TRIUMF is committed to safety. The TRIUMF tour route is designed to be safe for adult members of the general public and does not require any personal protective equipment. That said, as TRIUMF is a working physics laboratory, there are some safety considerations to be aware of when on site.
Below, we have outlined important safety information every guest must review and observe prior to visiting the laboratory.
Before Visiting TRIUMF
Footwear
To protect personnel and guests moving through the TRIUMF site, closed toe shoes with a low heel are required footwear on the tour route and in non-office areas within the TRIUMF perimeter fence. These areas contain potential hazards such as equipment and objects with sharp corners, material from construction work, as well as metal stairs that necessitate appropriate footwear.
Attire
As the tour route involves walking over grated floors and stairs, it is highly recommended that guests wear long pants.
Bags
Large bags/knapsacks are not permitted on the tour route. TRIUMF does have a small number of personal lockers for guests to lock-and-leave items in while on tour.
Food and Drinks
There are absolutely no food or drinks (including water) allowed on the tour. We recommend that you eat and hydrate prior to visiting the facility. You are more than welcome to grab a bite in TRIUMF's cafeteria.
Cameras
Cameras are welcome (both still and video). However large equipment is prohibited, since the tour group will be constantly moving around the facility.
Implanted Medical Devices
Magnetic fields are present on parts of the TRIUMF site. As a result, guests with any implanted medical devices may be at risk as these devices may function erratically even in relatively weak magnetic fields. Implanted medical devices that could potentially be affected by magnetic fields on the TRIUMF tour route include, but are not limited to:
- Pacemakers
- Cochlear implants
- Implantable, cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs)
- Neurostimulators
- Infusion pumps
- Intracranial aneurysm clips
- Shunts and stents
Prior to visiting TRIUMF, all prospective guests with an implanted medical device should visit their doctor to obtain documentation on the magnetic and electric field sensitivity of their device. If in doubt, guests with any type of implanted medical device should notify their TRIUMF host immediately upon arrival at the laboratory and avoid tour areas with measured magnetic fields above background levels.
NOTE: Intrauterine devices (IUDs) and large medical implants such as hip replacements will not be affected by the magnetic fields on the TRIUMF tour route, nor will credit cards or any consumer electronic equipment.
Once You Arrive at TRIUMF
Signing In
Safety regulations require that we keep track of everyone who enters the TRIUMF site. Upon arriving at the laboratory, please sign in at main reception or any other registration area, as instructed by your TRIUMF host. If you are with a group, please arrive prepared with a list of all group members joining the tour.
Implanted Medical Devices
All guests with implanted medical devices who have not yet notified their TRIUMF host must alert them upon arrival. If available, guests with implanted medical devices are asked to provide documentation on their device’s sensitivity to external electric and magnetic fields.
Waiting for your Tour to Begin
While waiting for your tour to start, please be considerate of the TRIUMF staff working in the surrounding area. To support staff in continuing their work uninterrupted, we ask guests not to wander and to help keep the noise level to a minimum.
Washrooms
Be sure to use washrooms before the start of the tour. Guests may not leave their group for any reason.
On the TRIUMF Tour
REMAIN WITH YOUR GUIDE. At all times throughout the duration of the tour, guests must stay together with their TRIUMF guide.
Radiation Safety
Guests having had a nuclear medicine scan within the last week should inform their tour guide, as they are likely to set off the portal monitor when entering or leaving the site.
Children
Guests must ensure that each child under 12 years of age remains under the close supervision of a responsible adult. Large groups of children (such as school classes) with few adult supervisors are limited to children aged 12+ years. For each tour group with children under the age of 12, there must be a minimum of one adult supervisor present (in addition to the TRIUMF tour guide).
Suggested adult to child ratios for groups:
- 0-6 years: 1:1
- 7-11 years: 1:5
- 12+ years: 1:15
Please note: TRIUMF reserves the right to restrict participation on tours.
About TRIUMF
Established in 1968 in Vancouver, TRIUMF is Canada’s particle accelerator centre. The lab is a hub for discovery and innovation inspired by a half-century of ingenuity in answering nature's most challenging questions. From the hunt for the smallest particles in our universe to research that advances the next generation of batteries or develops isotopes to diagnose and treat disease, TRIUMF drives more than scientific discovery. Powered by its complement of top talent and advanced accelerator infrastructure, TRIUMF is pushing the frontiers in isotope science and innovation, as well as technologies to address fundamental and applied problems in particle and nuclear physics, and the materials and life sciences. In collaboration with 20 Canadian universities, TRIUMF's diverse community of nearly 600 multidisciplinary researchers, engineers, technicians, tradespeople, staff, and students create a unique incubator for Canadian excellence, as well as a portal to premier global collaborations. Our passion for understanding everything from the nature of the nucleus to the creation of the cosmos sparks imagination, inspiration, improved health, economic opportunity, and a better world for all. Connect with TRIUMF on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram: @TRIUMFLab.
Tour Contact:
TRIUMF
4004 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 2A3
discoverourlab@triumf.ca | 604-222-1047