Astronomical observing is a potentially dangerous occupation. It frequently involves the operation of heavy equipment, in pitch darkness, at high altitude, and in lousy weather. Severe accidents have occurred at astronomical observatories, so visitors must take safety issues seriously.

Visitors should note that the ING safety policy applies to them as well as to observatory staff.

The responsibility for safety on site during daytime working hours is vested in ING's Leader of the Operations Team, and at night in the Observing Support Assistant (OSA). They are the first point of contact in case of any emergency, and they have the authority to take decisions on safety issues, such as determining that the buildings or the observatory site should be evacuated, and such decisions must be obeyed. The IAC residence provides a 24-hour porter service who can also be contacted in case of an emergency.

For emergency procedures please refer to the Health and Safety section on the Intranet web pages (only accessible at the observatory).

Please take care when walking around the site. There are many precipices and the rock is very unstable. Keep to roadways and marked paths. Beware of bad weather conditions: in poor visibility it is extremely easy to lose your way and snow or ice can make the shortest journey an ordeal. Always wear adequate shoes or boots.

Be sure to collect a torch before it gets dark, and always carry it with you. All visiting observers should be issued with a torch as part of the visitors pack received on arrival.

If you intend to leave the site to walk, always tell somebody before you leave or notify the Incident Officer.

During the winter months (normally November to April inclusive) please ensure that you bring adequate clothing to protect you against wind, rain, snow, ice and generally cold conditions. Also remember that the weather conditions at the observatory can change rapidly, even in summer.

Observers working alone at night are at particular risk. Carry the lone worker alarm always with you! Your Support Astronomer will show you how it works. The ‘ING contact person’ is the operations team during working hours and the WHT OSA at night.

If you discover a fire:

1. Raise the alarm at once by operating the nearest break glass fire alarm.
2. Call the operations leader or your ING contact person or get someone to do so, providing your exact location.
3. If trained in the use of fire extinguishers and you feel you can easily extinguish the fire, attempt to do so with the equipment provided. Never take personal risks.
4. If you cannot tackle the fire, should the fire get out of control or your escape route is threatened leave the building quickly and calmly by the nearest available escape route, whenever possible, assisting in evacuating visitors and leaving windows and doors closed.
5. Do not stop to collect personal belongings and do not use the lifts.

On hearing the evacuation signal:

1. Leave the building quickly and calmly by the nearest available escape route, whenever possible, assisting in evacuating visitors and leaving windows and doors closed.
2. Do not stop to collect personal belongings and do not use the lifts.

Fire assembly point:

1. The normal point of assembly is the car park; however you may be directed to another area by the operations leader or your ING contact person.
2. Do not re-enter the building until informed it is safe to do so by the operations leader or your ING contact person.
3. If you believe someone is missing, inform the operation leader, your ING contact person or the fire brigade officer.

The operations leader or the ING contact person will call (0)112 if a fire has been discovered that cannot be tackled. If a fire is discovered the operations leader or the ING contact person must inform the IAC reception, ING management and the ING safety adviser.

Once a fire incident has been resolved the operations leader or the ING contact person, after agreeing with ING management or the ING safety adviser, will inform staff and visitors how to proceed.