All beamline operation is subject to a safety approval procedure. This procedure is applied to all types of experiments:

• Application for Beam Time at the ESRF or on CRG beamlines
  
• Industrial Research (IN, IX or FX)
• In-House Research (including beamline commissioning)
  
• FAB (Flexible Access Beam time).

1. The Application for Beam Time must be submitted electronically.

2. For information on the classification of biological samples please refer to the following document Biological Experiments.

3. Special procedures exist for the use of radioactive samples on beamlines other than BM20 (ROBL).

4. If you intend on travelling with your samples, please read the following information

The Safety Group will examine the application form and define the necessary safety rules.  These safety rules will be returned via a Safety Approval Form (SAF), which will be subsequently posted at the beamline for yellow and red experiments only.

5. The following will be marked on this SAF:

• the validity period
• the list of people carrying out the experiment
• a colour code:

• a green SAF is delivered for experiments which present no risk; consequently, the unattended operation mode is allowed;
• a yellow SAF is delivered for experiments which need a particular check by the Safety Group at the beginning of the experiment, but where after this, the unattended operation mode is allowed;
• a red SAF is delivered for experiments which present a risk; consequently, the unattended operation mode is forbidden: at least one person must be present at all times (24h a day) on the beamline. Please do not commence a red experiment on a week-end.

• the signatures of the Experimental Safety Service, the beamline responsible and an Experimental Hall Operator (EHO)
• plus, if the form is red, a notice for measures to be taken during the experiment is given by the Safety Group.

6. If there is a modification in the SAF eg. a change in the name, validity or sample, you must immediately contact the Experimental Safety Service in order to re-validate your SAF.

7. If your experiment has been rated yellow or red, once you are ready to start the experiment, you MUST contact an EHO (25 25) to obtain your SAF and the experimental hutch Operator Key (do not wait for the EHO to come to you!) and then you must contact the Experimental Safety team for them to check your experimental set-up (23-69, 21-76 or 22 03).

8. At the end of the experiment, you must again contact the EHO so that he may take the experimental hutch inhibit key and check inside the experimental hutch.

All users are required to follow an USERS' SAFETY TRAINING COURSE before they enter on site and before the submission of the A Form.  The SAFETY TRAINING COURSE can be accessed via the ESRF User Portal (SMIS).

This training is valid 12 months.

The new procedure of submission of the electronic A Form does NOT allow the registration of a user who does not have a valid safety training course when the A Form is being submitted.