As a general safety
rule, DON'T EXPLORE FACILITIES ON THE MOUNTAIN UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY
SOMEONE ON THE LOCAL STAFF.
IT IS
OBVIOUSLY FORBIDDEN TO ENTER RESTRICTED AREAS MARKED AS SUCH. NOTE
AND OBEY POSTED SAFETY SIGNS AND INFORMATION.
By all means, avoid climbing on telescopes,
structures, domes or any other potentially dangerous places. If this is
absolutely necessary for your work or to satisfy reasonable and normal
curiosity, ask someone on the technical crew to go with you and follow
instructions.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LOUVERS IN THE MAGELLAN DOMES ARE
OPERATED REMOTELY AND CAN BE SET IN MOTION DURING THE DAY AS WELL AS THE
NIGHT AT ANY TIME. KEEP CLEAR OF THEM AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE
INTRODUCE AN ARM OR ANY PART OF THE BODY IN THE SPACE BETWEEN THEM.
WHEN WALKING OUTSIDE DOMES AT NIGHT, ALWAYS CARRY A
FLASHLIGHT. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THREE STEPS ON THE CATWALK OUTSIDE
THE MAGELLAN CONTROL ROOMS. A SMALL RED LIGHT INDICATES THESE, BUT
COMING OUT OF A WELL LIT ROOM, YOU MAY NOT SEE THE LIGHT.
ALWAYS WALK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD (BUT
PLEASE DRIVE ON THE RIGHT SIDE!!!)
It is ABSOLUTELY FORBIDDEN to climb on the
outer parts of domes as well as the upper ends of telescopes. Ridiculous
as it may sound, we have had visitors who have tried to climb on the
outside of frozen domes in order to remove ice or snow!
Unless you are required to be part of the
operation of mounting or dismounting an instrument or parts of
instruments or telescopes, you should observe such actions carried out
by the technical crew from a safe distance. This is for your own safety,
that of others and for the integrity of instruments and components.
If you enter a place marked as "Hard
Hat" area or where other people are using this protection, you are
required to procure the same protection for yourself. This also applies
to eye protection.
Always use eye and limb
protection when handling potentially dangerous instruments,
elements or cryogens.
Using
cryogenic elements can be dangerous if you are not trained.
One cause of accidents is being trapped by
machinery or mechanisms. Please keep away from moving machines (moving
scaffolds, platforms, cherry pickers, backhoes, graders, loaders, etc.)
and use extreme care when working with or near such devices.
On a somewhat different note, remember that
good health is necessary in order to carry out your work. Don't
try to be heroic. Make use of our local clinic and if
required to go to La Serena, don't dismiss it.
3. REPORTING AN
ACCIDENT
A timely and
accurate report of an accident can be very helpful. Please keep in mind
that language can be a serious barrier in a stressful situation. Therefore
try to be accurate and remain calm when reporting an accident.
Simple rules:
a) Try to
find someone who speaks English if your Spanish is not good. The report
should go first to the person in charge of the mountain. This person is,
from Mondays to Thursdays, Mr. MARCELO RODRIGUEZ (Extension 660).
The Paramedic is the next person who should be informed (Extension
672). In any event, someone on the technical crew will know exactly who
should be informed.
b) Try to avoid driving and prefer the phone
system. It might take a minute or two to locate someone but it will
certainly take more time to find someone by driving. Moreover, you will
increase the chances of further accidents.
c) Do not move a person
who has suffered an accident or injury without help from other people.
There will almost certainly be a paramedic or someone with specific
training on the mountain.
d) If you are unable to locate anyone
who speaks English, call the kitchen (Extension 639)
and state slowly and clearly who you are, where you are (give your
extension if you know it, if you can) and that an accident has occurred.
The word for Accident in Spanish is ACCIDENTE, so it is certain that
you will be understood. There is a radio in the kitchen and they will
try to locate someone to help you.
e) If there is an accident
which requires anything more than basic local assistance, the person(s)
involved will be transported to La Serena where we have an agreement
with one of the major clinics. If required, an ambulance will drive up
from Serena to meet our vehicle going down.
