Machine Shop COVID Mitigation Plan

revised 08 Aug 2020

Social Distancing

Staff Scheduling / Physical separation

Machine shop personnel will split into three teams

Team 1 will occupy the current office space. They will distance their desk to maintain a distance at least 6 feet apart. Team 2 will relocate their desk to the shop’s mezzanine and distance their desk at least 6 feet apart.  

With the exception to collect material needed, teams 1 and 2 will be restricted from the student shop area. Upon their exit, they will disinfect all areas from possible contamination with approved solutions.  Aside from cryogenics work, team 3 will be restricted to the student shop. Team 3 will utilize the student shop to do repairs on lab equipment. If team 3 needs anything from the main shop, teams 1 and 2 will place the items outside of the student shop for retreaval.

All staff will be required to remain six feet apart and wear a mask at all times.  If staff cannot maintain this distance, they will be required to wear the appropriate additional face coverings including a disposable mask an face shield.

Staff will sign in using the University of Pittsburgh Daily COVID-19 Health Check.

User / Customer contact

The student shop will be closed until further notice.  The shop class for the summer will be postponed until further notice.

Access to the machine shop to non-machine shop personnel will be prohibited. 

Any parts to be repaired or picked up will be left outside the main shop door and a prearranged time to minimize contact between shop personnel and customers and among customers.

All consultations whenever possible will be done remotely

PPE requirements

                Mask use

All staff will wear self-supplied or University-provided barrier or cloth masks at all times, including to and from work and in areas outside the main shop.

Face coverings are worn as a courtesy to mitigate asymptomatic individuals from unknowingly transmitting the virus. They are not PPE and do not negate the need to practice social distancing and other mitigation measures.

Other PPE

Safety glass continue to be required when machining.

Gloves will be worn during cleaning and disinfecting procedures, but not at other times.

Hygiene / Disinfecting

                Hygiene Practices

All staff will wash hands before and after using shared equipment for at least twenty seconds.  Staff will wash their hands at least once an hour.

Staff will avoid touching their face.

Staff will sneeze or cough into their elbows.

                Cleaning and disinfecting

All common machines will be disinfected with approved solutions both before and after use.  Staff will wear gloves while cleaning machines, but not during normal use.

COVID response

Suspected or Confirmed Case of COVID-19

If an employee exhibits COVID-19 symptoms or has a positive COVID-19 test result, employee to contact MyHealth@Work (412-647-4949) per existing guidance. If the individual has received a positive test result, they will contact Pete Chambers, who will contact Ted Fritz or Jay Frerotte.

The sick individual is not obligated or advised to contact coworkers about their symptoms or a positive result. MyHealth@Work will determine what contact tracing may need to be done following guidance from local, state and federal health authorities.

Working spaces or zones occupied by the potentially infected individual will be closed for the time period required by the University of Pittsburgh Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

Infected personnel will self-quarantine as required by the EOC (https://www.emergency.pitt.edu/) and not return to campus until they have been medically cleared.

Individuals who worked directly with the potentially infected person will self-quarantine as required by the EOC.

Completed projects, portable equipment, and supplies (e.g., notebook computers, portable drives) will not be removed until disinfected or deemed safe for removal.

                Staff sign off

All staff are required to acknowledge that they have read this document and abide by its contents.

All staff are required ensure the safety of all members of the team.  

Reporting

Any issues in instituting this plan should be reported up to Pete Chambers.   If a response is not received within two days, issues will be reported to Adam Leibovich.