<div dir="ltr">Hi Tobi-<div><br></div><div>We've certainly dealt with these issues in the past. One major instance was the crashing of a sample into the SEM pole piece by a user who wasn't following protocol. All of our SOPs and training assessments are clear in stating that damage as a result of not following proper procedure is the responsibility of the user/supervisor to rectify. Still though it's hard to get traction sometimes especially where the breach to procedure is not clear and easy to prove.<div><br></div><div>In the SEM pole piece example though, we were able to recover the ~$50k AUD (can't remember the exact figure) form the University... didn't end up coming out of the PIs pocket. So it can be done. :-)</div><div><br></div><div>That said, we've a number of other instances where we were unable to definitively prove misuse. In these cases, all you can do is try to refine procedures to better protect the instruments.</div><div><br></div><div>My two cents...</div><div><br></div><div>Best,</div><div>Sean<br clear="all"><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-size:small"><span style="font-family:'times new roman',serif">---------------------------------------------------------</span><br></div>SEAN LANGELIER PhD / He, Him<br>General Manager<br>ANFF Victoria <i>&</i></div><div dir="ltr">Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication<br><br></div><div dir="ltr">151 Wellington Road</div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12.8px">Clayton, VIC 3168 Australia</span></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Ph: +61 (3) 9902 4100<br>W: <a href="http://nanomelbourne.com" target="_blank">http://nanomelbourne.com</a><br>W: <a href="http://www.anff.org.au" target="_blank">http://www.anff.org.au</a><br>E: <a href="mailto:sean.langelier@nanomelbourne.com" target="_blank">sean.langelier@nanomelbourne.com</a><div><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt"><span style="font-family:"times new roman",serif;font-size:small">---------------------------------------------------------</span><br></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt"><br></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt"><br></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt"><br></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0pt"><br><br></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, 15 May 2024 at 21:50, Tobi Beetz <<a href="mailto:tobi@stanford.edu">tobi@stanford.edu</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div class="msg5650003251769732994">
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi All – we’ve had some recent incidents that has led me to reflect on policies in regard to paying for costs associated with misuse of equipment/procedures. For example, a Stanford student mishandled a TEM holder, causing about $5k in
damage. We had a difficult time getting the PI agree to pay for the repair. Another example is an external industry user who incorrectly disposed a chemical down the drain. We are still waiting to see if the city imposes an administrative fine of up to $25k
per day of violation.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Getting access to our center includes that every user agrees to the
<a href="https://snsf.stanford.edu/labmembers/policies" target="_blank">SNSF Code of Conduct</a> where list the following:
<i>We reserve the right to charge repair costs, equipment and staff time resulting from damage caused by users to the PI.</i><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the external user side our agreement has an indemnification section which includes:
<i>… obligation to make Center whole for any and all damage to Center, its facilities, and equipment to the extent arising out of the negligent actions or use by User or User Personnel.
<u></u><u></u></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While this all seems reasonable, I am wondering if you have dealt with this type of issue in a better way. Our approach seems a bit of a patchwork. On the accountability side for local students/postdocs, I am also wondering if other labs
have focused on contract language with PIs instead of just getting users to acknowledge policies and an administrator/PI provide the charge account.
<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks,<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">Tobi<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">Tobi Beetz, Ph.D.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt">Associate Director, Stanford Nano Shared Facilities, Stanford University, <a href="http://snsf.stanford.edu" target="_blank">http://snsf.stanford.edu</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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