This is a friendly reminder that Faculty/Staff preparing to acquire a 3D printer must work with the Ball State Office of Environmental Health & Safety to identify the following:
• The room and location where the 3D printer may be installed
• The manner in which the printer exhaust is vented or controlled
• Procedures for safe operation and training
• Emissions measurement
• Methods to dispose of excess or unneeded material byproducts or waste
• Operating and monitoring procedures while the printer is in use
When properly planned and managed, 3D printers can be a valuable tool to achieve your departments’ learning goals and encourage creativity and innovation. Collaboration between academic departments and administrative departments is needed in order to reduce environmental impacts and ensure optimal safety. Please contact Terry Hunt at 285-2807 or trhunt@bsu.edu to ensure compliance with the safety measures noted above prior to the purchase or installation of any new 3D printing device.
The 3D printer policy can be found on our Laboratory Safety webpage.