KAOS Lab Safety, May 15, 2012; last updated February 21, 2022

Safety First

Our computer equipment might not be as dangerous as the above looks, but that doesn't mean you can't get hurt. Things can and will go wrong.

COVID-19 (updated Feb. 21, 2022)

University of Kentucky policy has safely gotten us through the pandemic thus far, and everyone is required to at least take the precautions it specifies. As I write this, at least 89% of the UK campus community has been vaccinated, and many even have gotten boosters, but the pandemic isn't over, even for those of us who have been fully vaccinated. UK is fully back to "normal" in-person interactions -- but with masking required and weekly testing for those who are not fully vaccinated. If you believe you are sick or have been exposed, take appropriate actions, which basically means get tested and quarantine as appropriate. Our lab continues to take some additional precautions, such as fewer people spending lots of time in 108 Marksbury and having a separate HEPA air cleaner running 24/7.

Unless there is literally just one person in the lab, you must wear a mask while in the 108 Marksbury lab -- preferably a KN95, but certainly a "real" mask that covers mouth and nose and provides decent filtration value (i.e., not cloth nor an unsealed face shield, and also not a mask with a filter bypass for exhaling).

General Safety Issues For KAOS Labs

All students, faculty, and staff are expected to know and abide by the following rules:

Specific Safety Issues For KAOS Machine Rooms

The room that houses our cluster supercomputers, 108A Marksbury, is intended to be comfortable for cluster supercomputers, not humans. There are various issues to be aware of:

Who To Contact

If there are any problems, let other folks in the lab know and please contact either Professor Dietz or Paul Eberhart.


The Aggregate. The only thing set in stone is our name.