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Argonne National Laboratory

Visiting Argonne

Updated 01/17/2024

Argonne is a multidisciplinary science and engineering research center, where talented scientists and engineers work together to answer the biggest questions facing humanity, from how to obtain affordable clean energy to protecting ourselves and our environment. 

Tour the Lab

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Before You Arrive

When You Arrive

Health and Safety Protocols for Visitors

Argonne is committed to helping protect the health and safety of those who visit our site. All individuals must follow all safety protocols posted by the Lab. Cancel or postpone your visit if you are ill.

While You Are Here

Gate Pass and Badge Identification

While on Laboratory property, all individuals are required to wear their Gate Pass conspicuously, photo side out, in a location above the waist and on the front of the body.

Attire

When inviting visitors into laboratory spaces, Argonne strives to keep everyone safe by enforcing attire guidelines. Bare legs are prohibited, closed-toe, flat or block-heel shoes are required, and shirts must cover the back and shoulders (minimum ¼ length sleeves). In some labs, visitors must wear safety glasses provided by the laboratory (or bring their own). Attire guidelines do not apply to visits to be conducted only in office space. Please check with your host to determine specific guidelines based on the space/s you plan to visit.

Prohibited Articles

All individuals entering Laboratory property are subject to search. Signs posted at all Laboratory entrances delineate prohibited articles that cannot be introduced to the site (e.g., firearms, dangerous weapons, destructive devices, explosives/incendiary devices, radioactive sources, open containers of alcoholic beverages, drugs, and pets or other animals).

Code of Conduct

Argonne’s Code of Conduct sets expectations for everyone in the Argonne community, please review Argonne’s Code of Conduct before your visit.

Rules of the Road

All individuals operating a motor vehicle onsite must adhere to all Illinois Rules of the Road. Helmets are required for all motorcycle and bicycle traffic.

Sheltering and Evacuation
  • Ask your host for the location of designated building shelter areas and evacuation assembly areas.
  • If outdoor warning sirens (tornado sirens) are activated, or a building public address announcement directs you to seek shelter:
    • Move to the nearest available indoor shelter.
    • Once you are in the safest location available:
      • If possible, assume a tornado protection position (on your knees, curled into a ball, with your hands over your head against the wall).
      • If possible, protect yourself under a sturdy object, such as a heavy table or under stairs.
      • Follow additional instructions as provided by supervisors and/or emergency response personnel.
      • Remain sheltered until an All Clear” announcement is communicated or you are provided other instructions by emergency response personnel.
  • If a building alarm or public address announcement directs you to seek shelter due to a hazardous material release:
    • Go indoors immediately or stay indoors.
    • Close windows and doors while moving to a shelter location (typically an interior room within a building).
    • Close as many interior doors and windows as possible as you move into the inner most areas of the building or structure. The intent is to place as many barriers as possible between you and the outdoor environment.
    • Refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics, using tobacco products, or chewing gum in order to minimize the potential for inhalation or ingestion of airborne hazardous materials. Individuals required to take prescription medication should take the medications.
    • If personnel attempt to enter your building while you are sheltering-in-place during a hazardous material release, allow them to enter, but segregate those who are potentially contaminated from individuals already in the shelter in an effort to minimize the potential for cross-contamination.
    • Follow additional instructions as provided by supervisors or emergency response personnel.
    • Remain sheltered-in-place until an All Clear” announcement is communicated or you are provided other instructions by emergency response personnel.
  • If a building alarm is activated and/or a building public address announcement is heard directing building occupants to evacuate:
    • Evacuate the building/area/site using the safest and fastest route possible, or the designated evacuation route to go to your designated evacuation assembly area or where you are instructed to go by emergency responders, via messaging delivered through the PA system or mass notification system.
    • Avoid the area of the emergency scene to the greatest extent possible.
    • Proceed safely to the evacuation assembly area where personnel accountability is conducted.
      • Report to the Area Emergency Supervisor (AES) or designee in the assembly area to be accounted for. In the absence of an AES, report to a manager in the assembly area.
    • If you know of someone that needs assistance evacuating, call the Argonne Fire Department at (630) 252-1911 from a cell phone and report it to the AES or in the absence of an AES, report to a manager at the assembly area.
    • Follow additional instructions as provided by supervisors and/or emergency response personnel.
    • Remain at the assembly area until an All Clear” announcement is communicated or you are provided other instructions by emergency response personnel.