The Lab’s policy on personal protective equipment (PPE) has been revised to reduce the potential for accidents and improve safety for Lab employees. Before, the use of PPE was based on exposure to hazards related to the type of activity that was taking place. With the revision, use of PPE will be based on potential exposure to hazards present in specific physical areas. Once a person crosses the threshold of an area with posted PPE requirements, they must adhere to those requirements. At minimum, these will include safety glasses, long pants and closed-toe shoes. Some areas may require additional equipment. Go here to read the entire policy, and here for the definition of a Technical Area.
John Byrd (Accelerator and Fusion Research Division) and his colleagues in the Center for Beam Optics are providing high-precision synchronization and control for the linear accelerators of FERMI@Elettra, the next-generation free electron laser now under construction at the Elettra light source in Trieste, Italy. Drawing on contributions to the Spallation Neutron Source, the Linac Coherent Light Source, and other research, the Berkeley Lab group is building systems that can synchronize the far-flung components of the FERMI linacs to within 10 to 1,000 femtoseconds (quadrillionths of a second). More>
In The News: JBEI Dedication Makes Headlines in Local MediaThe dedication of the Joint BioEnergy Institute — the flagship of six DOE Bioenergy Research Centers — wasn’t just big news for Berkeley Lab, the event also made headlines in several local media outlets. Stories appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle and the Bay Area News Group, as well as KPIX TV and KGO TV. 
Special Event: Lab’s Holiday Craft Fair Takes Place Thursday, Dec. 11The annual Berkeley Lab Craft Fair will he held Thursday, Dec 11, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. Sponsored by the Employee Activities Association, the fair will feature a variety of handmade goods for sale, which make perfect holiday gifts. Items include jewelry, photography, candles, soap, baked goods, knitted and crocheted items, paintings, and pottery. The main dining area of the cafeteria will close at 1:30 p.m. that day, but limited seating will still be available. For more information, contact Robin Mitchell (x4141).
People: Lab Staff Win Awards at APS Meeting At the California Section meeting of the American Physical Society in late October, several Berkeley Lab affiliates won prizes. In the postdoctoral section, Yohannes Abate won first place under the “Alvarez Award for Best Experimental Research.” Maciej Haranczyk won second place under the “Kittel Award for Best Theoretical Research.” First place winner of the "Steve Chu Award for Best Undergraduate Research" went to Johannes Stiller. More>
An $11 million grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will help UC Berkeley build a state-of-the-art precision measurement laboratory in the planned new home for the astronomy department and part of the physics department. "It is critical we have low vibration, low acoustical noise, and low electromagnetic interference because we are trying to measure very small signals for these very precise measurements," said Michael Crommie, Berkeley Lab materials scientist and leader of the precision lab. More>
A town-hall meeting will be held for occupants and neighbors of Building 74 to discuss the seismic-upgrade construction that will take place there starting in January. The meeting will be held tomorrow at 9 a.m. in the Bldg. 66 Auditorium. Topics will include construction activities, parking, and impacts on neighboring buildings. Contact Jack Heffernan for more information (x5993).