COVID-19 Best Practices

COVID-19 Best Practices, FAQs, and Zone-Specific Safety Protocols

This page goes hand-in-hand with the Official COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan. The Official Plan gives broad guidance to ensure that i3 is following all applicable state laws, but may not answer every question. This page is meant as a more informal source of information as it doesn't require a member vote to change. Everyone is encouraged to add to this page so that we can all learn what works best at i3. If anything on this page directly contradicts the Official Plan, follow the Official Plan and let an officer/board member know what the discrepancy is.

If you have a question and it isn't answered here yet, PLEASE ASK. You can ask on the mailing list, on slack, or by getting in touch with the relevant ZoCo for zone-specific questions. This whole situation is super confusing and convoluted even for the people who wrote the rules for i3, so please don't be shy in asking for clarifications when needed. We would much rather answer repeated questions than have people get sick from being in the space.

Before coming to the space

In order to have your key fob reactivated, fill these out ASAP (reactivation may take up to 48 hours):

• COVID-19 Rules Member Agreement Form
• New waiver
• If you have any questions or concerns please contact #covid-19-policy on slack.

Each time you visit i3

• Fill out the screening checklist.
• Check the Work Schedule to see if the space will be full (max occupancy is 35 for the building as a whole, but no more than 17 per side).
• Add yourself (and any guests) to the schedule. See HOWTO Add Yourself to the i3 Work Schedule.

What can you do at i3 right now?

See Rule 2 of the Prepardness and Response Plan for the official guidance. Since we can't be classified exactly as a manufacturing facility, educational institute, social club, or community outreach, we're interpreting the executive orders to be a reasonable combination of all of them. The most important aspect of the orders right now is about gathering in groups. So basically, you can do normal i3 things at the space, but try to limit your contact with other people and don't deliberately come there just to socialize.

Is training on equipment allowed? Technically, yes individual training on equipment is allowed under the executive order. However, there may not be a good way to do one-on-one in-person training in a way that maintains 6 feet of separation. As per rule 7, face shields are required when working consistently within 3 feet of someone else. Even with both people wearing face shields, there is still a risk of transmitting the virus. Consider alternate ways to become trained - for example could training be done through a video call - either a demonstration by a trainer or walking through the trainee. Finally, keep in mind that zone coordinators and trainers are not obligated to come to the space if they don't feel safe doing so, so be respectful of their boundaries when bringing up the idea of training.

Remote Work For computer use, remote work should be done as much as possible.

• The space is available to access over VPN; contact Amelia Meyer for an account.
• If you want to remotely access Media Lab computers & software, contact Robert Burns or post in #mediazone on slack.

Who can come to the space right now?

• Current members, and any guests of members
• Guests
  • The number of guests per member has not explicitly been curbed, however the total number of members + guests must be 17 or below per side (35 total) at any given time.
  • All guests must sign the new waiver
  • All guests must fill out the screening checklist and have an entry on the work schedule (the host member can make the calendar entry on their behalf).
  • All guests must understand and follow the COVID-19 rules
  • Members are responsible for making sure their guests are following all rules (as usual)
• Prospective members are welcome to start their onboarding process electronically and complete the final step of onboarding (Memberification appointment where you receive your key)

Calendar

• For detailed instructions & best practices on the calendar/work schedule, see the HOWTO Add Yourself to the i3 Work Schedule

Traffic Patterns & General Navigations

1. You can avoid touching many shared surfaces like light switches by using your phone to turn on the lights. See HOWTO Turn on the Lights.
2. The hallway connecting the E-lab, media lab, bathroom, and classroom shall be one-way with traffic moving from the west hallway door, through the classroom, and exiting into the i3 main entrance area.
3. The “not a hallway” Media Lab shall not be used as a hallway.
4. When waiting to enter the space or use the bathroom, stand a minimum of 6 feet from the door and other people.
5. Before going through a closed door members shall either knock or shout in order to coordinate movement.
6. Whenever possible use feet/hips/back/elbows/shoulders to open doors.

Covid Discipline Policy Guidelines

Clarification on how covid rules will be enforced:

• Small mistakes will get you a warning.
• 3 warnings in a two month period or a serious mistake will get you a two week suspension.
• Refusing to follow the rules or continued warnings after a two week suspension will land you a longer one-month suspension
• Rule breaking that continues after a one-month suspension will result in a meeting with the board and potential revocation of space access until COVID related limitations are lifted

• Small mistake examples:
  • Missing a calendar entry or health screening form once
  • Going the wrong way through the hallway
• Serious mistake examples:
  • Not wearing a mask correctly (over nose and mouth)
  • Not sanitizing any of the tools you touched
• Refusing to follow the rules examples:
  • Refusing to wear a mask
  • Refusing to fill out the required paperwork even after being informed about it.

We want i3Detroit to remain accessible and safe for members and appreciate your help during this difficult time. If you have any questions or would like clarification, please post in #ask-the-board, #covid-19-policy, or email the board directly.

Also if you see someone not following the rules, please help them figure out how to do the right thing, and if they aren’t being good about it let board@i3detroit.org know about it so the person can get an official warning.

Exposure Response Procedure

• Perform a camera review as quickly as possible to determine exactly where the exposure happened and what tools or equipment need to be sanitized or quarantined.
• Collate a list of people who were at the space during the potential exposure period.
• Send all the appropriate emails (drafts are on the shared leadership drive in the covid folder).
  • A general email to the memberlist announcing the closure of the space.
  • Individual emails to anyone potentially exposed (likely two different emails for people potentially directly exposed versus those indirectly exposed).
  • Email to the Oakland County Health Department (cd@oakgov.com) with the relevant information. There is a template on the shared leadership drive in the covid folder.

Definitions

• We define direct exposure as:
  • 15 minutes being within 6 feet of
    • Person with COVID-19 who has symptoms (in the period from 2 days before symptom onset until they meet criteria for discontinuing home isolation; can be laboratory-confirmed or a clinically compatible illness)
    • Person who has tested positive for COVID-19 (laboratory confirmed) but has not had any symptoms (in the 2 days before the date of specimen collection until they meet criteria for discontinuing home isolation).
• We define indirect exposure as: being in the space, but not necessarily within 6 feet, with someone or a member of their household, when that individual was symptomatic or during the exposure period (14 days)

Zone-specific Safety Practices

Outside

Occupancy

• No limit

High Touch Surfaces

• Keypad

Special Cleaning

• None

Equipment Restrictions

• None

Zone Money Box

• None

Offsite Use

• N/A

Bike Shop

• See Tool Crib

Classroom

Occupancy

• 3 people
• Depending on how users are spaced at tables, passers-through may not be able to maintain spacing

High Touch Surfaces

• Light switches
• TV remote
• Tabletops

Special Cleaning

• Sewing table and iron have instructions listed under the Sewing section (absolutely no bleach!)
• No bleach on chairs

Zone Money Box

• None

Offsite Use

• N/A

Commons

Occupancy

• No official limit, but keep 6' apart from anyone not in your household.

High Touch Surfaces

• Tabletops

Special Cleaning

• Recommend using vinyl seating (such as stools)
• No bleach on chairs

Equipment Restrictions

• Fridges, vending machines, and water cooler should not be used
• Video games/tv/stereo should not be used.

Zone Money Box

• None

Offsite Use

• The only thing in commons that might be borrowed for offsite use is the projectors, but that really belongs to Media Lab, so check with them.

CNC

Occupancy

• 2 person Haas and 2 person Wood Router limit

High Touch Surfaces

• Controller
• CNC Doors
• work surfaces
• Computer keyboard/mouse

Special Cleaning

• Do not wipe down machine surfaces with bleach, alcohol, or anything else that may strip the protective coating of oil and cause things to rust.

Equipment Restrictions

• Training will be conducted on a case by case basis.
• If you are interested in learning to use the Haas at some point, now is a great time to learn or sharpen your CAD/CAM skills! Email cnc@i3detroit.org for details and recommendations.

Zone Money Box

• Payment with PayPal is preferred over cash. If using cash just round off amount so you don't have to reach in to make change.

Offsite Use

•  ?

Craft Room

Occupancy

• 1 person. Some supplies may be moved outside of craft room to work, i.e. to commons or classroom.

High Touch Surfaces

• Table tops
• Craft tools like paint brushes, scissors etc:

Special Cleaning

• No bleach on sewing machines. Further info about sewing equipment is under the Sewing section.
• For hand tools with wooden handle or finished wooden handle, clean with soap and water only.
• Wear gloves when opening/closing containers, searching for supplies in the drawers, or using your craft supply Fridge Card®. DO not wash labeled containers as the labels may run.

Equipment Restrictions

• None

Zone Money Box

•  ?

Offsite Use

•  ?

Elab

Occupancy

• 1 person

High Touch Surfaces

• Whiteboard tables
• Static mat
• Soldering irons (OK to sanitize foam grips)

Special Cleaning

• Hardboard might not react so well to being cleaned, so just keep the static mat scooted up to the edge so the hardboard isn’t a touch surface in the first place.

Equipment Restrictions

• None

Zone Money Box

• Encourage use of paypal for components instead of cash.

Offsite Use

• Ask in Slack.

Fablab

Occupancy

• 1 person, but no chairs

High Touch Surfaces

• Bench tops - sanitize as needed, they could use refinishing at some point anyway

Special Cleaning

• Use new gloves for contact with the FSLaser cover
  • This is acrylic and may be damaged by alcohol based cleaners
  • Again, though, we can make a new one if needed
• Leave vent fan on at all times

Equipment Restrictions

• None

Zone Money Box

• PayPal only for donations, no cash permitted

Offsite Use

• Ask Amelia Meyer in #fablab on Slack before removing equipment
  • Ensure you have a plan for safe usage prior to asking, please!

Injection Molding Zone

Occupancy

• 0 - Zone Closed

High Touch Surfaces

• N/A - Zone Closed

Special Cleaning

• N/A - Zone Closed

Equipment Restrictions

• The zone is closed at this time, however, exceptions can be made. Please contact Thad at injectionmolding@i3detroit.org to discuss.
• Many things need to be considered prior to molding a part, i.e. being at i3, so be sure to contact me for discussion if you have a project.

Zone Money Box

• N/A - Zone Closed

Offsite Use

•  ?

Jewelry

Occupancy

• 2 people

High Touch Surfaces

• Table tops
• Torch handles
• Crock pots
• Hand tools

Special Cleaning

•  ?

Equipment Restrictions

• None

Zone Money Box

•  ?

Kiln Zone

Occupancy High Touch Surfaces

• Work surfaces
• Tools

Special Cleaning

• No cleaning of the interior of the kilns due to porosity. High operating temperatures should naturally sterilize interior
• No sterilization of clay

Equipment Restrictions

• None

Zone Money Box

•  ?

Laser Cutters

Occupancy

• Typically one person at each laser cutter, with exceptions:
  • Bumblebee can accommodate two people maintaining a 6-ft distance for the case of one-on-one training.
  • Multiple people from the same household may work together on one laser cutter.

High Touch Surfaces

• Laser door/handle
• Control panel
• Focus gauge
• Exhaust gate handle
• Mouse and keyboard

Special Cleaning

• The laser control panel, power button, mouse, and keyboard should be wiped down with cleaner, but don’t directly spray onto them.
• Do not spray any cleaners inside the laser cutters. If you need to disinfect anything inside, spray onto a towel first, and avoid wiping the optics.
• All other high touch surfaces can be sprayed and cleaned with any normal disinfectant.

Equipment Restrictions

• None

Zone Money Box

• Payment with PayPal is preferred over cash in the zone box (See the infobox on the Laser Zone page for a link.)

Leather Loft

• No feedback yet, assumed closed

Occupancy

• 0 - Zone closed

High Touch Surfaces

• N/A - Zone closed

Special Cleaning

• N/A - Zone closed

Equipment Restrictions

• Zone closed

Zone Money Box

• N/A - Zone closed

Letterpress

Occupancy

• 1 person

High Touch Surfaces Special Cleaning

• Use alcohol wipes to clean the press and type (no soap/Lysol or anything that would leave a residue)
• Consider using disposable gloves for entire print run (you'd be wearing them anyway to apply solvent)

Equipment Restrictions

• None

Zone Money Box

•  ?

Offsite use

• You can borrow linoleum carving boards and tools for off-site use - please e-mail Ashley Lesser to make arrangements

Machine Shop

Occupancy

•  ?

High Touch Surfaces

•  ?

Special Cleaning

• Please only wipe down metal handles after you use them, do not apply chemicals or solvents to plastics or other non-metal parts without consulting the zone coordinator.
• Do NOT wipe down arbitrary surfaces of tools with bleach, alcohol, or anything else that may strip the protective coating of oil and cause things to rust.

Equipment Restrictions

• None

Zone Money Box

• Cash or paypal are both fine

Offsite Use

•  ?

Media lab

Occupancy

• 1 person
• Working on possibly moving computers to B-Side

High Touch Surfaces

• Printer buttons/surfaces

Special Cleaning

•  ?

Equipment Restrictions

• Usage of the Oculus Quest is currently on pause until we come up with a proper way of disinfecting or possibly a calendar system for usage with "decontamination" period between users.

Zone Money Box

•  ?

Offsite Use

• Working on getting remote access set up with calendar

Sewing

Occupancy

• 1 person if using in craft room
• 3 people if using in classroom
• B side office is a possible alternative work location, but commons is too dusty

High Touch Surfaces

•  ?

Special Cleaning

• Sewing equipment (machines, iron and mats) may have different cleaning guidelines - ie, for the most part, no bleach mixes, and no spraying machines… signage indicating acceptable cleaner will be going up on each.
• Large sewing table in the classroom: the manufacturer of the mat recommends wiping it with soap and water. Please do not use bleach or alcohol products on the table/mat.
• DO NOT use denatured alcohol on the sewing equipment.
• Alcohol based cleaner/wipes for the Husqvarna machines.

Equipment Restrictions

•  ?

Zone Money Box

•  ?

Offsite Use

•  ?

Tool Crib

Occupancy

• 0 (don't stay in zone, just pick up tools and use them elsewhere)

High Touch Surfaces

• Tools?

Special Cleaning

• Do not apply chemicals to tools if you don't already know how the materials interact.
  • If you know how things interact, feel free to add a list to this section of how to clean what.

Equipment Restrictions

• None

Zone Money Box

• Everything is fine. Paypal is also fine.

Offsite Use

• Same as always, ask in slack and after you get permission say when you bring it back.

Vinyl shop

Occupancy

• 1 person?

High Touch Surfaces

• Table & cutting mat
• Vinyl tools (picks, knives etc)

Special Cleaning

• Wipe down vinyl cutter after use

Equipment Restrictions

•  ?

Zone Money Box

•  ?

Offsite Use

•  ?

Welding

Occupancy

• 1 person at table. (Can take tools to the loading zone or outside, follow H.E.L.P. safety rules.)

High Touch Surfaces

• Handles and knobs of hand tools, including torches and drawers.

Special Cleaning

• See below for gloves & helmet guidelines

Equipment Restrictions

• Sharing of welding helmets and gloves is discouraged.
• Gloves:
  • It’s really a good idea to buy your own gloves. There are countless guides for picking welding gloves out there. Ask on Slack #welding if you want to have a conversation about it.
  • If you must wear shared gloves, it’s recommended to put on disposable gloves under, make sure you don’t touch your face while wearing, and wash your hands thoroughly before and after.
• Welding Helmets
  • Welding helmets do not provide protection from airborne threats. They are only there to protect from the light radiation hazard from welding.
  • Because of the close-to-the-face nature of welding helmets, shared use is discouraged. They are very difficult to clean properly, because of all the nooks and crannies inside. Spray cleaners are unlikely to do a sufficient job, and can lead to inhaling the chemicals.
  • The best thing is to buy your own face shield. A basic one can be had from Harbor Freight or Northern Tools for under $50, sometimes under $30 with discounts and coupons. They tend to be less comfortable and have fewer features, but are considered adequate for hobbyist use. (The nicer ones start around $200, and can go into the thousands. Come to Slack #welding if you’d like to chat about them.)
  • If you must use a shared mask, please do the following:
    • Label the mask (green tape and sharpie) with your name and the date you used the mask.
    • Don’t use a mask that has been used by someone else within the last 3 days (5 days is safer, up to you what you want to risk.)

Zone Money Box

• PayPal is available for a no-touch solution (link in info box on Welding_Area. Contributions are still appreciated however you are able.

Offsite Use

• Yes, contact Jody for details (Slack, or email Welding@i3detroit.org)

Woodshop

Occupancy

• No limits, but maintain 6 foot distance with non-household people

High Touch Surfaces

• Tool handles
• On and off switches

Special Cleaning Instructions

• Do Not Use gloves on tools which may catch and drag your hands into them
• Do not use water-based cleaners on steel surfaces. These are cast iron and rust easily.