Guidance for Completing Experiment Authorisation Form

All users of the Australian Synchrotron (AS) are required to submit an 'Experiment Authorisation Form' before commencing any experimental work within the facility. Users of the Macromolecular Crystallography (Protein Crystallography) and the Small and Wide Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS/WAXS) Beamlines must also fill out and submit an additional form:

• 'MX Additional Experimental Information Form' or
• 'SAXS/WAXS Beamline Detailed Experiment Plan'.

All forms are available electronically below.

The 'Experiment Authorisation' form is available electronically below or through the User Office, telephone: +61 3 8540 4176, fax: +61 3 8540 4200, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The User Office requires Users to complete this form electronically. Electronic completion enables expansion of fields to cater for all requested information.

The Experiment Authorisation form, MSDS and risk assessments must be completed and returned a minimum of 1 week prior to the scheduled beamtime. Due to the inherent occupational health and safety requirements of the facility it is vital that this information is accurate and comprehensive so as to ensure the safety of all parties. Alterations to attending users listed on the Experiment Authorisation form can only be made up to 3 working days prior to the scheduled beamtime.

Page 1 Details

Complete all of the identification fields, making sure you provide the names of ALL users and their email addresses and contact telephone numbers. Only those people listed on this form will be given access to the AS.

In the 'OHSE information' fields:

• Are any OHSE hazards listed overleaf associated with your experimental samples?

This question refers to hazards associated with your experimental samples. While all experimental samples are fundamentally chemical in nature, we draw a distinction between your samples and the reagent chemicals used to prepare samples for analysis at the AS.

If you have checked any of the boxes next to the hazards listed on page 2 of the form (hazards associated with your samples) you will need to provide the AS with risk assessments covering the use of these. It is anticipated that many user groups will have their own risk assessment forms from their home institute that will cover many of the instances they will also face at the AS.  Providing us with a copy of your institute's risk assessments is sufficient.

ALL users who are handling these samples in any way at the AS must have signed off on these risk assessments.

• In addition to your samples, are Hazardous Substances or Dangerous Goods being brought into the facility? (i.e. for use in preparing samples for analysis)

This question refers to any hazardous reagent chemicals being brought into the AS for the purposes of preparing your samples for analysis. If you are proposing to bring such chemicals into the facility, you must provide risk assessments for the use of these chemicals. Again, ALL users who are handling these chemicals in any way at the AS must have signed off on these risk assessments.

• Are the supplier’s MSDS for all Hazardous Substances and Dangerous Goods being brought onsite available on ‘Chemwatch’?

This question refers to the provision of MSDS by users for all Hazardous Substances and Dangerous Goods they propose to bring onsite. If the user knows the supplier’s/ manufacturer’s MSDS (less than 5 years old) for their material is available in the materials database ‘Chemwatch’, then such MSDS may be accessed via a workstation on the beamline at the AS. Under these circumstances the user does not have to provide the AS with a copy of the MSDS. If however, the MSDS is NOT available via Chemwatch or the user does not have access to this database and therefore cannot determine if the MSDS is available, then the user will need to provide the AS with a current copy of the supplier’s/manufacturer’s MSDS either electronically (via email with the completed experiment authorisation form) or in hard copy at the commencement of their beamtime.

Page 2 Details

• Details of experimental samples (and reagents used for preparing samples), whether hazardous or not, that you propose to bring on site (list all chemicals/biologicals/equipment):

In this field list the details of the samples and reagent chemicals that you are bringing into the AS whether you have identified them as being hazardous or not. Also list any electrical equipment that you propose to use on site.

At the end of the safety approval process the User should have:

• A completed 'Experiment Authorisation' form - signed by the user group spokesperson
• If required - Risk assessment(s) covering the use of ALL hazardous/dangerous samples and reagent chemicals - signed by all users who will be handling these at the AS
• If required – MSDS (if they are not available on ‘Chemwatch’)
• For users of the macromolecular (protein) crystallography beamline, a completed 'Crystallography Additional Experimental Information' form.

The Experiment Authorisation Form should be completed and returned to the User Office as soon as possible once your beamtime has been allocated.

If you have any questions regarding the experiment authorisation process, please do not hesitate to contact the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it on the details above.
 

Downloads

Guidance for completing Experiment Authorisation Form (copy of the instructions given above: pdf, 28kb)

Guidance for completing SAXS/WAXS Beamline Detailed Experiment Plan (PDF document, 82.1kb)

Experiment Authorisation Form (Word document, 164kb)

MX Additional Experimental Information Form (Word document, 102kb)

SAXS/WAXS Beamline Detailed Experiment Plan (Word document, 97.5kb)