LabEx 2011 Cell Phones

OK, so pretty much everyone has a cell phone. We understand. But you also have to understand that any distraction when you are handling a scalpel during a dissection or an acid during a titration is an extreme safety hazard, both for you and the people around you.

We therefore have a simple safety rule:

All cellphones, smartphones and wireless devices MUST be turned off during science laboratories.

This does not mean set to silently vibrate, off means off. Any student that is found using any kind of wireless device during a lab will have to leave the lab and will forfit their registration fee for the lab. It is that kind of safety rule. We have heard the usual excuses, that you use your cell phone as a watch or calculator. Sorry, not in the lab, bring something else to tell time and calculate.

All cell phones, completely turned off, for the entire lab period.

Now of course, if for some reason you need to be in constant contact with the outside world you are welcome to make your case (we once had a nurse who was on the provincial organ transplant team and she was allowed to have her phone on).

That said, on Monday May 16, we will be going on a field trip and for that day, as long as we are in the woods you should have your cellphone on for safety communication reasons only.