Re: Radiation safety and scanning electron microscope


"Sharon" <sharonschen@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> We have a Philips SEM Model CM120 in a room of our laboratory and were
> wondering if it is safe to use this room as additional deskspace. How
> safe is it for a person to sit in this room all day if the instrument
> is rarely used?

While there are safety issues, I would think a rarely used instrument would
be safer, say, than staring at a computer CRT monitor all day (or crossing
the street to get to the lab).

> How safe is it if the instrument is in regular use?

If the machine is used properly, no doubt as safe as any electrical device.
However, you may want to review the safety guidelines of other SEM users,
such as Purdue (http://www.purdue.edu/rem/rs/sem.htm). And there is this
page, which may be redundant with material you already have:
http://www.emcourses.com/safety.htm

> I have tried asking Philips this question, but apparently it is a
> 'billable' question and we would like to try to get this answer from
> others before paying them for the answer.

A safety question is "billable"?? Hmmm. You should also consider posting
your question to the group sci.techniques.microscopy where I believe a
number of TEM/SEM users hang out.

Qualifier: my only experience with electron microscopes was nearly 14 years
ago and involved the development of real-time image processing software. I
did not operate the scope. Where there were operation concerns, they were
more about the operator breaking the scope than the scope breaking the
operator. Also, do you really want unnecessary traffic around an expensive
piece of equipment?

.

Relevant Pages

  • Radiation safety and scanning electron microscope
    ... We currently have a Philips SEM Model CM120 in one of the rooms of our ... laboratory and we need the additional desk space. ... Is it safe to sit next to this machine all day if the ...
    (sci.chem.analytical)
  • Re: Radiation safety and scanning electron microscope
    ... > We currently have a Philips SEM Model CM120 in one of the rooms of our ... > laboratory and we need the additional desk space. ... Is it safe to sit next to this machine all day if the ... Where would the radiation come from (especially if the SEM is not being ...
    (sci.chem.analytical)
  • Radiation safety and scanning electron microscope
    ... We have a Philips SEM Model CM120 in a room of our laboratory and were ... wondering if it is safe to use this room as additional deskspace. ... How safe is it if the instrument is in regular use? ...
    (sci.nanotech)
  • Re: Boy Racers: Why?
    ... these should be given up for safety. ... Lesson number 1 well and truly learned then. ... That would be the opportunity I took to back down and keep safe? ... He still brake tested me by slamming on his brakes. ...
    (uk.rec.driving)
  • Re: Law-abiding majority is a myth
    ... responsibility, for both yourself and others, which covers a lot more bases. ... is to point out that Joe Public's complacency about road safety, ... "I am safe ... I don't think there's much danger that my ...
    (uk.rec.cycling)