Last month, Livio Mapelli, Head of the PH Department, Frederic Hemmer, Head of IT Department and Lluis Miralles, Head of the GS department, visited the new Safety Training Centre in Prévessin. Gilles Colin and Christoph Balle had organized this special visit for the management of the three departments and  Ralf Trant, Head of the HSE Unit, Philippe Lebrun, Chairman of Safety Policy Committee (SAPOCO) and Gianni Deroma and Enrico Cennini, Group Leaders of the Fire Brigade and the Safety Engineering & Environment Group in the HSE Unit.

The visitors were guided in the mock up tunnel and had the chance to see the progress that has been made since 2013, when the first shipping containers and modular classrooms arrived in Prévessin. In the past, one single shipping container was used to simulate the LHC tunnel. However, it was very dirty and full of smoke, while only one type of exercise was provided. Christoph notes: “The exercises were done in an old container, and the technicians had to work under bad space and weather conditions, supplied with poor means  to deal with the chemicals used in this process.” Currently, a set of different exercises is available, including some of the most extreme scenarios that one could encounter in the tunnel, from a simple evacuation alarm to more complicated situations that can arise during the LHC run. The mock up tunnel also allows the training of operators of towing tractors. Finally, a biometric system has been installed, allowing thousands of users to get used to the procedures they have to follow when entering an experimental area.

Moreover, during the last months, a number of systems — including a beam-monitoring system have been added to simulate the LHC tunnel as realistically as possible. An elevator has been installed just before the access system to simulate the actual route from the surface to the tunnel within a realistic timescale. This will allow for the better training of rescuers in different types of incidents. In addition, it can be the case that users feel claustrophobic or stressed in the elevator — often without having realized that before — so the new elevator can help them familiarize themselves with the procedures they have to follow in case of accidents and better cooperate with the rescuers.

An introduction to the number of training courses offered now by the HSE unit followed. Covering a wide range of topics, a number of options are offered, combining practical with theoretical courses. The group uses various learning techniques, providing e-learning courses, as well as a number of modules for those who have to refresh previous knowledge in order to keep access-rights.One of the containers-hand-on is dedicated to courses on electrical safety. Currently, four different courses are offered (high voltage, low voltage, non electrician, and data acquisition, which is an important part of a life’s experiment). It is important to note that customized courses are also available on demand. Courses on all CERN activities designed to accommodate all levels of expertise, from someone just changing the lights, to experts working in data acquisition or designing electronics, and to electricians, who often need to intervene to places where the power cannot be cut down.  

Christoph adds: “In the past, the practical part of the courses was taught in different places around CERN sites, thus it was quite hard to find a date and coordinate with the people actually working on these sites. Moreover, the level of training provided was not as satisfactory as we would like it to be, as the courses offered limited opportunities for practical activities to participants.” Nowadays, during classes in electrical safety, learners are asked to identify the faults in different cases, think about different solutions, and finally procedures to fix the problem. As a result, they are much more involved in the learning process, which is a very important development.”

The next stop of the visit was the laser workshop. At CERN, there are places, where lasers are daily used as tools, in the same way as a hammer or a screwdriver, though they are more dangerous. To address this type of risk, the safety unit decided to install a mock-up lab, giving once more the opportunity for some hands-on activities to the participants. The visit was followed by a presentation about the future plans for a new safety training centre at Prévessin, designed to meet the demands of LS2 and future physics projects. In particular PH is concerned by: a) working at heights, b) scaffolding, c) mobile elevated working platforms. Learners cover a wide range from CERN users who need an unduction course to CERN members and staff working in labs, or even external employees.. During the LS1, the number of people trained increased from 3,000 to 8,000 a remarkable increase.. There is a constant need for developing new facilities and material to cope with the other workshops that are part of CERN activities (e.g for cryogenics).

The visit gave the chance to emphasize that safety is an important aspect of CERN activities and acknowledge the work done to respond to the demands made by a number of stakeholders. CERN maintains a very high level regarding safety issues and holds a high reputation across other laboratories and visitors from the industry.