STAR Experiment

Shift Leader Role

A STAR Shift Leader directs the running of the STAR experiment during a shift of approximately 8 hours, once a day, for a minimum period of seven days. He/she is the only person recognized by the Collider-Accelerator Department as being part of the C-AD Conduct of Operations. He/she is responsible to the Chairman of C-AD, through the C-AD Operations Coordinator, for insuring safe operation of the STAR Detector during normal data taking activities, fully within the operational envelope established by CAD and the BNL Standards Based Management System.

The goal of his/her leadership and direction is to achieve the near term scientific goals of the STAR program during an 8 hour period. A Shift Leader has final authority on the minute to minute conduct of STAR data taking activities in the STAR Control room, with one exception. With regard to the issue of “turning on” or energizing STAR detector components, the Shift Leader and the Detector Operator both play a role. The decision to turn on a detector requires the agreement of both the Detector Operator and the Shift Leader. Either person can decide to turn a detector system off, if they feel continued operation would result in an unsafe condition for the detector subsystem.

The goal of his/her leadership and direction is to achieve the near term scientific goals of the STAR program during an 8 hour period. A Shift Leader has final authority on the minute to minute conduct of STAR data taking activities in the STAR Control room, with one exception. With regard to the issue of “turning on” or energizing STAR detector components, the Shift Leader and the Detector Operator both play a role. The decision to turn on a detector requires the agreement of both the Detector Operator and the Shift Leader. Either person can decide to turn a detector system off, if they feel continued operation would result in an unsafe condition for the detector subsystem. A Shift Leader comes from a member institution of the STAR Collaboration and usually serves a minimum of two seven-day shift periods during a given STAR-RHIC running period. The training requirements for Shift Crew Leader are listed in Appendix A. Shift Leader candidates are identified and trained according to STAR procedures, and are recommended to the Star Spokesperson for certification by the STAR Shift Leader Selection Quality Assurance Board. Certification of STAR Shift Leaders is made by the Chairman of the Collider-Accelerator Department, upon recommendation by the STAR Spokesperson.

Shift Leader Duties

The Shift Leader guides the Shift Crew, maintains liaison with the RHIC Main Control Room and contacts the subsystem experts if problems arise in the course of STAR operations.

1) Supervises the operation of the STAR experimental setup during an eight-hour period and reports to the Period Coordinator with regard to detector operation, data flow, and data quality. Provides direction to the Shift Crew regarding the physics run plan and assesses the effectiveness of the ongoing shift, in part by examining the results of fast offline data Q/A. Provides direction to the Shift Crew regarding the safe operation of the STAR detector.

2) At the beginning of a week’s “tour of duty”:

I) Is briefed in detail by the Period Coordinator concerning the objectives of the week’s running period and the status of the STAR experimental setup.

II) Is informed of the list of Subsystem Experts on call.

3) At the start of each shift, he/she reviews the actions taken by the previous shift and the current status of the STAR experimental setup with the outgoing Shift Leader.

4) Ensures that an accurate written log is maintained during the shift, and that all members of the shift crew record any changes made, or unusual/unexpected conditions which occur. He/She produces a summary of each shift.

5) Is responsible for changes in trigger conditions, as previously set out by the Period Coordinator, for the starting and stopping of runs, and for the taking of calibration data.

6) Assures that STAR detector specific operating procedures are followed and ensures the safe operations of the detector within the approved C-AD/BNL safety envelope.

7) Acts as Liaison with the Main Control Room (MCR) during an 8 hour shift period

I) Is the conduit for information between MCR and the STAR experiment.

II) Takes action as required by MCR.

III) Reports directly to MCR with regard to experimental safety issues.

IV) Reports any radiological incidents, accidents, or unusual conditions to MCR.

8) Contacts Subsystem Experts in the case of problems with STAR detector operation or data acquisition that cannot be handled by the Shift Leader/Shift Crew. Keeps the Period Coordinator informed with regard to the situation. Ensures that the intervention of the Subsystem Experts is fully documented in the STAR experimental log.

9) Must have the willing concurrence of the Detector Operator on duty before directing staff to energize a given STAR detector system. If either the Detector Operator on duty or the Shift Leader feel the detector should not be turned on, or should be turned off from an energized state, the detector in question will remain off, or will be de-energized.

Shift Leader Instructions

Coming soon!

Shift Leader Requirements

1) C-AD User Training

2) Radiation Worker I

3) General Employee Environmental Training

4) STAR Skill of the Craft Read and Acknowledge

5) STAR Shift Leader Training and Certification

6) HP-IND-200 Hazard Communication

7) C-AD Read and Acknowledge Training

C-AD Read and Acknowledge Training requirement:

C-A OPM 2.5.2 RHIC Accelerator Safety Envelope Parameters

C-A OPM 3.17 Emergency Procedures for the STAR Detector & the 1006 Complex

C-A OPM 11.1 Policy for Conduct of Operations for the RHIC Experiment Shift Leaders

C-A OPM 11.4.4 Procedure For Exciting the STAR Magnet

The process for new shift leader candidates to be trained and certified:

I) The person should sign up as a regular shift crew member for one shift-week prior to the time they would like to mentor as a shift leader, in order to learn general aspects of STAR Detector Operation.

II) At the end of one week as a regular shift crew member, the Shift Leader who served during that period should provide an informal recommendation to the QA Board indicating the candidate is ready to mentor as a shift leader. (For people who served at least 7 consecutive days in 2000 in the STAR Control Room doing shift work, it is considered that steps i) and ii) above have been completed)

III) The candidate should serve one shift-week as a shift leader apprentice in the spot on the sign-up specifically designated for this position. During this week, the Shift Leader on duty will mentor the Shift Leader Candidate.

IV) At the end of a shift-week as an apprentice, the candidate will be considered by the QA Board for certification. The primary input for this consideration by the Board will be a standard evaluation provided by the Shift Leader who mentored the person during this period. A positive evaluation will serve as the criterion for certification in the absence of serious concerns.

V) Candidates not certified at a particular meeting of the Board are free to continue to train as an apprentice, in order to be reconsidered for certification. Certification of STAR Shift Leaders is made by the Chairman of the Collider-Accelerator Department upon recommendation by the STAR Spokesperson.

Shift Leader Trainigs

Coming soon!

Detector Operator Role

A STAR Detector Operator is responsible for insuring all STAR detectors are operated in accordance with their safe operational envelope. He/she is responsible for monitoring slow controls information regarding detector performance, and for taking appropriate action to turn detectors on and off when called for by the condition of the accelerator or of the beams during the course of an 8 hour shift. He/she is responsible for having a detailed knowledge of the safe operational envelope of all STAR detectors, and is recognized as a resource and an authority in this area. With regard to the issue of “turning on” or energizing STAR detector components, the Shift Leader and the Detector Operator both play a role. The decision to turn on a detector requires the agreement of both the Detector Operator and the Shift Leader. If either person believes the detector should remain off for the safety of the subsystem, the detector system will continue to remain in a state in which it is not energized. Either person can decide to turn a detector system off if they feel continued operation would result in an unsafe condition for the detector subsystem.

A Detector Operator comes from a member institution of the STAR Collaboration and usually serves a minimum of two seven-day shift periods during a given STAR-RHIC running period. The training requirements for Detector Operator are listed in Appendix A. Detector Operators are identified by STAR Management with input from the Collaboration, trained according to STAR procedures, and reviewed and recommended for certification by the STAR Shift Leader Selection Quality Assurance Board. Certification of STAR Detector Operators is by the STAR Spokesperson, upon recommendation by the STAR Shift Leader Selection Quality Assurance Board.

Detector Operator Duties

1) Is responsible for insuring all STAR detectors are operated in accordance with their safe operational envelope.

2) Is responsible for monitoring slow controls information regarding detector performance, and for taking appropriate action to turn detectors on and off when called for by the condition of the accelerator or of the beams during the course of an 8 hour shift.

3) Is responsible for having a detailed knowledge of the safe operational envelope of all STAR detectors, and is recognized as a resource and an authority in this area.

4) Must concur that a given STAR detector or system is ready to be turned on before it is energized. Further, If either the Detector Operator on duty or the Shift Leader feel the detectorshould not be turned on, or should be turned off from an energized state, the detector in question will remain off, or will be deenergized.

Detector Operator Instructions

BEMC / BSMD
GMT Operations
TOF / MTD
TPC
TPC Laser
Roman Pot Slow Control Operatons

Detector Operator Requirements

1) C-AD User Training

2) General Employee Environmental Training

3) STAR Skill of the Craft Read and Acknowledge

4) STAR Detector Operator Training and Certification

The process for new shift leader candidates to be trained and certified:

I) For people who attended the Detector Operator School in June 2001, successful completion of the school accompanied by a positive recommendation from the instructors is the basis for certification. This consideration is expedient because of the "chicken and egg" problem STAR has in establishing an initial pool of trained Detector Operators

II) For people who did not attend the school, but wish to train to be a detector operator in the future, the procedure will be to sign up as a regular shift crew member for one shift week, during which time they will be mentored by the Detector Operator for that shift. At the conclusion of that week, a positive recommendation by the Detector Operator will be the basis for certification. It is imagined that this process will eliminate the need for future Detector Operator Schools.

Shift Crew Trainigs

Coming soon!