COVID-19 Restrictions

Please read the following carefully, as diligently following these rules are important to help keep each of us safe as able to remain open. Violations of these rules are violations of the code of conduct and are likely to result in suspension or termination of membership.

Effective Aug 15, 2021, until further notice:

Recent minor amendments to the COVID rules:

• Non-bubble guests permitted (1 guest per member, member required to ensure guest follow all rules)
• Outdoor ToN to continue with permission to use loading dock as emergency weather contingency
• Masks may be removed while in the privacy of one’s own studio with the door closed
• Food permitted (temporarily remove your mask while seated in the kitchen or studio, consider closing the door too)
• To resume accepting new members (including in-person orientation and training)

The follow rules continue to remain in effect:

• You must wear a 3-ply mask (surgical mask, KN95, kwartzlab-branded mask) at all times when inside the building except:
• If you are seated in the kitchen and actively consuming food or drink.
• If you are in your private studio with the door closed.
• You are actively using the welding equipment with the curtains closed.
• Scarves, bandanas, and any type of cloth mask that is only 1 or 2 layers are not acceptable alternatives to proper masks. See picture below. Free disposable surgical masks are provided at sign-in.
• There will be a maximum of 25 people permitted in the lab at any time, and a maximum of two people per room. Only Exception: Board-sanctioned facilities work and events.
• All members must sign-up for a room before arriving at the lab on this spreadsheet: https://bit.ly/kwartzlabsignup.
• Members and guests must remain 2m away from all other people outside their household.
• All persons entering the lab must sign-in and out at the member door and must also scan and record their forehead temperature at the wall-mounted thermometer.
• Everyone must complete the provincial online screening every time prior to entering the lab. https://covid-19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/
• Members are expected to wash hands (or use the provided sanitizer) frequently and also thoroughly clean any tools, switches, or surfaces they come into contact with.
• Training and tours are provided at the comfort and convenience of our volunteers.
• Members are permitted to allow one (1) guest to enter with them, provided the guest follows all of the above rules and remains in the same room with the member at all times.
• Tuesday “Open” Nights (TON) will officially resume as of August 17, 2021 but will be held as primarily outdoor events for now. Members are permitted to take applicants and prospective members for tours at their own discretion and comfort.
• Full COVID-19 Vaccination is urgently encouraged for all persons inside the building.
• Any requests for individual accommodation must be made in writing to the Board of Directors through email to [email protected] and may require up to a week to approve.

Effective Dec 26, 2020, until further notice:

Update regarding Dec 21 province-wide lockdown announcement. As of Dec 25th at 11:59pm, Kwartzlab will once again be shutting down. The lab will in all likelihood remain closed until January 23rd (length of the lockdown in our region as currently defined in today's announcement) If possible, please make plans to remove projects that you want to continue to work on from home. All tools will be unplugged and unavailable for use after Dec 25th at 11:59pm. If you do realize you've forgotten something at the lab we will be allowing people to enter on Dec 26th or later for quick pickups (one person at a time) but absolutely no project work will be permitted. Members who wish to pause payments on their monthly dues are asked to go on hiatus via the Hiatus Request Webform (or email to bod@kwartzlab). Those who are renting studios will have their rental fees paused as we did in March.

Effective as of Monday December 14th to Dec 25, 11:59pm, 2020:

• There will be a maximum of 5 people permitted in the lab at any time.
• All members must sign-up for a room before arriving at the lab on this spreadsheet: https://bit.ly/kwartzlabsignup. Please specify both your name and the area/room you’d like to reserve. Like last

time, there will be one page per day for sign-up.

• No guests permitted - members only
• No food or drink permitted
• No in-person training or in-person tours
• One person per room (eg. no fetching tools from a room someone is already in the room)
• Members must remain 4 metres away from other members.
• Please limit conversations (as this increases droplets in the air)
• Masks are required 100% of the time. Must be 3 or more layers (eg. Lab-branded mask, surgical mask, KN95. No neck scarves, no neck gaiters, etc.)
• All members must sign-in and out at the member door and also scan record their temperature (a thermometer will be installed at the member entrance shortly).
• Everyone must complete the online screening every time prior to entering the lab.
• All members are highly encouraged to install the Canadian COVID tracking app.
• Members are responsible for maintaining and topping-off the cleaning supplies in the room they use (following instructions seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDsxWT-ZDxA).

We will be suspending new member applications and interviews until further notice.

A reminder to members that the board is continuing to automatically approval hiatus requests for all members who request it (Hiatus Request Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScOZQCUdIQIvpwssVVvmGbvKNiE4Vxh3ovGE81qk1ukIadfNA/viewform) Additionally, members requiring a medical exemption to the mask rule above must request a written exemption from the board in advance, by emailing [email protected]. Upon receiving an exemption, members will be required to wear a face shield, and will be the only person permitted into the lab when they are in there - they will claim all 5 slots on the sign in to ensure this happens. We appreciate all members' patience with this policy as we continue to ensure Kwartzlab is a safe and inclusive space for all of our members. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out - on this email thread, over slack, or directly to the board ([email protected]).

Sarah Jones On behalf of the Kwartzlab Board of Directors