introduction
1. The following guidelines are intended to help make a decision about safe access to the areas referred to, and will apply under the conditions specified in the absence of any other factors. If other factors, such as unusual weather conditions or localised variations in wind speed due to wind shadowing effects apply, then a judgement will need to be made.
 
2. Visitors are not allowed above the control room level unless they have the explicit agreement of the TSS/WL and they are accompanied by a member of staff.Visitors are not allowed beyond the gates on the apron for any reason.
 

2. Access to JCMT roof:
1. No one may ever go onto the roof alone. Additionally, whenever staff are on the roof, someone must be designated to monitor the weather for changes in conditions. Access to the roof outside daylight hours is prohibited. Before anyone goes onto the roof, the power must be locked out in accordance with the procedures in Chapter 13.
 
2. When the roof is free from ice or snow, and the wind is below 50 mph, staff may go onto the roof , but fall protection (full body harness and adjustable lifeline attached to roof panels) must be used. Access to the centre panel without fall protection is permissible at the discretion of staff concerned.
 
3. In dry, clear conditions when the wind speed exceeds 50 mph, access to the roof is prohibited.
 
4. If there is ice or snow present, access is allowed in wind speeds up to 40 mph, fall protection must be used (full body harness and adjustable lifeline attached to roof panels). Access to the centre panel without fall protection is permissible at the discretion of staff concerned.
   
 
5. If Ice or snow is present and the wind speed exceeds 40 mph, access is not allowed.

Summary table for access to the roof
Ice/Snow	Wind	Access
No	<50	Use fall protection - centre panel without fall protection at staff's discretion
No	>50	Prohibited
Yes	<40	Use fall protection- centre panel without fall protection at staff's discretion
Yes	>40	Prohibited


 
3. Access to the JCMT catwalk:
1. Before accessing the JCMT catwalk, a wind speed assessment must be made of the wind speed, the presence of ice or snow on the apron, and the presence of ice on the gantry and roof above the apron.
 
2. In dry, clear conditions, staff may access the catwalk in wind speeds up to 30 mph. If the work involves anything other than walking on the tread plate (for a routine inspection) OR if the wind speed exceeds 30 mph, fall protection must be used (full body harness and energy-absorbing lanyards).
 
3. In dry, clear conditions when the wind speed exceeds 50 mph, access to the catwalk is prohibited.
 
4. If ice or snow is present, staff may access the catwalk in wind speeds up to 30 mph. If the work involves anything other than walking on the tread plate or if the wind speeds exceeds 30 mph, fall protection must be used (full body harness and energy-absorbing lanyards).
 
5. If any ice or snow are present and the wind speed exceeds 40 mph, access to the catwalk is prohibited.
 
6. Access to the catwalk after dark is prohibited except that the TSS/WL may go onto the catwalk in order to check for icing of the roof limit switches.

Summary table for access to the catwalk
Ice/Snow	Wind	Access
No	<30	OK on walking surfaces, otherwise use fall protection
No	30-50	Use fall protection
No	>50	Prohibited
Yes	<30	OK on walking surfaces, otherwise use fall protection
Yes	30-40	Use fall protection
Yes	>40	Prohibited



4. Access to the JCMT apron:
1. Before any access is made to the JCMT apron area, an assessment must be made of the wind speed, the presence of ice or snow on the apron, and the presence of ice on the gantry and roof above the apron.
 
2. If there is any overhead icing, hard hats must be worn for all access to the apron. If there is significant overhead ice then access to the apron is prohibited. Within this constraint, access is allowed under the following conditions:
• Access to the area outside the door and inside the gates is permitted provided the wind is below 50 mph. If there is significant icing on the walking surface,  the wind speed limit is reduced to 40 mph.
 
• Access beyond the gates is allowed in clear conditions if the walking surface is free from ice and snow in wind speeds up to 50 mph, fall protection must be used (full body harness and a 3-foot fall restraint lanyard connected to the apron fall restraint cable).
 
• In dry, clear conditions when wind speed exceeds 50 mph, access to the apron beyond the gates is prohibited.
 
• If any ice or snow is present, access is allowed beyond the gates in wind speeds up to 40 mph, but fall protection (full body harness and 3-foot fall restraint lanyard connected to the apron fall restraint cable) must be used. In particular, when clearing snow, it will be necessary to work in such a way that staff are always treading on a cleared surface.  Given the narrowness of the apron, this will limit the number of staff who can be working at once, and may mean that only one person can be actively work at the end of the path.
 
• If any ice or snow is present and the wind speed exceeds 40 mph, access to the apron beyond the gates is prohibited.

8. Use of fall protection for access to the roof, catwalk and apron

1. Under the circumstances given above, safe access to the roof, catwalk, or apron will require the use of fall protection.
 
2. Always personally inspect the safety equipment before use.
 
3. A clear distinction must be made between fall protection devices
• FALL ARRESTORS, which are designed to limit the impact on your body if you fall, and
• FALL RESTRAINT DEVICES, which are designed to stop you from falling at all.
 

4. Fall arrestors shall have an energy-absorbing capability, fall restraint devices need not.
 
5. Equipment provided is:

• Full body harnesses. Those staff members that use harnesses frequently are provided with their own personal harnesses. Other staff shall use the general-use harnesses only if they are trained to do so.

• Energy-absorbing lanyards. These come in two lengths, 4' and 6', and shall be used on the catwalk or antenna backing structure.

• Tie-off straps and carabiners. Used to connect to anchorage points.

• Adjustable lifeline (Safe-T-Strap Travel Restraint System). These come in two lengths 50' (for the upper roof panels) and 35' (for the lower roof panels).

• Fall restraint lanyards. The 3-foot lanyards shall be used on the carousel apron. 
  

6. When working on the roof and when fall protection is called for, full body harnesses must be worn and attached to the upper and lower roof panels with an adjustable lifeline. It may not be necessary to wear them on the centre roof panel, but this is left to the discretion of the staff concerned.
 
On the upper and lower carousel roof panels use the adjustable lifelines and set them to prevent you from coming near the edge of the roof. This will differ depending on your location on the roof panels. Connect the lifelines to your full body harness D-rings. The side D rings may be used for fall restraint - but note that for fall arrest the back D ring must be used. You may fasten up to two people to each eyebolt by using a carabiner.

On the upper panel, use the 50-foot lanyards set so as to prevent any possibility of falling off. Normally, only the centre eyebolt shall be used so that an arc of movement large enough to be useful will not allow a fall. Note that, as an alternate, the 35 foot lanyards at full extension used on the centre eyebolt will prevent falls but may not allow access to the very edge of the roof.


7. When working on the catwalk and fall protection is called for, it shall be of the fall arrestor type (energy-absorbing) and must be rigged such that the potential free fall is never greater than 6 feet. Do not work above your anchorage level since an increased free fall distance will result. Anchor to a strong part of the structure, not to the handrails. A full harness must be worn, with the fall arrestor properly attached to the back D ring.
   

8. When working on the apron, beyond the gates, staff must wear full body harness with 3-foot restraint lanyard attached to the apron fall-restraint cable.  The maximum number of staff allowed per section of apron fall-restraint cable is two.

9. When a fall occurs, any number of factors can create challenges to the effective rescue of the victim.Weather conditions, physical obstacles, and the condition of the victim can consume time and create hindrances for rescue personnel.  OSHA recommends the following general practices/considerations:
   

• Rescue suspended worker as quickly as possible.

•  Be aware of the potentially life threatening risks of orthostatic intolerance and suspension trauma.

•  Be aware of signs and symptoms of orthostatic intolerance.

•  Be aware that suspended workers who are unconscious or have head injuries are particularly at risk for orthostatic intolerance.

•  Be aware of the factors that can increase the risk of suspension trauma.

•  Be aware that some authorities advise against moving the rescued worker to a horizontal position too quickly.   

For more information on orthostatic intolerance and rescue, go to: www.osha.gov/dts/shib/shib032404.html

Earthquake response should follow the instructions in Chapter 2, Section E in the first instance. Once it has been deemed safe  and the Site Safety Advisor has authorised recovery, the following checklist shall be completed before starting operations:


1. If earthquake is felt, hit the emergency stop
   

2. Visual Check of Carousel

1. General:
• If there is sign of any damage to the carousel immediately contact the Site Safety Advisor or the Designated Official. Such damage will only arise from a very large earthquake. It may be the only sign of much wider damage to the structure and under no circumstances should antenna or the carousel be moved.
• Call UKIRT to request status of damage to their shear pins.
 

2. Basement
• Check the carousel track for obstructions e.g. any debris fallen on track.
• Check all cable runs to ensure that no cables have come loose and could snag the basement structures.
• Check all offices and workshops for damaged or disturbed equipment. Such items could become fire or other safety hazards if not identified.
• Check all water systems for leaks.
 

3. Roof
• Check the roof track for foreign objects.
• If the weather is clear, check around the gantry. In particular ensure that the emergency roof closure cable is not snagged on the roof.
• The roof shall be visually inspected for any signs of damage or misalignment. If for any reason the roof does not appear in sound condition contact the Site Safety Advisor or the Designated Official.
• At the membrane platform check that the crane is in the parked position. Immediately to the left of the access to the stairwell is a signal light that gives the status of crane.
 

4. Doors
• Check that the tracks are clear of any debris.
• Ensure that the emergency closure cables are well clear of the doors.
• The doors shall be visually inspected for any signs of damage or misalignment. If for any reason the doors do not appear in sound condition contact the Site Safety Advisor or the Designated Official.
 

5. Carousel Observing Floor
• Check for any damaged or disturbed equipment.
• Check the CEC PLC for any problems with the carousel control. Reset any emergency stops, the starlift or crane as required.
• If necessary repower the carousel.
• Check cryogen dewars and lines for damage.
 

3. Visual Check of Antenna
If there is sign of damage to the antenna immediately contact the Site Safety Advisor or the Designated Official. Such damage will only arise from a very large earthquake. It may be the only sign of much wider damage to the structure and under no circumstances shall the antenna or carousel be moved.
• Check both Nasmyth platforms for damaged or disturbed equipment.
• Check the Receiver Cabin for damaged or disturbed equipment.
• Check the AEC PLC for any potential problems. Reset emergency stops, drives, and overspeed as necessary.
• Check the Closed Cycle Cooler coolant lines for leaks.
  
• If necessary restart the system.
 

1. For access to the cabin backing structure or electronics racks, see the lockout/tagout procedures in Chapter 13 Appendix 3.
 
2. If you are in the receiver cabin when someone starts driving the antenna, hit the emergency stop button which is located on your left hand side as you enter the receiver cabin. Make sure you know where this emergency stop button is as you enter the receiver cabin.
 
3. No visitors are allowed to enter the receiver cabin alone unless they have been shown the location of the emergency stop button.
 
4. When climbing on the backing structure if a fall of more than 6 feet is possible you must use an energy-absorbing lanyard and a full body harness.  Position the anchorage point and select a lanyard so that the maximum fall is 6 feet and secure it to a solid part of the structure. Fasten the lanyard to the back D-ring of the harness.

1. During daywork, before the antenna and/or carousel is rotated, the TSS/WL must be informed (see also Chapter 13 Appendix 3). An announcement must be made over the loudspeaker system, and the alarm must be sounded three times. In addition, before driving in elevation, the receiver cabin must be checked to ensure that no loose equipment has been left in the cabin and to ensure no personnel are present in the cabin. If the antenna/carousel is being intermittently rotated during the daytime, all staff in the building must be informed by the observing staff.
 
2. Before night observing the basement and antenna well area shall be checked for obstructions before rotating the carousel or tipping the antenna.

1. There are 21 emergency stop buttons for the Carousel Azimuth Drive and Antenna Drive
• 1 in the Control Room
• 1 near CEC PLC (next to control room entrance)
  
• 3 on the Control Room level near columns (1 each located: near the Starlift UPS batteries, near the Carousel Electrical Mains Switch-gear Unit, Computer Room)
• 2 at the pneumatic platforms at roof shutter level (1 each side of the building )
• 2 near the main doors (1 each side of the building)
• 1 at the bottom of the spiral staircase
• 3 x 1 at each of the carousel bogies which contains a drive unit
• 2 carousel kick switches at the foot of the carousel stairs. The green light on the stairs next to the light switch will go out when either switch has been activated
• 2 in the central plinth area in the carousel basement.
• 4 on the antenna (1 each located: at the Antenna Engineering Console, in the Cassegrain Receiver Cabin, on the Mezzanine Platform right and left hand sides)
 

2. There is also an emergency stop button at the Carousel Control Unit for only the Carousel Azimuth Drive.
 
3. If any of the emergency stop buttons are pressed, they must be reset by twisting and pulling the knob back out. The carousel kick switches are reset through clearly marked panels located at either side of the switch.
 
4. JAC staff who work at the JCMT shall know where each of these emergency stop buttons is located.
 
5. All emergency push buttons are auto lock, and require manual release after operation.

1. There are 9 emergency stop buttons, which in addition to stopping the Carousel Azimuth Drive and Antenna Drive, also stop the carousel roof shutters and main doors. They are located in the following places:
• 1 near CEC PLC (next to control room entrance)
  
• 1 in the Control Room
• 3 on the Control Room level near columns (1 each located: near the Starlift UPS batteries, near the Carousel Electrical Mains Switch-gear Unit, Computer Room)
• 2 at the pneumatic platforms at roof shutter level (1 each side of the building)
• 2 near the main doors (1 each side of the building)
 

2. There is also an emergency stop button at the Roof and Door Control Box for only the carousel roof shutters and main doors.
 
3. JAC staff who work at the JCMT shall know where each of these emergency stop buttons is located.
 
4. All emergency push buttons are auto lock, and require manual release after operation.

1. During icy periods no one is allowed to enter the JCMT ice fall area and the carousel apron.
 
2. Deliveries must be done using the main entrance door and water deliveries cancelled until there is no ice fall danger.
 
3. To avoid ice and snow from falling onto parked vehicles and people, ensure that the roof shutter support framework is not over the main entrance way.
 
4. Access to the ice fall area can only be obtained with the permission of the TSS/WL. Before allowing entry the person-in-charge must make sure that no ice fall danger is present.
 
5. Staff should warn visitors/tourists that wander too close to the building about the ice fall danger.

1. When working on the Nasmyth platforms carefully handle and store equipment and tools to prevent them from falling. Be aware of others working or walking under these platforms.
 
2. Nasmyth cranes shall be parked in the position which will not interfere with the movement of the antenna.

Certain vacuum windows are very thin and easily perforated.  To avoid vacuum implosion, the following precautions are JAC policy:

1. Affix the window protective cover when working near it with sharp tools such as screwdrivers.
 
2. Do not use a strong heat gun to defrost the windows.  Consult with the instrument engineer or scientist if the window is damp or frosted.

E. UKIRT SAFETY 

1. Responsibility for safety of personnel at UKIRT

1. When the TSS is present, they are responsible for the safety of all visiting and support astronomers and for co-ordinating any activity at the telescope.
 
2. Therefore, anyone arriving at the telescope when a TSS is present, must report to them to discuss their plans.
 
3. All staff arriving at the telescope must sign-in in the log book in the control room, and sign out on leaving.
 
4. Any work done on the telescope when the TSS is not present must be recorded in the telescope log so that the incoming TSS may familiarise themselves with what has been done. If convenient , staff finishing such work should meet with the TSS at Hale Pohaku to brief them.
 
5. No visitor shall be allowed to work in a JAC summit facility without an officially assigned staff member who is responsible for his or her safety and training.  The responsible staff member for each such person shall be listed on the engineering daywork schedule.
 
6. Work rules when a TSS is not present are covered in section C2 of this chapter.

The designated snow-crew leader shall be chosen from the list in Addendum 1. The clearing of ice and snow is potentially very hazardous and the snow-crew leader must pay close attention to procedures in sections 3, 5, and 6 below.

There are a number of actions to be conducted on arrival at UKIRT following a snow/ice storm:

1. All exit doors must be cleared of snow and ice before occupying the building.
   

2. Park away from the building. Use the dome extension door to access UKIRT. Clear snow/ice adjacent to extension doors.

3. Turn on concrete pad heaters to help snow/ice removal.

4. Inspect dome exterior (shutter, dome brush seals, flat roof area adjacent to the dome) for snow/ice accumulation which may impede rotation or opening of shutter. This inspection must be conducted by no less than two people and from a safe distance to avoid snow/ice fall hazard. Snow/ice clearing shall not be done if there is a significant overhead snow/ice hazard. If there is no significant overhead snow/ice hazard, clearing can be done - hard hats must be worn. Allow the sun to melt off the snow/ice from dome and clear flat roof area adjacent to dome. Once the dome brush seals are free rotate dome to use the sun to melt off the other side of the dome and shutters.

5. Inspect dome interior and remove any accumulation of snow/ice/water which might cause a person to slip and fall.
 
6. After the sun has done its work, test shutter and windblinds. Clap shutter at first to remove remaining snow/ice. Operate windblinds and watch for any remaining snow/ice.

1. During icy periods do not walk next to the UKIRT building, ice falling can injure or kill.
 
2. Park vehicles away from the building to prevent vehicle damage from falling ice.
 
3. Enter UKIRT using the dome extension doors.
 
4. Deliveries can be made through the dome extension roll-up door only if there is no ice fall danger.
 
5. Staff should warn visitors/tourists that wander too close to the building about the ice fall danger.

Earthquake response should follow the instructions in Chapter 2, Section E in the first instance. Once it has been deemed safe  and the Site Safety Advisor has authorised recovery, the following checklist shall be completed before starting operations:

1. If earthquake is felt, hit the emergency stop.
   

2. Visual Check of Dome

1. General
• If there is any sign of damage to the dome, immediately contact the Site Safety Advisor or the Designated Official. Such damage will only arise from a very large earthquake. It may be the only sign of much wider damage to the structure and under no circumstance shall the telescope or the dome be moved.
 

2. Dome
• Check the dome track for obstructions or cracks in the concrete support structure.
• Check for cracks in the dome floor.
• Check for damaged or disturbed equipment
 

3. Dome Shutter
• Check shutter for obstructions, damage, misalignment or loose drive cables and chains.
 

4. Downstairs Offices, Plant Room, Coude Room, Dome Extension and Instrument Prep Room
• Check for any damaged or disturbed equipment
• Check all utilities for possible damage
 

5. Vestibule
• Check for any damage to the removable vestibule wall and roof.
• Check cryogenic dewars for damage.
 

3. Visual Check of Telescope
1. If there is any sign of damage to the telescope immediately contact the Site Safety Advisor or the Designated Official. Such damage will only arise from a very large earthquake. It may be the only sign of much wider damage to the structure and under no circumstance shall the telescope be moved.
• Check for damage to shear pins.
• Check primary mirror for cracks.
• Check for leaks in mirror support air system.
• Check for damage to instruments.
• Check for damage to closed cycle helium lines
• Check for damage to vacuum lines.
• Check for damage to mirror cooling lines
 

2. Note: if the Shear pins are broken then the JCMT TSS shall be notified to check for damage at the JCMT.
 

1. The TSS/WL may decide to stay in higher winds but shall in any case evacuate the telescope at summit wind speeds of 70 mph (steady) or 80 mph (gusting), unless there are compelling reasons not to do so. The situation shall then be monitored from HP.
 
2. In either case, the TSS/WL shall exercise their judgement as to which weather station to use and as to the precise time at which to abandon, taking into account other factors such as precipitation, wind direction, weather forecasts and the level of experience of drivers.
 
3. When the wind speed exceeds 45 mph (steady) or 50 mph (gusting) the dome shutters shall be closed.

1. The dome exterior/shutter/dome extension roof is a hazardous area. When there is ice/snowfall danger or high winds, over 40 mph, access to the dome exterior/shutter/dome extension roof is prohibited.
 
2. It is the responsibility of the Work Leader to ensure staff safety when working on the dome exterior/shutter/dome extension roof. Hazards on the roof include falling, snow blindness and dangers associated with moving parts of the dome and shutter. If you do go onto the dome exterior/shutter/dome extension roof, you must follow the safety procedures below:
 
1. The dome drive and shutter must be locked-out (see Chapter 13, Appendix 4)
   
 
2. There must be two staff present. The second person should be outside and be in direct contact with the person on the dome extension/shutter.
 
3. Full-body harness and the ladder fall protection system must be used.
 
4. Inspect all safety equipment before use.

7. Telescope Pre-observing Checks

Before observing starts, the TSS shall make a check as far as is reasonable, that no work carried out during the day has inadvertently created or left behind hazards such as tools in the path of moving parts of the dome and telescope.

This shall include checking the observation floor for any obstructions which may foul telescope, e.g. ladders, boxes, or equipment.

a.  Policy/Purpose

The purpose of this plan is to supplement our safety policy by providing standards specifically designed to cover fall protection on this job and to ensure that each employee is trained and made aware of the safety provisions which are to be implemented by this plan prior to the start of the specified job.

b.  Responsibilities

     i.   Site Safety Advisor

1. Conducts routine and periodic inspections of this operation.
2. Enforces the safety policy and procedures of this plan.
3. Implements this plan.
4. Approves any changes to this plan.
5. Updates this plan as appropriate.

     ii.  Safety Monitor
1. Shall warn the employee when it appears that the employee is unaware of a fall hazard or is acting in an unsafe manner.
2. Enforces the safety policy and procedures of this plan.
3. Shall monitor the area within visual sighting distance and with a clear view of both the working surface and staff working there.
4. Shall be close enough to communicate orally with the employee.
5. Shall not have other responsibilities, which could take the monitor’s attention from the monitoring function.
6. Shall have a copy of this fall protection plan with all approved changes at the job site.

      iii. Employee

1. To understand and follow the procedures of this plan
2. Bring to the attention of the Site Safety Advisor any unsafe or hazardous conditions or acts that may cause injury to either themselves or any  other employee.


c.  Other Fall Protection Measures Considered for this Job

The following is a list and explanation of other fall protection measures available and an explanation of limitations for use on this particular job.

       i.  Personal Fall Arrest Systems

1. In this particular job, personal fall arrest systems requiring full body harness systems, lifelines and lanyards will not reduce possible hazards to the employee and will create offsetting hazards to the employee and mirror during their usage.
 
2. The nature of such work normally exposes the employee to the fall hazard for a short period of time. Installation of fall protection systems for a short duration is not feasible because it exposes the installers of the system to the same fall hazard, but for a longer period of time.
 
3. It is necessary that the employee be able to move freely without encumbrance in order to measure the section of primary mirror required for the test.


       ii. Safety Net Systems

1. To install safety nets around the mirror covers poses rigging attachment problems.
 
2. The nature of such work normally exposes the employee to the fall hazard for a short period of time. Installation of safety nets for a short duration is not feasible because it exposes the installers of the system to the same fall hazard, but for a longer period of time.


      iii.  Guardrail Systems

1. Guardrail systems including toe boards cannot be used in this location.
   


      iv. Other Fall Protection Measures Considered for this Job

1. Scaffolds are not used because the employee would not be able to reach all the work area from the scaffold. The employees erecting and dismantling the scaffolding would be exposed to fall hazards for a greater length of time than they would by merely working on the mirror covers.
 
2. Ladders are not used because the employee would not be able to reach all the work area with the ladder.


d.  Designated and Trained Employees

Personnel who are required to perform work on the UKIRT mirror covers shall be trained on the following procedures and to act as Safety Monitor. On occasion when the mirror covers need to be accessed for WFCAM valve operation the TSS may train the observer to act as the Safety Monitor.

e. Procedures

In the event an employee falls, or some other related, serious incident occurs, (e.g.. near miss) the JAC Accident Investigation Committee shall investigate the circumstances of the fall or other incident to determine if the fall protection plan needs to be changed and shall implement those changes to prevent similar types of fall or incidents.

15.  DVS (Dome Ventilation System) Manual Operation

For any access to the DVS follow the lockout prcedures in Chapter 13 Appendix 4 H.

1. Each Weather Tight Enclosure (WTE) has a local control station with a HAND/OFF/AUTO switch which operates as follows. Note that this switch cannot be used to lock out the WTE for maintenance or servicing as it is in the control circuit and is not an acceptable energy isolating device.
1. The HAND position enables the open/close pushbuttons.
2. The AUTO position enables the PLC automated control.
3. The OFF position disables both the pushbutton and PLC control.
2. When using the chains to open or close a WTE, the switch shall be set to the OFF position (not the HAND position which allows local control) to prevent unexpected movement of the door.
3. Under no circumstances shall one use their hands to free a jammed WTE as it may contain stored energy which could cause it to suddenly run down the tracks.