Smoke Sensor Tests

The smoke sensors in the lab areas of the building will be tested next week, 15th – 18th February.
This will be a silent test – the evacuation alarm will not be activated by these tests.
The sensor test involves using a closed cup around the sensor and the release of “fake” smoke in to the cup to activate the sensor. The process will only take 30 seconds or so but needs to be done in situ so access to all labs will be required. Please let me know of any difficulties with this access and hazards that cannot be made safe.

Shonah Ion

 

 

Fire door interface inspections will take place in Physics on 17th February 2021 from 9am.

Every month the University is required to test the interface between the fire alarm system and door control systems in all buildings with access control and/or automatic doors.
This work is undertaken by Cook Fire and requires the physical inspection of all doors controlled by the access control system while the fire alarm is active and the doors are locked. This check is to ensure that all doors on escape routes will allow evacuation in the event that the fire alarm is activated. In most cases the alarm will be silenced during the inspection, but for some older systems, where it is not possible to silence the alarm, the checks have to be conducted while the alarm is sounding.

Shonah Ion

 

 

Display Screen Equipment.

A reminder for those homeworking to look at the University’s guidance on display screen equipment LU Computer workstations and in particular the SWAY  documents .
Also you may also have noticed that if you have borrowed University owned electrical DSE equipment for use at home, for example monitors, laptops etc. the portable appliance testing label on this type of equipment are now out of date. The Facilities Department are aware that this equipment is ‘out of date’ but it is obviously impractical to arrange testing at the moment. The annual testing of this type of double insulated portable equipment is actually over and above the recommended guidance, so there isn’t actually a legal requirement to do this. That said, it is still really important for staff to do some regular, basic checks themselves to look for wear and tear when using any portable equipment. This is the case wherever staff are working and for any portable appliance.

• Look at the leads of your portable equipment regularly. Check for wear and tear. Use the checklist on the LU Electrical Safety webpages to help you.
• If you are using extension cables, don’t forget to check these too. Always try and plug equipment straight into a wall socket if you can.
• Don’t overload extensions. Do not ‘daisy chain’ extensions (i.e. plug one into another).
• Switch off plug sockets at night
• Avoid laying cables across the floor where people may walk. This will not only avoid trips but will also prevent wear and tear to the cables.

Shonah Ion

 

 

Conduct in Communal Areas

We are aware that there have been some instances across campus of individuals without face coverings spending a lot of time in uncontrolled communal areas. Obviously, sitting in these areas to have a quick lunch or a Costa is reasonable, as long as individuals keep 2m apart, however, it is apparent that some people may be stretching the rules and being present for longer than you would expect, without wearing a face covering. Please remember it would be appreciated if these areas are only used for the minimum amount of time required. This not only reduces the risk of virus transmission but also allows more people to use the spaces available.

Cleaning is always an extremely important element in maintaining a healthy workplace. This is especially important at the moment as regular surface cleaning reduces the risk of virus transmission. As you all know, we have an excellent cleaning team on campus, but they cannot be there all the time, so we need all staff to play their bit in reducing infection. Please use the cleaning sprays and disposable roll available in communal areas, and you work areas,  to regularly clean down touch points and following the use of shared equipment. Hands should then be washed thoroughly. If you run out of cleaning materials please log this with the Facilities helpdesk.

Shonah Ion

 

 

Revise Risk Assessments

Revise your risk assessments and Safe Schemes of work for any activity that is or will be undertaken in the Department during this current lockdown. Remember to record this revision on the documents even if there is no change in the control measures.

Shonah Ion

 

 

Particle and Physics Grants – application deadline: April 2021

I am contacting you in regards to our Physics Foundation, aiming to locate potential candidates for research grants in physics (Nuclear and Particle). Our association aims to promote research on open problems in Nuclear and Particle Physics, and we are looking for relevant candidates for research in the fields listed on our website.

Kind regards, Hagar Kedem, OPRA Association

Grainne Wilkinson

 

 

FameLab UK Registrations Open

Do you have students or colleagues who would benefit from free training in public engagement? FameLab is an ideal way to boost confidence, build networks and share research with new audiences. FameLab UK is open to anyone over 21 currently working in STEM, and the winners will participate in the FameLab UK final at Cheltenham Science Festival 2021.

Please share this fantastic opportunity with your contacts who are interested in:

• Improving their communication skills
• Sharing their research with a public audience
• Joining a global network of researchers who enjoy talking about science

Training and heats are taking place in 9 regions around the UK, find your nearest one here. Participants can take part in FameLab as many times as they like, and keep improving each year until they become a UK finalist!

We’d be grateful if you could spread the word by forwarding this email and sharing on social media using this graphic.

Many best wishes, Marieke

Manus Hayne

 

 

New Lockdown requirements

All those who are accessing or planning to access the building for essential activities during this current national lockdown must review their risk assessments in light of the increased risk of infection due to the highly transmissible virus currently in circulation.
It is strongly suspected that the new strain is more transmissible because of the following reasons

1. Greater viral loads may be shed by asymptomatic cases.
2. The viral survival time on surfaces may be longer.
3. The viral survival time as an aerosol may be longer, particularly in relatively low humidity environments.

Consider these increased risks and modify your control measures if required.

The basic controls (hands, face, space) are still  good control measures but we need to redouble our efforts and be especially vigilant now.

The following points from the University’s safety office offer actions which will help to protect us all. Review your work area and ensure we do all we can to counteract this increased risk.

• Regular handwashing, keeping a distance of 2 m and wearing a face covering where instructed, remain the greatest priority.
• All staff must use the cleaning sprays and disposable towels to regularly wipe surfaces after use, paying particular attention to touch points (i.e. door handles, key pads, the handles of shared equipment (specialist and kitchen equipment). Hands should be washed or sanitised following this activity.
• Ensure ventilation settings remain at the maximum and staff should continue to open windows where artificial ventilation is not provided.
• Physical screening should be reassessed to ensure it is adequate i.e. the screen should completely isolate the person behind it, if not, the distance the aerosol must travel to reach the other person must be greater than 2 m.

Shonah Ion