Hello everyone, I am writing to provide an update regarding the process of safe return to experimental research operations in FRNY and to communicate some new protocols (see attached document) put in place by the ChE Safety Committee to assist with this process and ensure the safety of our ChE community. All research activities that can be performed remotely (e.g.: computational research, data analysis, etc.) will continue this way until further notice. The attached document is also available on our website: https://engineering.purdue.edu/ChE/aboutus/safety, under "Safety Policies Specific to Forney Hall". The building assessment and corrective actions were completed (on our side) last week and documentation was sent to the University. We are still waiting for the hand sanitizer stations to be installed near the doors designated as entrances for the building (the one facing Physics and the one facing Engineering Mall). This is the responsibility of the Physical Facilities and they will install them as soon as the order comes in. The door facing Schleman Hall is designated as exit only at this time. The labs with critical research approved by the University are labeled with a yellow posting and these groups can continue to work in the building without having the Covid-19 Research Space SOP completed at this time (the template is not available yet (check here<https://protect.purdue.edu/research/covid-research-space-safe-operating-procedures/> for updates); this will be sent to PIs, who will be invited to complete and submit it for approval). I suggest that each group drafts a CVovid-19 specific internal SOP; this information can be transferred onto the University template when this is sent to PIs. Groups not performing critical research can also start thinking about what information to include in the Research Space SOP, but should not return to campus until their lab is cleared (Research Space SOP was submitted and approved by the University). Shared offices for researchers are considered "research space" and their use will also need to be addressed in the Covid-19 Research Space SOP. To help with addressing this point, the School has set maximum occupancy for each shared office, and notices will be posted this week on each shared office door to indicate this number and also other restrictions on seating (e.g.: not seating at adjacent desks). Safety training: Before returning to FRNY, everyone needs to complete the "ChE Return to Campus Safety Training" consisting of several training modules, and log the completion of their training online. More information in the attached document and on our website: https://engineering.purdue.edu/ChE/aboutus/safety under "ChE Safety Training Required for a Safe Return to Forney" heading. You can start completing the training modules now (and prepare the documents that need to be uploaded), but please only log the completion of your training (by completing the "Training Sign-in Sheet" under the same heading) once you were trained on the Covid-19 Research Space SOP approved by the University, as this is a required training module. ChE staff members will continue working remotely according to the University guidelines. However, before returning to work in the building everyone will need to complete the relevant safety training (applicable modules), and log the completion of training as described above. Please read the attached document and review the updated ChE safety website to learn more about the necessary safety training requirements for a safe return to FRNY. Should you have any questions about the information in this email, please let me know. Sincerely, Gabriela On behalf of the ChE Safety Committee __________________ Gabriela Nagy, PhD Industrial Education Director Davidson School of Chemical Engineering Room FRNY G051 Purdue University Tel: (765)-496-1710 E-mail: nagyg@purdue.edu<mailto:nagyg@purdue.edu>