[labnetwork] After Hours Policies - Wet Processing

[Vito Logiudice]

Mike,

We do in fact only have a single co-op student to 10pm. We were comfortable with this since we only allow experienced lab members with an excellent track record to qualify for "Advanced equipment user" status and to thus work in the fab during these extended hours. And of course the Buddy system‎ is always in place, as are our safety cameras and the ability for the co-op student to reach out to one of us on the fab team for assistance if required. We also monitor lab members who work off hours to make sure only authorized people are in there during those times. People who "challenge" the system are given a warning and repeat offenders are suspended so compliance is generally quite good. It's been a few months now and so far things look good.

Best,
Vito

From: Michael Hume
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2016 3:53 PM
To: Vito Logiudice
Cc: labnetwork at mtl.mit.edu
Subject: Re: [labnetwork] After Hours Policies - Wet Processing


Thanks Vito - that's definitely a different approach. How many people are you staffing until 10pm? I can't imagine it's just 1 co-op student..

Thanks to everyone else who's provided feedback on this one. It's greatly appreciated!

-Mike.

On Fri, Sep 30, 2016 at 1:39 PM, Vito Logiudice <vito.logiudice at uwaterloo.ca<mailto:vito.logiudice at uwaterloo.ca>> wrote:
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<tel:%28519%29%20888-4567%20%C2%A0ext.%2038703>
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<tel:587-879-1519>



--

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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