Hygiene Regulations at TU Berlin

Please help to keep the risk of coronavirus infection as low as possible by complying with the following hygiene and protection regulations. Taken together, these protection and hygiene measures significantly reduce the risk of infection.

Maintain a minimum distance of 1.5 meters to others at all times as far as operations permit. This also applies to examinations, labs and workshops, offices, waiting areas, corridors and pathways, and elevators etc. If you are unable to maintain a minimum distance of 1.5 meters, you must wear a mask (either a surgical mask or an FFP 2 mask). We also strongly recommend regular ventilation.

In areas where a large number of people are present, such as libraries, a one-way system must be maintained as far as possible.

It is possible for more than one person to be present at a time in offices and work spaces. Please organize furniture as far as possible to enable a minimum distance of 1.5 meters.

Overlapping periods in offices and work spaces can be kept to a minimum by using DV Flex or mobile working taking account of individual family situations. For example, staff can start work at different times. Planning should be discussed within teams. Decisions are the responsibility of the relevant supervisor.

It is essential that offices are sufficiently aired on a regular basis by fully opening windows (every 15 minutes). Ideally offices and work spaces, etc. should be aired continuously.

Please contact the Medical Service if you require further advice or clarification. Members of the Staff Councils and the Medical Service can, by prior agreement, enter office spaces if they need to do so to check on arrangements.

Staff belonging to an at-risk group may ask the Medical Service for advice regarding any necessary special arrangements.

Masks provide highly effective protection against infection, both for the wearer and others. As such, TU Berlin continues to recommend all persons wear a medical mask (preferably an FFP2 mask) in all University buildings.

• Overhead masks
• Earloop masks
• www.tu-berlin.de/vergabestelle/referat_einkauf/lvwa_rundschreiben/
  under "Erste Hilfe" – Verbandmaterial und -kästen

Avoid touching door handles, door knobs and door openers when entering buildings or rooms. Try instead to open doors using your elbows or forearms. 

Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly (minimum 30 seconds) with soap and then apply lotion to your hands to protect the skin.

Observe the correct procedure when sneezing and coughing. Sneeze and cough into your elbow even if wearing a face mask.

Air rooms regularly (at least every 15 minutes) and thoroughly, opening windows fully. This applies particularly to rooms where more than one person is present. We also recommend nominating a person to be responsible for opening windows in rooms where many people are present (meetings, committee sessions, seminars, etc.).

See also Infection Chain Case Management for TU Berlin

Symptoms such as a cough, fever, runny nose, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, headache or achy limbs, shortness of breath, or generalized weakness can be a sign of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. You can become infected without knowing that you have had contact to an infected person. Once infected, a person can infect others days before symptoms appear or even if they remain symptom-free.

If you do have possible symptoms of a SARS-CoV-2 infection, you should observe the following regulations:

• Remain at home and reduce your contact to others. Observe distancing, hygiene, and mask wearing regulations!
• Seek advice by telephone: Call your doctor or the medical standby service at 116 117. They will advise you on what to do next. Make sure you tell them if you belong to an at-risk group. In urgent cases, such as if you experience acute shortness of breath, you should call the emergency services at 112. On no account should you visit a medical practice or facility without first calling.

Managers are required to adapt regulations to the circumstances and conditions in their units based on a risk assessment and to inform their staff of all points (this must be documented pursuant to Section 12 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act). The same applies for instructors, particularly for practical format classes. Students must be informed and proof thereof provided.

Disinfectant and paper towels used for applying disinfectant are to be collected in person from the Hygiene Storage Facility by staff or students upon presentation of their staff or student ID. Empty disinfectant containers must be returned.

Information about using disinfectant

The Hygiene Storage Facility is open Mondays to Fridays from 7 to 15:00. The Hygiene Storage Facility is located in the EW building in room 001b and can be accessed via the main entrance on the ground floor.

Please note that other hygiene material including FFP 2 masks are to be independently ordered by direct call-off from the state administration office (Landesverwaltungsamt). Further details can be found on the website of the Central Procurement Office under "Erste Hilfe"– Verbandmaterial und -kästen
(https://www.tu-berlin.de/vergabestelle/referat_einkauf/lvwa_rundschreiben/).