[labnetwork] After Hours Policies - Wet Processing

[Vito Logiudice]

Hi Michael,

Some great insights have been shared. I’ll add my two cents.

We just recently increased our weekday full hours of operation to 10PM via the addition of a Co-op student who works in the facility on various projects from 2PM to 10PM Monday to Friday. The presence of someone directly affiliated with the fab team allows our lab members who fall under the “Advanced equipment user level” to use the fab’s entire toolset from 8AM to 10PM, Monday to Friday. The Buddy system remains in place for wet hoods with some well-defined exceptions which you can read about here if interested:
https://fab.qnc.uwaterloo.ca/data/access/operating/hrs-op-equip-user-levels

We’ve found that the extension of full fab hours to 10PM Mon-Fri since this past June seems to have helped; grumblings about hours being too restrictive have subsided. We might add another Co-op student to work during weekend hours should the need arise. We were nervous about allowing broader use of the fab (and in particular its hoods) without the presence of someone from the fab team in the facility. Our first Co-op student worked out very well this past summer and our second one this fall term is proving to be very promising as well.

Don’t hesitate if you have any questions.

Best,
Vito
--
Vito Logiudice  P.Eng.
Director of Operations, Quantum NanoFab
University of Waterloo
Lazaridis QNC 1207
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, ON           Canada N2L 3G1
Tel.: (519) 888-4567  ext. 38703
Email: vito.logiudice at uwaterloo.ca<mailto:vito.logiudice at uwaterloo.ca>
Website: https://fab.qnc.uwaterloo.ca


From: <labnetwork-bounces at mtl.mit.edu<mailto:labnetwork-bounces at mtl.mit.edu>> on behalf of Michael Hume <michael.hume at ualberta.ca<mailto:michael.hume at ualberta.ca>>
Date: Thursday, September 29, 2016 at 3:30 PM
To: "labnetwork at mtl.mit.edu<mailto:labnetwork at mtl.mit.edu>" <labnetwork at mtl.mit.edu<mailto:labnetwork at mtl.mit.edu>>
Subject: [labnetwork] After Hours Policies - Wet Processing

Dear Colleagues,

We are in the process of re-evaluating our after-hours policies, specifically in regards to wet chemical processing (eg. HF/BOE/KOH/TMAH/Piranha cleaning). Historically, we have not allowed these processes after hours, primarily due to safety concerns. That said, as demand within our facility grows, and the competence of our user base increases, the question has been raised as to why these processes can't be performed within a framework of proper procedures to ensure user safety (eg. buddy system, etc..)

I am interested in the general approach of other facilities. Does anyone allow these processes? Does anyone forbid them? In either case what is the general reasoning for your decision? If you do allow them, what sort of protocols or policies do you have in place to provide a safe working environment?

Any feedback you may have is much appreciated!

Regards,

--

Michael Hume

Operations Manager

University of Alberta - nanoFAB

W1-060 ECERF Building

9107 - 116 Street

Edmonton, Alberta

Canada T6G 2V4

www.nanofab.ualberta.ca<http://www.nanofab.ualberta.ca/>Ph: 587-879-1519
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