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From mark.crain at louisville.edu Tue Feb 20 13:39:53 2007
From: mark.crain at louisville.edu (Mark M Crain)
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2007 13:39:53 -0500
Subject: [labnetwork] Cleanroom Buddy protocol
Message-ID: <45DAFA2A.716B.0008.0@gwise.louisville.edu>
Hi Everyone
I am interested in an informal survey of facilities implementing a
*buddy system* in their multi user labs. Our microfabrication
cleanroom user base is around 50 research students and staff. The user
size of this facility puts us in a situation where there may not always
2 or more people in the cleanroom at all times; this has precipitated a
number of requests from students and faculty about conditions in which
they can enter the cleanroom as a *solitary user*.
Here are some of the conditions in which people want to be able to work
in the facility alone.
1) staff cleaning the floors, stock wafers, organize in dry bays
alone
2) using tools like profilometers, ellipsometers, or wire bonder
alone
3) sputtering and evaporation systems
4) Can staff walk through chemical storage areas alone?
5) What is your schools *buddy system* policy for individual
researchers labs?
6) Do cameras and a TGM system count as a buddy?
PRO*s to the *Solitary User*
Researchers can work during hours most productive to them. It*s good
to have happy paying users.
CON*s to the *Solitary User*
Even if the solitary access requests are to complete some relatively
safe task, there are still many hazards in the facility and some
equipment (furnaces, PECVD) may actually be in active use even without
the tool user being in the room. This is the foundation of my concern
for permitting any *solitary users*. Users may be tempted to do
short unapproved *solitary user* processes like an HF dip before a
potentially approved process such as sputtering.
I am looking forward your replies about the Buddy System. Thank you
for your time.
Mark Crain
Cleanroom Manager
University of Louisville
From mark.crain at louisville.edu Mon Feb 26 16:14:50 2007
From: mark.crain at louisville.edu (Mark M Crain)
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 16:14:50 -0500
Subject: [labnetwork] Buddy System Synopsis
Message-ID: <45E3077B.716B.0008.0@gwise.louisville.edu>
Hi Everyone
I am sure it has come as no surprise that there were a range of answers
regarding the implementation of the *buddy system*. Of the
respondents, it seems that the buddy system is used mostly to address
requirements of the cleanroom users defined as Student, Staff
Researcher, or External User. There was no real discussion of a buddy
system required for those who are maintenance staff. Some respondents
use interlocks to prevent unauthorized use of equipment and others
depend on the honor system. In our facility the wet benches are really
the most dangerous tools we have, so I would be interested in knowing
how those can be interlocked.
Here are the composite answers to the "solitary users" conditions we
are considering
1) Staff cleaning the floors, stock wafers, organize in dry bays
Alone
(Answer: Requires no buddy according to all respondents
who addressed the issue.)
2) Using tools like profilometers, ellipsometers, or wire bonder
Alone
(Answer: Requires no buddy by a majority of
respondents.)
3) sputtering and evaporation systems
(Answer: Needs a buddy by most respondents.)
4) Can staff walk through chemical storage areas alone?
(Answer: No buddy required by majority of
respondents.)
5) What is your schools *buddy system* policy for individual
researchers labs?
(Answer: No Reply, I am guessing that most
schools have not gotten to the point of addressing this policy.)
7) Do cameras and a TGM system count as a buddy?
(Answer: Of course not!)
Based on the results, we plan to implement a solitary user policy so
that profilometers, ellipsometers, microscope, and probe stations can be
used alone. Staff should be allowed to clean non wet bench areas alone,
take inventory, stock non hazardous items, and inspect areas without a
buddy. Maintenance and tool hook up will require a buddy.
Thank You all for the comments and insight.
Best Regards,
Mark
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