This page contains the Materials Chemistry Code of Conduct, general regulations about how to work at MCh.

The work in our institute requires a high level of self-responsibility in all working fields. This implies that a certain code of conduct is required to ensure health and safety for the staff as well as the building and its equipment. Please note the safety regulations.

The code of conduct describes the organization and the responsibilities of the persons working here, including the permanent staff as well as students, Ph. D. students, postdocs, guest researches, scholars etc. It is meant to improve working processes and to help new staff members to integrate into the group.

These regulations leave - on purpose - a large space for personal responsibility and own decisions and, thus, require a high level on self-awareness and considerateness of the staff. It is obvious that violation of these rules will have consequences, and may i. e. result in limiting the individual rights of use of MCh equipment.

All staff members accept these rules by signature upon employment. The current version of the code of conduct is published here in the MCh wiki (see below).

Last updated: July 2024

In order to establish a creative scientific atmosphere, there is no classical organizational hierarchy at MCh. Scientists, the managing staff as well as the technical staff and student workers are closely working together to carry out the best possible research.

Original and legally binding version (DE)
Original und rechtsverbindliche Fassung

Do you have questions regarding the code of conduct, or are there certain areas you feel you do not understand properly? Contact Dr.-Ing. Simon Münstermann.

When a new employee joins the institute, an internal personnel form is filled out. In case information provided there changes (e.g. address), it needs to be communicated to the secretariat. The workplace (i.e. room, desk) is assigned by Dr.-Ing. Simon Münstermann.

Before leaving the institute, departing employees will be provided by Dr.-Ing. Münstermann with a paper listing names of institute's employees who will relieve the departing employees of their duties for the respective area (e.g. laboratory or analytical area).

The general safety regulations of the RWTH require that the entrances, staircases and corridors of the institute are kept clear at all times.

Every employee ensures order and cleanliness at their workplace and in their office.

The last person to leave a room must ensure that the sun blinds are raised, the windows are closed, the lights are switched off (even if they are automatic) and the door to the room is locked.

After the end of regular working hours (after 17:00), on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, the outside doors are locked and can be opened only with locking authorization.

Dr.-Ing. Münstermann is responsible for managing the keys. He issues the keys against signature and acknowledges their return. The keys belong to an electric locking system. If keys are lost, this must be reported immediately! The cost of obtaining a new key must be reimbursed (currently €50).

Structural faults and defects are reported to Dr.-Ing. Münstermann.

Persons not affiliated with the institute are only permitted to enter the institute premises if accompanied by members of the institute. Visitor appointments and guided tours of the institute must be registered with Prof. Jochen Schneider. Strangers encountered in institute rooms and corridors will be approached and accompanied to the desired destination.

It is in employee's own interest that valuables are protected from access.

The following working hours apply to technical and administrative staff:

Fundamental deviations from these hours can be approved by the institute management upon written request. The secretariat or Dr.-Ing. Münstermann must be informed of any absences during office hours!

Vacation requests are made via submission of the request to the secretariat on the vacation card, or by proxy to the accounting department.

Incapacity for work and the resumption of work after illness must be reported immediately to the secretariat or, if unavailable, to the accounting department.

According to the university regulations, written permission from the institute head is required for work outside of office hours. To obtain such a work permit, please contact Dr.-Ing. Münstermann. For safety reasons, you are not allowed to work alone in laboratories outside of office hours. If work is to be carried out in the laboratories after 8 p.m., on weekends, or during public holidays, Dr.-Ing. Münstermann must be informed in advance. He has registration lists on which the person concerned must enter the date and name, the start and expected end of the work, and the corresponding laboratory.

The supervision of the student assistants and the administration of the weekly hours is the responsibility of the respective academic staff.

Ms. Hauck (secretariat) takes care of the administrative matters of the institute's head, including scheduling and contacts with visiting researchers. She is also responsible for all administration in the area of ​​teaching:

• examination lists
• correspondence with the ZHV and PA's
• vacation card index, mail distribution
• library

Ms. Strauch (accounting) handles all other administrative services for the employees:

• service contracts
• office supplies procurement

The computers may only be used after thorough instruction and with the approval of Ms. Philipps. The relevant provisions regarding the right to use the used operating or application software must be observed.

Changes to the configuration of network hardware, such as cables and sockets, are reserved exclusively for Ms. Philipps. The connection of private laptops to the MCh network requires the approval of Dr.-Ing. Münstermann.

Academic staff are obliged to electronically archive all written work, such as theses, dissertations or publications, before they leave the institute. For this purpose, please contact Ms. Philipps. The use of the institute's IT system and Internet connections is permitted exclusively for the performance of official duties.

Unauthorized persons may not be granted access to the institute's data storage devices. Without prejudice to the provisions of personal data protection, access to personal data (such as the institute's files) is only possible via the secretariat or Dr.-Ing. Münstermann.

The institute's copier is available to all employees for official photocopies and faxes. All copies are the property of the institute. They must be available to the institute or working group, and handed over when leaving the institute. Copies for overhead projection can only be made on special transparencies without damaging the copier.

Instructions for operating the telephone system can be found on the Internet at: http://www.rz.rwth-aachen.de/kommunikation/betrieb/telefon/easy/index.php or as a PDF file on the institute server under the path I:\ or H:\institut\Telefone.

The telephone list of the institute and the electronic telephone directory of the RWTH (www.rwth-aachen.de/telefonbuch) provide information on telephone and fax numbers. For business calls (prefix 0), it must be checked whether e-mail, fax or letter is more economical.

Telephone calls costing more than 50 charge units must be specially justified on the basis of a ministerial decree. Reimbursement may be demanded for calls made without an urgent reason.

Private telephone calls (prefix 19) are paid without being asked after the telephone bill has been submitted to Ms. Strauch. All employees ensure that private calls that have to be transferred by the administrative secretariat are restricted to urgent cases.

Dr.-Ing. Münstermann is responsible for all matters related to the institute's equipment and inventory. The respective user is responsible for the care and maintenance of the equipment. New equipment is inventoried immediately after its delivery.

For orders, employees should contact the accounting department. All orders are only placed after approval by Dr.-Ing. Münstermann. The same applies to repair requests and the use of university services that are invoiced to the institute. Correspondence in connection with the order remains with Ms. Strauch in the administrative secretariat.

The use of our institute's facilities by other RWTH institutes and vice versa is coordinated by Prof. Schneider.

Ms. Hauck is responsible for managing the seminar room. A current electronic occupancy plan for the seminar room is available to every institute member via computer.

Every employee is entitled to use the institute library. It should be noted that this is a reference library with a reference collection, which can only fulfill its purpose if borrowed books can be found at any time. Use of the library is subject to the library regulations, which are listed in the appendix. Please contact Dr. Stanislav Mráz for further information.

Special instructions for use apply to the following areas, which are included in the appendix:

• library
• chemistry
• EDP
• PVD
• preparation
• practical course
• electron probe micro analysis (EPMA)
• X-ray analysis
• radiant furnaces
• mechanical workshop
• electrical workshop
• liquid air

Before using these areas for the first time, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the instructions for the area in question.

The equipment, devices and materials available at the institute are the work tools of all employees, and must therefore be handled with care by every user. For the same reason, it is essential to be instructed by the employee responsible for the equipment in question before using it for the first time or to have it checked for proper operability.

Please note that, due to legal regulations, the person responsible for damage to the devices, equipment etc. is liable in the event of grossly negligent handling.

In-depth verbal and written instruction is required by law for equipment that can be harmful to health if used incorrectly. The responsible employees also provide assistance during use and must be informed of any malfunctions.

Technical consumables and equipment, such as chemicals, technical gases and coolants are procured and managed centrally by the responsible employees in the technical departments. Disposal is carried out in consultation with Mr. Horbach or Dr. Mráz. Materials with a documented chemical composition must be registered with Dr. to Baben - this applies both to purchased materials and to donations or loans.

• Every employee of the Institute is entitled to borrow books and bound journals. Borrowing and return must be recorded on the loan card in the corresponding book/journal.
• The loan period is limited to one month. For books that are needed for a longer period of time, the loan period can be extended by making a new entry. The loan lists are checked at regular intervals to ensure that the loan period has not been exceeded.
• All unbound journals and specially marked books cannot be borrowed. Their removal from the library for the purpose of making copies is limited to the time required for this, which is a few minutes.
• The academic staff of the institute receive a copy of the table of contents of the most important subscribed journals. This table of contents should be circulated as quickly as possible.
• If you take a book from a colleague's desk, you must immediately change the entry on the loan card to your own name.
• Books may be lent to persons not affiliated with the institute only with the permission of Dr.-Ing. Münstermann.

• It is required to wear protective goggles in the chemical storage room. Protective goggles must also be worn during general work that does not involve handling chemicals.
• All chemical work must always be carried out in a fume hood.
• The labeled chemicals must not be taken into other work areas.
• Safety regulations concerning dangerously reactive and carcinogenic substances are available from Dr. to Baben.
• Chemicals must be stored in the chemical storage room. Only small quantities of chemicals may be kept in the fume cupboards of the general laboratories. Toxic and highly corrosive substances may only be stored and used in the chemistry laboratory.
• When taking chemicals, strict care must be taken to ensure that the supply is not contaminated. If the supply is running low, Dr. to Baben must be informed in good time. Chemicals prepared by individual employees (etching solutions, electrolytes etc.) must be labeled with the name of the employee concerned, the date of preparation, and a list of contents. Containers containing poisonous and highly corrosive substances must also be labeled with information about the dangerous nature of the contents (e.g. “poisonous,” “flammable,” “explosive,” “highly corrosive,” etc.). Stickers are available from Dr. to Baben.
• To transport chemicals between laboratories, bottle carriers or transport trolleys provided for this purpose must be always used.
• Dr. Mráz is responsible for the disposal of hazardous substances and chemical waste.

In addition to the aforementioned rules, please refer to “Maternity Protection Regulations” provided further in this code of conduct.

The responsibility for the waste lies with the waste producer. The guidelines of the RWTH disposal regulations apply to proper disposal. The disposal regulations can be viewed at XXX. Express reference is made to the “Maternity Protection Regulations” further in this code of conduct.

At the institute, we distinguish between different types of waste and disposal methods. They are listed below in detail:

They pose a great risk to health and the environment. At the institute, these are mainly acids, alkalis, solvents etc. The components of the substance or preparation must be known for disposal. These substances are collected by Dr. to Baben in the disposal part of the chemical storage, labeled ready for transport and sent to the university's waste disposal facility. Only waste whose type and composition is known to Dr. to Baben and which has been filled into the disposal containers provided for this purpose may be brought there.

Mr. Horbach organizes the disposal of machine oil and cooling lubricants from the workshop. Used machine oil must not be mixed with used oil from combustion engines.

Fluorescent tubes are collected by Mr. Conrad and disposed of at the university.

Used batteries and rechargeable batteries are collected centrally in the copy room and disposed of by Mr. Conrad.

This is all other waste that is disposed of in the institute as mixed commercial waste (collection point: garbage storage in the rear parking lot). This type of disposal is the most expensive, so in the case of large quantities of one waste fraction (e.g. electronic devices), it must be clarified on a case-by-case basis with Mr. Horbach or Mr. Conrad whether it would be worthwhile to have a separate disposal container provided by the university waste disposal service.

A suitable recycling process is available for this waste, which is why these materials must be collected and disposed of separately. In order not to limit the recyclability or make it directly impossible, the respective waste producer must pay increased attention to the sorting purity. Waste glass containers are available in the parking lot for the disposal of glass. Waste paper, polystyrene (chips and molded parts separated) is disposed of in the container marked for this purpose. Mr. Horbach organizes the collection of full bags. If required, a separate collection container can be provided by the university waste disposal service (e.g. for wood, electronic waste, laser printer cartridges). The organization is the responsibility of the respective department heads.

Every employee is entitled to use the institute's computers. The first use of the institute's own computers is only permitted after instruction by Ms. Philipps. Working with the institute's computers is subject to the following rules:

• Any changes to the hardware and software of the computers may only be made by Ms. Philipps.
• All programs are the property of the institute.
• If the computers are used after 17:00, they will be switched off at the end of the working day.
• Access to the computers by persons without affiliation to the institute requires the approval of Dr.-Ing. Münstermann.
• Everyone keeps their workstation login password a secret to prevent unauthorized access to the system.
• Laser printers are used as sparingly as possible (e.g. no avoidable test prints).
• If you suspect that your PC has been infected with a virus, please notify Ms. Philipps immediately.

In addition to the aforementioned rules, please refer to “Maternity Protection Regulations” provided further in this code of conduct.

• The preparation regulations are intended exclusively for analysis and property testing (microsectioning, microscopy, etc.). All other chemical work is carried out in the chemistry laboratory.
• It is required to wear protective goggles in the laboratory. Protective goggles must also be worn during general work that does not involve handling chemicals. A sufficient number of safety goggles are provided.
• All work in metallography requires prior consultation with Mr. ???. He is authorized to issue instructions in metallography. The use of microscopes is only permitted with his approval. The cleaning or repair of microscope parts is to be left to him. In particular, it is strictly forbidden to disassemble or adjust individual microscope parts such as eyepieces, nosepieces etc. without authorization. Faults and incidents must be reported immediately. Users enter their names in the user log.
• Working in metallography after work requires increased care, caution and responsibility. Care must be taken to ensure that microscopes are turned off and covered after use and that no open chemicals are left in the fume hood.

The equipment and facilities of the practical course are available to the employees of the institute outside the practical course hours according to the following regulation:

• Before using a device for the first time, instructions on how to use it must be given by the persons responsible for the practical course.
• Any intended use is to be reported to the head of the practical course, Dr.-Ing. Münstermann. In his absence, it needs to be reported to the deputy head of the practical course. If neither of the two is available, the intended use must be reported the persons responsible for the corresponding device.
• The usage of a device is entered in the user book located next to it.
• The equipment and workplace are left in the same state they were found before work began.
• Any keys handed out will be returned without request immediately after completion of the respective work.
• Any defects that occur are noted in the user book and also reported immediately to the persons responsible for the practical course.

In addition to the aforementioned rules, please refer to “Maternity Protection Regulations” provided further in this code of conduct.

Before using the EPMA for the first time, thorough instruction must be given by the persons responsible for the equipment. The use of all EPMA equipment (e.g. SEM) and any comments must be entered in the respective user book. Express reference is made to “Maternity Protection Regulations” provided further in this code of conduct.

Measurement dates are booked on the internal server under “I:\institut\sem”.

The operation of X-ray equipment is regulated by the X-ray Ordinance (Röntgenverordnung - RöV) from January 8, 1987. These operating permits refer to the current condition of the devices. Significant changes affecting the radiation protection of the equipment must be reported to the approving authorities. Therefore, any planned modification to the X-ray equipment requires the approval of the radiation protection officer, Mr. Conrad. Before using an X-ray machine for the first time, the employee must be instructed by Mr. Conrad about the dangers and safety measures for handling X-rays in accordance with § 36 RöV. This is followed by instruction in the operation of the equipment by the work group leader or the employee responsible for the equipment. The instruction by the radiation protection officer is repeated every six months for all users of X-ray equipment and confirmed by signature. Express reference is made to “Maternity Protection Regulations” provided further in this code of conduct.

The following are responsible for operational readiness (including maintenance and order in the relevant rooms) as well as the technical instruction of new employees before their first use of an X-ray machine:

Users log their work (and any malfunctions or damages that may occur) in the X-ray laboratory logbook provided. Malfunctions and unusual occurrences are reported immediately to the persons responsible for the device in question.

To ensure that the measurements run smoothly, the measurements, especially large series, are coordinated with the other users of the equipment and, if necessary, with the group leader and the persons responsible for the equipment. The latter can set special organizational rules for use.

The design of equipment to be built in the institute's workshop is discussed in advance with the workshop manager. The production of a dimensioned workshop drawing is the responsibility of the client. The order of priority of the individual orders is determined by the workshop manager, Mr. Horbach. Work in the workshop area is only permitted after prior consultation with the workshop manager.

The following regulations are binding for all institute members present in the workshop area:

• Machines and tools may only be used by persons familiar with them.
• The use of machine tools and the removal of materials and equipment by persons not employed in the workshop is only permitted with the prior approval of the workshop manager.
• The safety regulations, in particular the accident prevention regulations of the employers' liability insurance association (Berufsgenossenschaft - BG), must be strictly observed. These are available for inspection in the library.
• The borrower is responsible for the proper handling of the borrowed items and for returning them immediately after use - in a clean condition.
• Machine and manual workstations must be left in a clean condition after work is finished or in the evening. Accessories and tools must be put in the designated places.
• When selecting and using materials and resources, sensible economy is required.
• Remaining materials must be returned to the person who issued them. Leftover materials generated outside the workshop must be separated by type and placed in the waste containers provided for this purpose.

In addition to the aforementioned rules, please refer to “Maternity Protection Regulations” provided further in this code of conduct.

Many workplaces involve handling dangerous chemicals or X-rays. Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are strictly prohibited from staying or working in these areas!

Risk assessments have been carried out for these workplaces. The results can be viewed with Dr.-Ing. Münstermann. Pregnant women must immediately inform the head of the department about their “special circumstances” so that all measures can be taken to protect the unborn child.

In the event of general danger, the fire department and the university security service must be called.

In the event of an accident at work, an accident report must be written to the institute secretariat. Minor accidents or injuries that are treated without the need for a doctor must be entered in the first aid books, which are available in the first aid kits (substitute accident report).

1. The greatest danger is panic.
2. In case of general danger, immediately notify your superior and the university security by calling 113.
3. Rescue people from acute danger.
4. Avoid endangering yourself.
5. End telephone calls – lines must be free for emergency calls.
6. If possible, switch off running equipment, gas, electricity etc.
7. Always close doors, but do not lock them.
8. Elevators are not allowed to be used.

An alarm message should contain:

For experiments involving a fire hazard, a portable fire extinguisher (carbon dioxide) is available in the machine hall.

Every employee is obliged to inform themselves about the location of the nearest CO2 or powder extinguisher and how to use it properly.

If possible, only carbon dioxide extinguishers should be used for laboratory and equipment fires (leaves no residues!). The powder extinguisher should be used for smouldering fires that flare up again (wood, large quantities of paper etc.).

In the case of larger fires, it is advisable to bring in several extinguishers as quickly as possible and to use them simultaneously with the help of other people in order to achieve a massive extinguishing effect. In the event of larger fires, the fire department and the university guard must be notified immediately.

1. Attached fire extinguishers must be easily accessible and must not be removed or moved.
2. Employees must be informed at regular intervals about the location and operation of the fire extinguishing equipment. Used fire extinguishers must be exchanged immediately at the Safety Department.
3. Emergency exits and escape routes must be kept clear.
4. Exit doors must be freely passable and unlocked during operating hours.

If you notice a fire that cannot be extinguished using your own resources, proceed as follows:

1. Activate the nearest fire alarm by breaking the window and pressing the alarm button.
2. Notify the university security (call 113) and the operating engineer responsible for the building or their representative(s).
3. A person familiar with the area must be sent to the entrance to guide the fire brigade along the shortest route to the fire site.
4. When an alarm is raised and a fire breaks out, it is important to stay calm and maintain order. The greatest danger is panic.
5. Switch off gas and electricity consumers.
6. Immediately use the nearest fire extinguisher and try to extinguish the fire or contain it until the fire brigade arrives.
7. Remove flammable, easily combustible objects from the source of the fire.
8. Hold burning persons and try to smother the fire with blankets and clothing.
9. Remove injured persons from the danger zone to, and move them to a safe place.
10. Close windows and doors (do not lock them) to prevent drafts and smoke from entering the adjacent rooms.
11. In smoke-filled rooms and corridors, move in a crouched position or crawl, as the smoke is less dense on the floor.
12. Do not jump from high windows without being instructed to do so by a rescue team.