(apologies if you receive this email more than once)

Dear FILM-users,

As stated in the Imperial COVID-19 updates, the campuses remain closed and everyone should continue to stay/work at home. But we start to prepare for partial re-opening of the FILM facility at some point in the future and in line with Government, College and NHLI guidelines as well as advice from the international imaging community. The way we can operate will depend on many factors, including the situation on public and private transport for FILM staff to come into work. We anticipate that availability of staff and microscopes will be greatly reduced when we re-open the facility and ask our users to consider this when planning experiments.

Based on social-distancing guidelines, we have drafted the following rules which might change as this is a fast moving situation, but I wanted to share them with you now:

FILM is shared by users from different research groups and departments which causes a higher risk for SARS-CoV-2 transmission and works against controlling the spread of potential new outbreaks. Therefore, it is important that additional care is taken when working in the facility.

Before using the facility again, all users need to have an additional induction to familiarise themselves with these rules, this can be done remotely with a FILM member (please wait for this until you really need to use the microscope as the rules might change).

Social distancing

Objective: To maintain 2m social distancing at the microscopes, including while arriving at and departing from the facility, and when travelling between sites.

• Microscope users including staff must keep 2 metres apart.
• All microscope usage must be booked in advance.
• Only one user is allowed at the microscope at a time.
• In small rooms (SAFB 409, XXX), only one microscope can be used at a time, this is enforced through the booking system and clearly signposted at the door.
• In larger rooms (408, XXX) with multiple microscopes extra care must be taken and users need to cooperate to comply with the 2 m distance rule (Floor markings will guide users to comply with the rule – to be installed).
• There is now a minimum time of 30 min between bookings to allow air-exchange in the room between users, this is enforced by the booking system.
• The analysis computers are to be used remotely.
• In an emergency, for example, a chemical spill or fire, people do not have to stay 2m apart if it would be unsafe.

Handwashing and Cleaning

Objective: To keep the workplace clean and prevent transmission by touching contaminated surfaces.

• Wash your hands frequently, at least at the start and end of the session. In rooms where there is not hand wash basin (SAFB 408, 409, 527, ICTEM L-Block 314), we will supply hand sanitiser.
• Avoid touching your face and cough or sneeze into your arm, do not come to work if you have COVID-19 symptoms. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/check-if-you-have-coronavirus-symptoms/
• The user must clean the parts of the microscope which are touched during operation regularly with 70% ethanol. These are e.g. focus knobs, eyepieces, sample holder, immersion oil bottle, touchpad, computer keyboard and mouse. Keyboard, mice and microscope eye pieces will be covered in cling film and additional cling film supplied for regular replacements. Spray ethanol on tissue and wipe the parts or the cling film covering them. Dispose of tissues and film in clinical waste baskets.
• The use of lab coats and face masks is as required by the experiment before COVID-19 but restricted to single use lab coats only.
• Staff and users wear surgical facemasks when in close proximity to each other and when this cannot be avoided.

Staff availability and training

• According to the guidance, staff will work from home as much as possible and only come into the facility if remote help is not possible. We also anticipate that using public transport will be difficult and this will impact on our availability on site.
• All user trainings are currently suspended because it would currently be impossible to adhere to the 2m distance rule and trainings take too long to rely on face masks for protection. This applies until we have implemented options for remote training.

Best wishes

Andreas

----------------------------------------------------

Dr Andreas Bruckbauer

FILM facility manager

Sir Alexander Fleming Building
South Kensington Campus
Imperial College London
Exhibition Road
London, SW7 2AZ

SAF 4th floor, open space desk 401

+44 (0)20 7594 2023

a.bruckbauer@imperial.ac.uk

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/facility-for-imaging-by-light-microscopy/

----------------------------------------------------