Hi Ken
I can share some info./insights only on the category of 'non-robotic'
instruments, since the majority of instruments in my facility fall under
that category:
- The majority of walk-on instruments in our facility is in one big hall
with the magnets placed with their own 'social distancing' norms of 5 Gauss
lines being the boundary, forever now. So, maintaining the 6 feet minimum
for users should be doable. Since we staff don't do sample handling on
behalf of users in these machines, I think our effort will be mostly in
education, reiteration and reminders of maintaining social distance between
users.
- Other than that, yes, we too will strive to provide disinfectant wipes
for the keyboards and insist on users wearing gloves. Since our facility
is still in official lock down mode, we haven't really started putting
this together in a formal way but a discussion in AMMRL is as best a place
to start this conversation as any, I guess, before the rubber hits the
road, so to speak. (As one of the critical personnel allowed to be present
in the facility, I am already using/making it a habit of disposable lab
gloves whenever I enter the facility).
- Our department and the University as a whole generally provides clear
guidelines when it comes to occupational safety and I think in all
probability we will leave it in the hands of EOHS department (Environmental
and Occupational Health and Safety) to do the same this time, when
operations resume. So, we hope to hear if 'masks' or 'no-masks' are the
policy from them loud and clear. We have a substantial medical school and
hospital and so they generally cover these bases as best as possible. I
don't think someone in my position can come up with anything better. So,
my 2c is, if you have such a department, you should definitely leverage
their expertise first.
- There are couple of high field instruments where the normal operation
already satisfied the social distancing requirements i.e. typically one
(rarely two) users spend about an hour to setup long runs and let it go.
In the new scenario, I am thinking of asking even these select group of
users to just load the sample and use a VNC kind of solution to run the
spectrometer from their office space (as I am doing from home right now).
Hope this helps.
Best Wishes to you all !
Rajan
On Wed, May 6, 2020 at 8:56 AM Kenneth Knott <kknott_at_vt.edu> wrote:
> No doubt all universities have begun to consider changes in operations as
> the restrictions from the pandemic begin to ease. We have been asked to
> come up with a plan for operation in our NMR facility.
>
> I would be interested in hearing what others have considered or perhaps
> already put into practice.
>
> In our case, most consideration has revolved around our high throughput
> robot instruments which handle 90% of sample submissions. At a minimum,
> all students will be required to wear masks in the lab and put fresh gloves
> on upon entry. Students will be required to spray down keyboards and
> instrumentation before and after use. Some things that been considered
> include:
>
> 1) Sample dropoff external to the lab. The samples are run by staff.
> 2) Limited access. Research groups collect samples daily and 1
> designated person per group is allowed access to submit their group's
> samples.
> 3) Sample dropoff external to the lab. Samples are loaded by staff.
> Samples are entered into the NMR software (VnmrJ 4.2) remotely. Not sure
> how to do that.
>
> For our other, non-robotic, instruments, we already have scheduled access
> and will limit 1 student at each instrument at any given time. The
> instruments are sufficiently spread out to allow for social distancing.
>
> Would love to hear more.
>
> Thank you
>
> --
> Ken Sharp-Knott
> Department of Chemistry
> Analytical Services
> Virginia Tech
>
> (540)267-6502 (Cell)
> (540)231-0885 (Office)
>
--
____________________________________
Rajan K Paranji, Ph.D.NMR Facility Manager
*Department of Chemistry**Room 65, Bagley Hall*
University of WashingtonSeattle, WA 98195
phone : 206 685 2581 fax: 206 685 8665email: rajanp_at_uw.edu
____________________________________
*PLEASE NOTE: In line with the current directives of UW, I will be
mostly 'teleworking' on all days ofthe week. My physical presence
will be limited to magnet maintenance and emergency system level
maintenance as the need arises. You can still reach me with NMR
questions via email and I will be glad to help...Thank you for your
understanding.*
Received on Fri May 08 2020 - 07:28:02 MST