Pier Usage

CBL has available, for research use only, finger piers located at the end of the main pier extending into the Patuxent River, mid-point platform, and a midpoint covered areas. Other portions of the main pier may be utilized for research purposes as well. Proper authorization is required for all usage of the pier and pier laboratory building.

1. General

a. Request Form: New users of the Pier-Lab Facility are asked to fill out a request form and submit it to the Seawater Committee Chair. Current users are asked to update request forms on an annual basis. We try to accommodate all requests. CBL’s Laboratory Director has final authority on space conflicts which cannot be resolved easily.

b. Consultation: New applications should be discussed in advance of rearing system set-up with the Seawater Committee Chair, and approved by the Lab Director. Rearing of exotic species or pathogenic species is prohibited on the CBL Pier. All items suspended from, tethered to, or located or constructed on or near any part of the pier must be registered with the Facilities Department and authorized by the Assistant Director of Administration. A brief description of the items, installation location and length of usage is required. The finger piers may not be used for crab pots or other personal items.

c. Vertebrate Animal Care: All projects using fishes or other aquatic vertebrates require prior approval by the Seawater Committee Chair and UMCES Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUS.) The Protocol No. from IACUS must be posted on the tank where vertebrates are being reared.

2. Contacts and Maintenance

a. Contacts: Names and contact information of two individuals responsible for the equipment and upkeep of items located on the pier and in the pier lab must be posted on the Usage Sheet located on the inside of the Lab door. In the event of an emergency or weather related evacuation, the individuals listed will be contacted.

b. Maintenance: Equipment and assigned space must be labeled with the user name. If tanks are used, tanks must have all pertinent information clearly labeled and daily maintenance is expected. Keeping common work areas clean and uncluttered is the responsibility of everyone approved to utilize the space. At experiment’s end, investigators are responsible for thoroughly cleaning tanks and any plumbing utilized and removal of all equipment, tools, sensors, etc. on the pier. This includes all apparatuses used to secure equipment that were installed.

c. Installation of authorized equipment or structures cannot obstruct the navigational light.

d. The crawl-ways under the pump house are service platforms for the seawater pump system. At no point may anything be fastened to them or to any portion of the seawater lines.

e. Any unattended or unauthorized items will be removed.

3. Safety

a. Use of biohazardous materials and/or radioactive isotopes are prohibited on the Pier and in the Pier Lab facility. Safety Data Sheets must be kept in the Pier Lab Safety Binder for any chemicals used on the pier. All chemicals must be labeled and stored according to federal and CBL guidelines. There will be no exceptions.

b. Employee safety while conducting research on the pier is imperative. All individuals working or using the pier must be accompanied by another CBL employee at all times. No individual work on the pier is permitted. In the event of an incident on the pier, the incident must be reported to the Associate Director of Administration or Human Resources immediately.

c. Electrical shock is an ever present hazard in wet areas. This hazard can be minimized by using outlets which are well grounded (GFI). These outlets are readily available on the interior and exterior of the pier lab building. The use power strips, extension cords, etc. is discouraged. If extension cords are required, properly rated exterior cords are required. Any connections between electric cords should be secured with electrical tape. Electrical appliance and their connections should be located off the floor and away from splash zones. Do not locate electrical cords or appliances where there is any chance of them falling into the water. Any cords or electrical equipment used on the pier needs to be securely fastened.

d. Servicing of electrical equipment: Do not stand in water or on a metal ladder when servicing equipment.

Personal fishing and crabbing is prohibited on the cbl pier.