Dear FILM-users,
The spread of COVID-19 is causing concern everywhere and the first priority is the health and safety of our users and staff. We are currently discussing measures to reduce the risk of infection while using the microscopes.
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Essential: Follow the College guidance regarding self-isolation in case you show symptoms:
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/about/covid-19/ Anyone with a ‘new, continuous’ cough or a high temperature (37.8C or 100F and above) is advised to self-isolate for 7 days.
Do not use microscopes in this case!
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Washing hands with soap is essential, at SAFB we have a hand wash sink in room 410 to which everybody has access. At Hammersmith you would need to use the lab handwash sinks.
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Microscope parts like focus knobs, computer keyboards and mice are touched by many people during the day, we have 70% ethanol spray bottles, blue paper towels and facial tissue which you can use to clean these parts before and after
use. We will make extra rounds to clean microscopes!
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You can use gloves at the microscopes, make sure that you are using clean gloves, not the ones with which you are handling your samples! We will try to supply a pack of gloves with each microscope as long as we can get stocks.
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We might remove the eye-cups from the oculars as they can pose a transmission risk and are difficult to clean. The normal distance from the ocular to the eyes is about 10 mm, so with removed eye-cups you can keep a safe distance.
Watch out that you don not scratch your glasses or the oculars. Oculars can be cleaned with facial tissue and 70% ethanol.
Please take care and stay safe!
Best wishes
Andreas
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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
http://www.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/facility-for-imaging-by-light-microscopy/
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