Introduction

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All microscope users must MUST receive introductory training on any equipment (microscopes, incubation equipment, etc) before being able to book microscopesusing it. There have been incidences of equipment (both core facility and individual laboratory's) being damaged by unauthorized users. Introductory training on a microscope will consist of an initial session covering the overall operation of the machine to be followed by a further session with the user's own specimen. Please see the LMCB Light Microscopy Training Policy for more information.

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In addition to those in the LMCB Code of Practice the following rules apply to microscope rooms:

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Keeping the microscopes clean

Keep the microscopes clean (PDF)

Dirt and excess oil on microscope optics causes optical aberrations that seriously reduce the quality of images. Oil transferred to the microscope focus knob, computer keyboards and mice and other surfaces is unpleasant, can be a hazard and can cause imaging problems (e.g. dried up oil can stop specimens from fitting into stage adapters correctly). It is therefore very important that the microscopes are kept clean for their correct operation and to achieve the highest quality imaging.

• Always keep immersion oil bottles in the trays provided. Never put lens tissue or anything else in the trays as it will become contaminated with oil
• Always fully screw the top back onto the immersion oil to prevent big spills if the bottle is knocked over
• Always wear gloves when dispensing immersion oil and remove the gloves as soon as you have applied the oil. This is to stop oil being transferred to keyboards, mice, microscope focus knobs, etc.
• Do not use too much oil. One or two drops from the end of the dropper is almost always sufficient. Excess oil will run down objective lenses or onto the sub-stage condenser and will get inside both the lens and the nosepiece, ruining images.
• Wipe all the lenses you've used after imaging. Use lens tissue to remove oil with a single wipe in one direction. Do not rub back and forth with the tissue as this can scratch the lens. Do not re-use the same tissue but wipe again with another tissue. This stops oil and dirt being transferred. Always wipe up any oil that has run down around the edge of the objective lens to stop oil from getting into the nosepiece.
• Wipe oil and spilled medium from specimen adapters and clean any remaing oil off them with 70% IMS
• Clean up spilled oil immediately by wiping up the excess with absorbent tissue and wiping non-optical components with 70% IMS

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If a user does not comply with the safety rules (e.g. eats or drinks in the microscope rooms) or with the booking rules (e.g. does not turn up for a microscope session without giving notice); or if a user has left a microscope in an unclean state the following penalties will be leviedapplied:

• First offence - An initial warning
• Second offence - Access Initially a warning
• Followed by access removed from the microscope for ONE WEEK
• Further offences – Access In further cases access removed for TWO or MORE WEEKS

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• Training - https://wiki.ucl.ac.uk/display/LMCBLMic/LMCB+Light+Microscope+Training
• Booking - https://wiki.ucl.ac.uk/display/LMCBLMic/LMCB+Light+Microscope+BookingData - https://wiki.ucl.ac.uk/display/LMCBLMic/LMCB+Light+Microscope+Data+Policy
• LMCB Health & Safety - https://wiki.ucl.ac.uk/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=40735703

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• Contact email for arranging training, reporting problems or requesting help with image acquisition or processing: lmcb-lm-help@ucl.ac.uk
• Departmental Safety Officer's email to report any accidents or incidents: p.topham@ucl.ac.uk
• Members-only mailing list for communicating with other microscope users and sharing information about protocols and procedures: lmcb-lm-users@ucl.ac.uk

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