Ultima (423E Regents Hall):

Schedule – Only one user is allowed in the instrument room at a time. This means only fully trained, independent users may run experiments. There will be no training by me until restrictions are relaxed.

***Access to the Ultima lab will be exclusively via the room 423 door from the main 4th floor hallway. Users entering/exiting 423 should go directly into the Ultima lab so as to avoid contact with Knope lab personnel and facilities. Users are NOT permitted to enter 429 and walk through the Stoll/Knope lab area to access the Ultima lab. Each group will need to get a key to 423.

Additionally, the door to the Ultima lab must remain closed at all times.***

We will continue using FACES with required 60 minute gaps between appointments to allow for data processing/sample clean-up time while avoiding overlap with the next user. Continue with 2 hour max blocks from 8am8pm M-F; unlimited 8pm-8am and weekends.

PPE:  

1. Mask required at all times when inside the instrument room to minimize potential contamination of the shared space.

2. Gloves required at all times when inside the instrument room. For handling of chemicals users should wear ‘lab gloves’ (nitrile, latex, etc.; typical PPE for a chemistry lab). For everything else, fresh ‘non-lab gloves’ (polyethylene, nitrile, latex, etc.; could be cheaper non-chemistry gloves) must be worn to minimize contamination of the shared space.

***Please note, ‘lab gloves’ should never be worn when touching common items (computer, pen, etc.) to avoid chemical contamination of common surfaces per typical chemical hygiene protocol.***

Cleaning:

1. Frequently touched surfaces (computer mouse, keyboard, pens, door handles, etc.) will be wiped down daily (M-F) by Jeff with an appropriate disinfectant solution.

2. Disinfectant solution will be provided near the shared instruments so users can wipe down surfaces before/after use. All users must wipe down the frequently touched surfaces in the lab (please see the SOP for more details).

3. Everyone must remove all samples/vials/waste of any kind from the X-ray lab after each use. This includes cleaning the sample holders that were used. This will reduce the potential for contamination from user to user and make is easier to disinfect the surfaces. Clutter will be kept to an absolute minimum.

Ramp-Down Plan – The instruments can all be safely shut down in a matter of hours if conditions necessitate a research shut down again.

Other – If an issue arises that requires Jeff’s attention, the user must provide a detailed description by email/phone/text. If possible, Jeff will try to instruct the user to fix the problem. If it cannot be resolved remotely, the user must leave the X-ray lab so Jeff can enter the room and address the issue. The user will be notified when the instrument is operational again.

A sign-in sheet will be posted at the door to each lab in order to keep a record of who enters each lab and when. This is completely separate from any instrument log books or project sheets typically filled out by the users. This would provide documentation that only one user is in each instrument room at a time as well as provide an easily accessible and traceable ‘contact list’ in the event that at some point a user test positive for COVID-19. Example: