GREENHOUSE POLICIES AND OPERATIONS
GENERAL
The PSES
Greenhouse Committee is responsible for providing, instituting, and enforcing
general policies and guidelines for use of the
Facility managers are responsible
for the day-to-day operations of the greenhouses including handling requests
and assignments for space, routine availability of limited materials and
supplies, pest management, coordinating equipment upkeep, and accommodating special research requests.
Facility managers are members of the PSES Greenhouse
Committee. The immediate supervisor for
the managers is the PSES department head.
The chairman of the Greenhouse Committee, in consultation with the
department head, assists in supervisory and administrative matters.
All first
time users of the greenhouse facilities are required to schedule an orientation
session with the appropriate greenhouse facilities manager. This session will introduce the user to the
greenhouse facilities and include discussion/demonstration of correct
procedures for lab/headhouse usage, disease and pest avoidance control, and
safety. Included
in this orientation are site-specific rules and guidelines for safe access/use
of the facility not covered in this policy statement.
1.
Space
Allocation:
Requests for space
allocation at any facility must be made using a Space Request Form
available at the 6th Street Greenhouse
and PSES departmental office. Current space demands, project size, past performance,
utilization efficiency, sanitation, cooperation and project importance are all
considered when allocating space. Every
effort will be made to provide space to all those who need it.
Allocation of space may be for short- or long-term
depending on the nature of the research or teaching use. Any change in allocation of space can only be
implemented after notification of the PI (primary investigator) occupying the
space. Requests for annual space
allocations are due on July 1 of each year.
Space Request Forms must be filled out each year since there is no
automatic rollover of space. Greenhouse users will be charged for the space and resources
they use according to the Service Fee Schedule.
In the event of a shortage of bench space, specific
allocations may be reduced to ensure access by faculty and graduate students
needing space. Any ‘priority’ decision
conflicts will be decided by the department head based on justifications for
space and recommendations of the manager.
Priorities will depend, in part, upon the following, which are not
ranked in order of importance:
a. Research or teaching project
b. Type of research
-
Contract
-
Thesis/dissertation
-
Hatch
-
Other
Only materials needed for research and teaching
projects are to be stored at any greenhouse facility and only in areas
designated for storage at any greenhouse facility and only in areas designated
for storage by the facility manager. Any greenhouse access keys issued to a user
are to be returned promptly when access to the greenhouse is no longer needed.
Personal material of any kind (particularly plants)
is not allowed in the greenhouses.
Greenhouse facility users are
expected to purchase their own expendable research supplies, including, but not
limited to: soil mix, fertilizers, etc. Greenhouse staff maintains the fertilizer
injector cart with a general-use fertilizer (currently Peters 15-16-17) and
general-use headhouse supplies. When
soil is received from a supplier, the greenhouse staff will notify the
appropriate party and arrange to assist in moving the bales into the fenced
storage area.
3. Maintenance Responsibilities
Routine maintenance of any greenhouse physical
facility is the responsibility of the manager at the site. Major repairs require departmental approval.
Only the facility manager is permitted to change the
environmental controls using the ARGUS system.
Users must consult the manager if they want the environmental regime
modified in their respective compartments/growth chambers.
Greenhouse users are responsible for cleanup of
general use areas and maintenance of assigned space. If someone else under the manager’s direction
must clean up for a facility user, they will be billed for the work. All plants and soil no longer needed for an
experiment must be moved outside to the dumpster immediately.
Users are obliged to
maintain a clean growing space during their projects. At project completion, users are required to
clean the respective growth room or greenhouse space. This normally entails sweeping, vacuuming,
spraying bench tops with bleach, etc.
Users in violation of this policy may be charged an additional fee if
greenhouse staff must do the cleanup.
4. Pesticide Applications/Safety
The facility manager is responsible for
maintaining an acceptable control of insect/disease incidence. Users assist as scouts and are asked to
report any infestations immediately.
Access to the greenhouse facility is at
the discretion of the manager before, during, and after pesticide applications
when the applicator must wear a respirator.
The entire building or individual corridors may be closed for up to 48
hours, depending on product label recommendations. Pesticide warning signs will be posted on all
greenhouse entrances when the entire facility is closed for application of a
product requiring a respirator.
An email notice is sent to all users, at
least 24h in advance, if the entire building is to be closed for an
application. In other instances, warning
signs are placed on individual compartments.
Because of the variety of ongoing
projects, a strict greenhouse entrance protocol is enforced at the Manis and
Any chemical applications to plants for pest control
must be applied by the facility manager or applied under the manager’s direct
supervision for maintenance pest control. The Weed Science crew is excluded from this
requirement. Before pesticide
applications are made, proper notification will be given.
The facility manager must be notified of any
chemical spill immediately.
5. Greenhouse Experiments
The manager at each facility must be notified BEFORE any new materials (plants, soil, chemicals, equipment) are brought into the greenhouse or moved from compartment to compartment with an expectation that plants allowed into the facility will be first held in the quarantine room for pest evaluation. Failure to comply with this quarantine policy will result in removal of the materials immediately, accompanied by the loss of greenhouse use privileges. This procedure reduces the risk of bringing new pests into the facility and reduces potential problems for the entire community of greenhouse users. The Manis facility is included in this quarantine policy. The facility manager may, at his/her discretion, close the quarantine room simultaneously with the arrival of new plant material to make a preventive spray application.
Testing of biologically active agents must be
cleared with the facility manager, greenhouse
committee, and department head.
This procedure is necessary to ensure that the agents are compatible
with ongoing projects in any of the greenhouse facilities and that risk of long
term contamination of facilities is reduced.
6. Greenhouse Improvements
Minor improvements or modifications of any greenhouse facility require approval of the site manager. No large implements or devices may be brought into the greenhouse without prior manager approval.
Major improvements or modifications of any
greenhouse facility require Greenhouse Committee and departmental coordination
and approval from PSES administration.
Projects paying for approved improvements may have
priority for use of the space. However,
other users’ needs will also be considered.
7. Responsibilities of the Greenhouse Manager at each facility
Provide safe, healthy,
clean, and functional work environment
Coordinate/control space
usage
Manage the general
greenhouse budget
Order/purchase and inventory
general greenhouse/headhouse supplies
Recommend general capital
equipment purchases
General pest control
(scouting/spraying)
Supervise irregular help and
work study students
Oversee general maintenance
of greenhouse facilities
Provide information and
recommendations on facility use
Serve as initial contact
person when problems arise about the facilities or their use
Assist
researchers as horticultural advisor (special requests)
Provide
orientation tours to all new greenhouse users
8. Health and Safety
All users will abide by
health and safety regulations instituted by the
I have read and understand these policies. I have viewed the
state-required Worker Protection Video for
_______________________________
_________________________ _______________
Signature
of Greenhouse User Printed
Name Date
____________________________________ ______________________________________
Greenhouse User email address STATUS:
student-grad/undergrad, staff, faculty
___________ _____________________________________________
Campus Phone Name
of Principal Investigator/Supervisor
Version April2001/JAM