Safety Guidelines for the Conduct of Laboratory Classes with on-campus activities in the Time

of COVID-19

De La Salle University is committed to providing quality education through hands-on learning in the
laboratory, without compromising the health and safety of learners, educators, and staff. These guidelines
govern the conduct of laboratory classes with on-campus activities during phase 1 of the gradual
resumption of in-person classes in the University.

1. Eligibility
Vaccination protects a person from severe Covid infection. Hence, all faculty, staff and students who
will be coming to campus for in-person laboratory classes are required to be fully-vaccinated at least
14 days prior to first campus entry. Evidence will be required for setting an appointment for campus
access.

Health declaration, thermal scanning and registration for contact tracing will be done at the gates. A
person with above normal temperature will not be allowed entry to campus.

Those who exhibit symptoms of Covid shall be brought to the health station for eventual pick-up to
be brought home by a parent, guardian or companion.

Persons exhibiting flu (coughs or cold) or fever-like symptoms should not enter the campus.

2. Facilities
2.1. All laboratories will be fitted with at least one industrial fan and/or exhaust fan to improve air
circulation and ventilation. Air-conditioning units will not be utilized and all windows and doors
will be opened. For air-conditioned rooms housing instruments, aeration will be conducted by
opening doors and fanning between users.
2.2. Extra student desks, stools and tables will be removed from laboratory rooms to open up the
floor space.
2.3. Liquid soap dispensers will be made available by the sinks of wet laboratories. Alcohol dispensers
will be placed at the entrance to dry laboratory rooms.
2.4. Sufficient labeled waste bins for discarded PPE and disinfection/sanitation waste will be installed.
2.5. Floor markings or directional signage for foot traffic and queueing will be applied.
2.6. The maximum capacity of each room shall be based on an area of 4 square meters per person.
2.7. Room diagrams showing lab capacity, designated workspaces and foot traffic movement will be
posted.

3. Schedules
Laboratory classes will run for a total of four weeks. Three of these weeks will be online and only
one week will allotted for the conduct of laboratory activities on campus. Campus access for
laboratory activities shall be during an independent learning week. Pre-lab orientation, assessments,
and post-lab discussions will be done online a week or two before and after the independent
learning week.
4. Guidelines for Students
4.1. Students who wish to conduct laboratory activities on campus must first make an
appointment with the department for scheduling, allocation of space, and advanced
preparation of instruments and materials needed. Only those on the list submitted to the
Security Office shall be allowed entry.
4.2. Students shall schedule multiple activities in a single day to maximize each visit.
4.3. Students may enter the campus only once a day, and will not be allowed reentry after exiting.
4.4. Students must bring their lunch, and open-air eating areas with physical distancing
restrictions shall be provided.
4.5. Students must wear DOH-prescribed face masks at all times, except when eating or drinking
during breaks in designated open areas.
4.6. Prior to entry, students must undergo thermal scanning.
4.7. If the student exhibits COVID-19 symptoms, the student shall be brought to a health station
and wait for pick-up by parents or guardians.
4.8. Students must accomplish and submit a health declaration for each entry.
4.9. Students entering the campus shall register at the gate for contact-tracing purposes.
4.10. Students shall also register at the laboratory room upon entry, for contact-tracing purposes.
4.11. The campus access of each student shall be limited to at most a week at a time, followed by a
mandatory 14-day self-quarantine before being eligible for another access.

5. Conduct of Laboratory Activities

5.1. Prescribed face masks must be worn at all times, in addition to other laboratory safety
apparel/equipment.
5.2. Seating arrangement shall be implemented for safe-distancing, and recorded for contact tracing
purposes.
5.3. All necessary supplies and equipment will be set up on the lab benches before the start of the
first activity.
5.4. Video of basic health protocols shall be played every two hours.
5.5. One-way foot traffic inside the room shall be implemented using markings on the floor.
5.6. Adherence to COVID health and safety protocols shall be a criterion for continued approval to
stay in the laboratory.
5.7. Groups shall occupy designated laboratory benchspace. Groupmates are required to observe
physical distancing.
5.8. Queueing for reagents from the lab bench shall be enforced.
5.9. Students must queue outside the balance/instrument room following floor markings to ensure
physical distancing.
5.10.The use of limited equipment/facilities shall be scheduled to avoid queueing and waiting time
5.11. Specimens shall be prepared in designated outdoor locations, if possible.

6. Health Protocols in the Laboratories

6.1. Registration for contact tracing purposes is required upon entry to a room.
6.2. Regular hand hygiene inside laboratories will be practiced.
6.3. Movement inside the lab should be according to the designated foot traffic flow.
 6.4. Students must limit unnecessary physical interactions. Groupmates should observe physical
distancing unless laboratory procedures require otherwise.
6.5. Users of shared equipment like balances or machinery or materials like spatula or droppers for
chemicals will sanitize them with provided wipes or alcohol and paper towels
6.6. Disinfection and sanitation of the room will be conducted by janitorial personnel between
classes. This will include bench tops, counter tops, faucets, switches, door knobs.

7. Communication Arts Laboratory

7.1. Communication Arts lab activities will be conducted in an exclusive bubble.
7.2. The bubble will be housed in a university facility,

8. Computer Laboratories
8.1. Computer laboratory activities will be conducted in the larger computer laboratories. Required
software will be installed or hardware physically transferred to these rooms.
8.2. Computing will be done one station apart.
8.3. Students can opt to bring their own wireless keyboards and pointing devices.