The University has started a phased approach for building reopenings. Each College/Unit/Building will need to develop, and get approved, a Plan for Reactivation of Research. PIs will be asked to submit a Laboratory Plan for Safe Return (DOCX). Once the building plan and PI plan are approved, and the building has been reopened by IPF, labs will be able to resume research activities.
A Laboratory Plan for Safe Return (DOCX) Request will need to be completed and approved by your department chair, Dean and also EHS. Strict safety measures regarding disinfection and social distancing will need to be followed in the laboratory once research is resumed.
The document is available on ORA website:
https://ora.msu.edu/_assets/documents/lab-plan-safe-return.docx
The plan has to go through several phases of review (department chair, associate dean for research, etc.) and will be prioritized based on when each building is scheduled to reopen.
Yes. Once your building opens up to other researchers, you will need to have an approved Laboratory Plan for Safe Return Request to continue to work in your lab.
Yes. You, the PI have to document that every person in your laboratory received training on your specific safety plan. Any method that is convenient to you and is easily traceable is sufficient for documentation (email, signed paper, etc.)
In these unprecedented times the supply of disinfectants may be disrupted. So, make sure that before submitting your Laboratory Plan for Safe Return (DOCX) you have secured enough disinfectant to sustain your laboratory operations.
The selected disinfectant must be part of the List N of the EPA for approved disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2 and must be used at the concentration and contact time listed. The complete list N can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2
Some examples of approved disinfectants are:
a- 70% ethanol or 70% isopropanol for a contact time of 5 minutes. To ensure that surface remains wet for the 5-minute contact time, reapply solution if necessary.
b- 10% bleach solution for 10 minutes
If using diluted bleach, prepare the diluted solution fresh daily. Label and date it, and discard unused mixtures 24 hours after preparation before making a fresh solution.
No. The CDC recommends that gloves only be worn for tasks that would ordinarily require them (for example when working with biohazardous materials or chemical hazards). Frequent handwashing is still recommended for prevention of COVID-19 transmission.
Yes, you are required to wear a face covering in the lab. Face coverings are a crucial public health measure and help protect others by reducing exposure to droplets if someone is unknowingly infected with COVID-19.
Face coverings are required for everyone (faculty, staff, students, contractors, suppliers, vendors and visitors) while on campus, either indoors or outdoors. Additional information regarding when to wear a face covering, including limited exceptions, can be found at: https://msu.edu/together-we-will/keeping-spartans-safe/#face-coverings#face-coveringsNo. The same biosafety and chemical safety protocols you used before in your laboratory to conduct experiments are still in place and should be strictly followed. However, with the pandemic, there are additional safety measures, specific to COVID-19, that need to be implemented. These additional measures are outlined in your laboratory’s Plan for Safe Return and include:
No. Note that the 90-day accumulation limit for chemical waste and sharps containers is still in effect. Please plan ahead in order to adhere to this requirement. Submit an online pickup request as promptly as possible.
When submitting your pickup request, include in the comments field any extenuating circumstances to accessing your location. If applicable, note the best days of the week, time of day, or site contact cell phone to arrange to gain access. EHS will contact you if unable to gain access to pick up your waste within 10 business days.
Establishing a plan for the laboratory will ensure that work is conducted with minimal disruption while maintaining a 6-foot physical distance and keeping the safety of lab personnel a priority:
Yes, all employees must fill out a health screening form each day they come to campus to work. MSU IT and the University Physician’s office have created an online campuswide health-screening form that units can use. The submitted information automatically will be sent to an employee’s supervisor.
A guide has been created for supervisors and administrators (PDF) so they can access screening reports for employees in their units.
Employees who are asked to return to in-person work but are unable because they are considered high risk or have household members considered high risk according to the CDC guidance should speak with their supervisor to determine whether remote work or another work arrangement is possible. Detailed information on the process can be found at Temporary Accommodations and Flexible Work Arrangement Request Process.
For faculty teaching in the Fall, information on temporary accommodations and flexible work schedule can be found at Faculty COVID-19 Related Teaching Adjustment Request Procedure.
For those people that cannot be accommodated through the process above, the Americans with Disabilities Act requires reasonable accommodations for individuals with physical or mental disabilities. One who believes that they have a qualifying disability should contact the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) at https://www.rcpd.msu.edu, which makes an assessment and, if warranted, refers to the Accommodations Specialist in Human Resources to determine any required accommodation that the University must make.