[labnetwork] Lab operations with COVID-19 considerations

[Mary Tang]

Dear all-

The Bay area is a hot spot for COVID-19, and recent events have prompted 
Stanford to cancel classes, seminars, and large gatherings for the next 
several weeks.  While those who can are encouraged to work from home, 
regular university research and administrative operations continue, like 
our Nanofab.    I expect that many of you are in the same boat or are 
heading this way as well.   Presuming all our staff and researchers 
observe the standard precautions (conscientious hygiene practices, 
self-quarantine for illness or suspected exposure), what other kinds of 
considerations or precautions should we take into account for lab 
operations?   JD and I have exchanged emails and decided to draw on the 
collective wisdom of our community by soliciting your inputs.  Some of 
our initial thoughts:

1.  Social distancing.  We think the cleanroom environment, with laminar 
flow and lab dress, are in good keeping with hygiene practices.  
Researchers wear safety glasses, gloves, and in many cases, face masks, 
which minimizes person-to-person contamination.  Any aerosols or dried 
aerosol particles from coughing or sneezing should be swept downward and 
away with laminar flow.  Equipment is large, so most people are not 
likely to be working within the recommended 6' of social distance of 
each other.  In general, it seems a cleanroom fab would be one of the 
better places to be working during these times. Nonetheless, at Stanford 
we're allowing staff who can to take days to work from home (great time 
to catch up on documentation!) and have put a hold on meeting and 
conference planning.

2.  Contaminated surfaces.  70% alcohol available at PPE stations and in 
the lab to encourage people to wipe down shared items (face shields, 
keyboards).  Bagging suits so they don't touch each other.  Yet more 
reminders to change gloves frequently.

3.  Continuity plan. We have also been asked to provide the University 
with our "continuity plan" describing what, if anything, would be needed 
to protect research assets beyond power and campus utilities.  For us, I 
think this would be basically a variation on our Winter Closure 
practices. The main difference would be that our lab community would 
have perhaps 24 hours versus the usual several months' notice; we should 
provide a heads-up to researchers so they can plan accordingly.

Otherwise, it's business as usual in terms of meeting and training 
researchers, meeting with faculty, staff meetings, etc. Still, these are 
serious times.  We want to hope for the best (business as usual) and yet 
be prepared for the worst.  JD and I would welcome your thoughts.

Thanks, all -

Mary

-- 
Mary X. Tang, Ph.D.
Stanford Nanofabrication Facility
Paul G. Allen Building, Rm 141
420 Via Palou Mall
Stanford, CA  94305
(650)723-9980
mtang at stanford.edu
https://snf.stanford.edu