Subject: Safety note

From: Russet McMillan

Submitted: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 12:29:00 -0600 (MDT)

Message number: 371 (previous: 370, next: 372 up: Index)

Please post this message in all remote control rooms.

A special note for remote observers: Three times during the past few
months, observers have tried to slew while I was in the dome, and in
each instance the observers should really have known better.  All
observers have spent time on site, and all should be aware of how many
pinch points there are in the dome.  The observing specialists are in
especially vulnerable positions when opening and closing the dome
and/or mirror covers, since it requires standing on a shaky ladder
right next to the telescope.  Moving the telescope at these times
could literally knock the observing specialist off the ladder and
cause serious injury.  Although we usually press a stop button at such
times for our own safety and that of the telescope, NO ONE should
attempt to slew when the observing specialist is out in the dome
without express permission.  This is a vital safety issue, and I would
appreciate it if institutional leaders could see that it is brought to
the attention of all observers.

					Russet McMillan.

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