Resuming On-campus Research Lab Activity

Working in compliance with orders from the St. Louis City Department of Health and State of Missouri, select research activities that cannot be conducted from home are eligible to resume on campus.

Saint Louis University is returning to campus-based work carefully in ways that enable physical distancing and avoid any crowding of public spaces, offices or laboratories.

Only research teams with permission from the Building Manager may work in their lab spaces.

Eligible Research Buildings (as of August 5, 2020):

Allied Health Building, BME/Biomedical Engineering, DRC/Doisy Research Center, ISE/Integrated Science Engineering, Litteken, MacLewane Hall, McDonnell Douglas Hall, Monsanto Hall, Oliver Hall, Schwitalla/Doisy Hall, Shannon Hall

Before coming to campus each day, all researchers need to complete a health screening and confirm symptom status by via #CampusClear. Click here for instructions.

Resources and Information

Steps for Researchers

Review Research Lab Checklist to meet guidelines for social distancing, disinfection, facemasking and more.
Consult with Building Manager to receive permission to resume on-campus research lab activities, per approved terms (e.g., hours of operation, max number of personnel). Names of Building Managers are at the bottom of this webpage.
Receive supplies and training from Building Manager. Post signage, as instructed.
Comply with daily health screenings and other requests made by the Building Manager. Policies and practices will change and it is the responsibility of the researchers to read communications from the Building Manager and comply with requests.
Communicate with Building Manager about any changes in approved plan, such as adding personnel, changing operating hours.

Policies and Procedures

Current Files

Research Lab Re-opening Requirements Checklist (updated - Aug 3, 2020)
Teaching Lab Requirements Checklist (updated - July 20, 2020)
University Interim Policy on Face Masks for Phase I Reopening (effective May 18, 2020)

Overview

General Guidelines:

Everyone is required to wear a facemask (cloth or surgical type) when entering buildings, in common areas such as hallways, elevators, bathrooms, and shared spaces per University Interim Policy on Face Masks for Phase I Reopening
Complete daily health screening. Stay home when you feel sick.
Limit gatherings to less than 10 people, always wearing a facemask.

Lab-Related Guidelines:

Maintain 6 foot distancing zones.
Stagger start/end times or split staff to reduce the total number of staff in the lab at one time.
Assign each individual a desk and work space to avoid sharing spaces.
Regularly disinfect common touch points.

Signage

On Lab Doors or within Lab Spaces

== University Designs -- NEW University designs for facemasks, hand hygiene, elevators : https://www.slu.edu/health-advisory/covid19-signage.php

== Federal and State Government Agencies

Stop the Spread of Germs (CDC)
Wash Hands (CDC) [recommended additional poster designs available here]

Older items (from May 2020)

Lab Door [required for all entry doors to lab spaces]
Facemasks Required [required for all lab doors]
Wash Hands Before Leaving Lab [backside of lab door or other visible location]

Building Common Spaces

== University Designs -- NEW University designs for facemasks, hand hygiene, elevators : https://www.slu.edu/health-advisory/covid19-signage.php

== Federal and State Government Agencies

Stop the Spread of Germs (CDC)
Social Distancing (Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services)
Wash Hands (CDC) [additional poster designs available here]

Older items (from May 2020)

Room Closed [mark spaces that are currently closed for meetings/gatherings or work]

Digital Signage

Stop the Spread of Germs Powerpoint Format (CDC)

Training Resources

How do I don, doff and store a facemask? (video - University of Nebraska Medical Center)
How do I make a cloth facemask? (pdf - CDC)
How to make your own facecovering by Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams (video - CDC)
How do I use Oxivir TB disinfectant? - Manufacturer Specification Sheet (pdf - Diversey Company)

Ordering Supplies / Personal Protective Equipment

IMPORTANT: Unless the job task requires an N95 facemask, researchers should wear washable cloth facemasks (homemade or store-bought) in compliance with the University Interim Policy on Face Masks for Phase I Reopening (effective May 18, 2020). A limited back-up supply of paper surgical masks is available in the buildings, which can be accessed whenever needed.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), cleaning supplies and other items are available through bulk purchasing orders coordinated by Ellen Boroviak and Jeff Hovey. The distribution services team is able to deliver items within a day or two. Please place order for the products as the need arises, and not in advance of the need.

To request PPE items (masks, gloves, hand sanitizer) please submit a service ticket to Distribution Services using the Facilities Service Request, on the mySLU Tools tab. Click here for detailed instructions, including screen shots.

Available items:

surgical masks
N95 masks
gloves
hand sanitizer (pump bottle)
Oxivir TB disinfectant spray bottles
decals for marking floors to promote social distancing

Template Communications

May 14, 2020: Invitation to Resume Research Lab Activity
May 17, 2020: Requirement for Daily Health Screening

Email Message Template - Daily Health Screening v1.docx

Invitation Email Message Template - Resume Oncampus Research Lab Activity.docx

Building Managers

Building Managers are responsible for:

coordinating work schedules (e.g., space planning to prevent overcrowding)
reviewing Lab Operations Plan (e.g., social distancing, workspace modifications) prepared by researchers
granting permission to faculty/staff to resume on-campus research lab activity and notifying Environmental Health Services of re-opening
ordering / distributing supplies for labs in the building (e.g., disinfecting solution, facemasks)
assuring signage is posted in common areas and lab spaces
providing training on new/updated SOPs (e.g., disinfecting)

Building Managers

Allied Health Building - Jesús García-Martínez

BME/Biomedical Engineering - Lesley Smith

DRC/Doisy Research Center - Sandra Cornell

ISE / Integrated Science Engineering - Scott Martin

Litteken - Lesley Smith

Monsanto - Scott Martin

McDonnell Douglas - Lesley Smith

MacLewane - Laurie Shornick

Oliver - Lesley Smith

Schwitalla/Doisy - Denise Johnson

Shannon - Scott Martin and Irma Kuljanishvili

FAQs Frequently Asked Questions

Am I required to submit my symptom check results using #CampusClear?

>> Yes. If you are unable to submit your daily symptom check results, do not come to campus. #CampusClear replaced the online form www.SLUDailyCheck.com on August 20.

Do I have to return to work on May 18?

>> No. Resumption of on-campus work in selected and approved laboratory spaces is voluntary, as of May 18, 2020.

What do I do if I do not have a facemask (or I forgot to bring one to work)?

>> There is a limited back-up supply of paper surgical masks available in your building. For example, the security desks in DRC/Doisy Research Center and LRC/Learning Resources Center have surgical masks available. North campus labs should contact the Building Manager for the location of surgical mask inventory.

Where do I get one of the SLU branded cloth facemasks?

>> Free cloth facemasks are being distributed to all departments across campus. Contact your department's business manager if you have not received one yet.

Who has access to the symptom check results that are submitted online?

>> Daily symptom check data is relayed by the Student Health Center and Office of Employee Health.

Am I supposed to wear a facemask when I am working alone in my lab?

>> No. Refer to the University Interim Policy on Face Masks. Link above.

Are medical students allowed to complete their research fellowships in the DRC labs. If so, when?

>> Yes, as long as density requirements are met.

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