Bad Weather Procedure

Vehicles

• Rules in case of bad weather are dictated by the safety engineer or by the Jefe de Turno Vehicles :
• If there is snow, driving non 4WD vehicles is generally forbidden (see above) : 4WD vehicles are allowed with chains, a shovel , ice scrapers, antifreezinq liquid.
• Leave the other cars of the team with the windows closed and inform your teammates about where they are parked.
• The coordinator will designate a driver who should be experienced in this kind of road conditions : s/he will coordinate transport between the Telescope and the rest of the observatory.

Foot Trips

• 2WD vehicles will be used again when allowed by safety engineer.
• According to the level of danger, even foot travel may be restricted by the coordinator or the safety engineer. In particular it may be forbidden to go alone to the telescope. If absolutely necessary, a trip to telescope may be undertaken by two persons with communication equipment.
• It may be decided to forbid observer to go to telescope.
• All teammates must remain in touch : inform a colleague before undertaking a trip alone.

Telescope

1. In case of rain , snow or high humidity : cover all the telescope under a plastic sheet: This must be done by at least 3 persons and ideally by all the team members present on the mountain. Cover M1 in vertical position. Cover M2 in horizontal position. Then leave the telescope in FLAT FIELD position. EMMI must also be covered unrolling its special protection device. If trips to telescope are allowed, permanently check whether the building is water proof
2. Don't remove the plastic sheet until Coordinator assesses that any danger or rain or water drop has vanished. This must be done by at least
3. 3 people together even at dawn.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Plastic sheet must be clean.