PDF of newsletter available here: https://engineering.purdue.edu/Intranet/Groups/Schools/MSE/Facilities/SafetyNewsletters

MSE Safety & Equipment Newsletter for September/October 2019

**** Important upcoming dates ****

• Wednesday, October 2nd – “Refresher” safety training seminar at 3:30 PM in ARMS 1010 (during MSE 390).  Please bring your smart phone if you plan to attend.
• Friday, October 18th – Deadline for ARMS lab supervisors to submit their building inspection abatement reports to Jenni Fifer.

**** MSE Lab Safety Blackboard course updates ****

• Safety training FAQ
• Documents related to HF training and use

Reminder: To self-enroll in this Blackboard course, click here .

**** Annual ARMS building inspection ****

REM completed their annual fall inspection of the Armstrong lab spaces on behalf of OSHA in early September. A hard-copy list of issues that must be abated/corrected was distributed to lab supervisors (red folders in your ARMS mailbox). Please correct the issues associated with your lab space and return the form to Jenni Fifer (ARMS 2207) by October 18th.

**** HF reminder ****
All activities involving the use of any quantity of hydrofluoric acid (“HF”) should ONLY occur within the fume hood in ARMS 2132 (the polishing lab) and are not allowed to take place in any other lab spaces within ARMS or MSEE. HF activities should ONLY be performed by individuals who have received training by the MSE Safety Officer. Contact Jenni Fifer for questions or to request training.

**** Lab access reminders****

Please read the instructions on MSE Lab Safety Blackboard course and the lab access request before filling one out. This will save time and prevent delays in receiving lab access. If you have any questions or concerns about lab access, feel free to stop by ARMS 2207 to speak with the MSE Safety Officer (Jenni Fifer). Helpful lab access request form reminders are below:

• If you have had lab access in ARMS or MSEE at any point in the past, DO NOT mark “New User” in the lab access form.
• Submit your forms by Thursday afternoon to receive lab access Friday. If you submit a form on Friday, you will not receive access until the following Friday.
• Make sure to include billing information if requesting access to a key fee lab.
• Make sure to CC mse-safety@purdue.edu on emails requesting faculty permissions.

**** Notice on VC-50 slow-speed saws in ARMS 2136 ****

Please be sure to follow new procedures outlined near the VC-50 saws in ARMS 2136. These include:

• For harder materials (tool steel, carbides, ceramics), use the saw with the equipped diamond cutting wheel.
• For softer materials (most metals), use the saw equipped with the aluminum oxide cutting wheel.
• Do not use the diamond cutting wheel to cut epoxy or bakelite mounting media (use the aluminum oxide wheel instead).

**** New automatic mounting presses ****

The MSE Equipment Committee is considering purchasing/replacing automated mounting presses in ARMS 2136. We are seeking your feedback on mounting sizes. Please fill out the following Qualtrics to get your voice heard! https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b88loyXvz1dr1jv

**** Equipment reporting reminder ****

If you encounter a piece of broken equipment, or have any questions about a specific piece of equipment, you should contact a member of the MSE Technical Staff:

• For general equipment: Tim VanMeter, Darren Pauly
• For mechanical testing equipment: Jenni Fifer
• For analytical (iLab) equipment: Talukder Alam

**** Annual “refresher” trainings ****

As described in the MSE safety training policy (emailed on Sept. 6 and posted here), each academic year, all faculty, technical staff, undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and other research-active personnel are required to attend one in-person safety “refresher” training. Options for this refresher training include safety seminars led by the MSE Safety Officer as well as research-specific safety meetings led by an MSE Faculty member. The latter meeting must address a short series of Powerpoint slides provided by Prof. Erk which include guidance on how to document the training within MSE records.

**** Important links and contact information ****

• For general safety questions, concerns, and lab access issues: mse-safety@purdue.edu or speak directly to MSE Safety Officer Jenni Fifer (ARMS 2207)
• For iLab equipment training and issues: Talukder Alam (ARMS 2207)
• Equipment/Safety/Consumables Reporting Form
• Purdue REM Researcher’s Guide (all new researchers should check this out...)
• ARMS general safety information

Thanks for reading everyone and have a GREAT October!

Prof. Erk and the MSE Safety Committee