Weekly Staff Meetings/2013-05-21/code of conduct draft

XINCHEJIAN - CODE OF CONDUCT

LATEST REVISION: 2012 MAY 23

新车间 [Xinchejian] is a shared area where you can:

• Hack, explore and learn new skills.
• Work on your own and group projects.
• Learn from and teach others. Share what you know.

We provide:

• Shared spaces for people to work on their projects.
• A place for you to leave your stuff when you're not working on it.
• Shared equipment and resources and a place for you to share with others.
• A safe and welcoming community of which you can be a part.

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In order that the space be able to run effectively it's necessary to set some simple ground rules.

Every user of the space is required to carefully read and sign agreement to these rules before they will be allowed access and use of equipment and resources.

Access and Security

1. I understand that whilst 新车间 [Xinchejian] will make every attempt to ensure the space is accessible 24 hours a day this is not guaranteed. My access to the space may be suspended or limited at any time. Any compensation for lack of access is at the discretion of 新车间 [Xinchejian]。
2. I understand that any breach of these rules that is proven to the satisfaction of the Committee will result in immediate withdrawal of my access privileges. Any re-instatement is at the discretion of the Committee.
3. I agree to undergo an induction before being permitted unsupervised access to the space, as required by WH&S regulations and policies.
4. I agree that for security reasons I may be subject to video surveillance whilst accessing and using the space.
5. I understand that any access device I purchase becomes my property, I assume full responsibility for its safekeeping and I will be required to purchase another if it is lost, stolen or damaged.
6. I agree to immediately report any loss or theft of my access device to 新车间 [Xinchejian] so that appropriate steps can be taken to deactivate it.
7. I understand that any unreasonable delay in reporting the loss or theft of an access device may make me liable for any loss or damage as a result of unauthorized use of that access device.
8. I agree not to lend my access device to any other person or to permit any other person to enter the space except in compliance with the rules regarding guests.
9. I agree to take responsibility for the security of the space, ensuring doors and windows are closed and locked as appropriate when the space is left unoccupied.
10. I agree that anything that I place or store in the space is left there entirely at my own risk. I agree that, whilst 新车间 [Xinchejian] will make all reasonable efforts to secure the space, I will not hold 新车间 [Xinchejian] liable for any loss of, or damage to, any of my property.

Respect and Courtesy

1. I agree to be considerate to other users of the space when using loud machinery, speaking loudly, playing music etc.
2. I agree not to touch, utilize or tamper with any tool or piece of equipment that does not belong to me unless I have been invited to use it by the owner, or unless the owner has clearly identified that tool or equipment as being intended for shared use.
3. I agree not to remove any tool or piece of equipment that does not belong to me without the explicit permission of its owner.
4. I agree to compensate 新车间 [Xinchejian] for the full cost of repair or replacement of any furniture, fittings, tools or anything else that is lost or damaged as a result of any careless or negligent act on my behalf.
5. I agree to keep the space reasonably tidy, placing trash in bins, putting furniture and equipment and tools back where they belong after using them, etc.
6. 新车间 [Xinchejian] is a safe environment for people to learn and explore. I agree not to verbally or physically harass or assault any member in any way whatsoever.
7. 新车间 [Xinchejian] is inclusive of anyone no matter who they are. I agree not to discriminate against any member on the basis of age, gender, ethnic origin, sexuality or anything else.

Workplace Health and Safety

1. I agree not to utilize any tool or piece of equipment unless I am competent in its use (and have completed induction/training where necessary) or are under the direct supervision of a competent user.
2. I agree not to utilize any tool or piece of equipment if I am adversely affected by alcohol, drugs, illness, fatigue or any other thing.
3. I agree to complete a risk assessment, with the Xinchejian Staff, of any potentially hazardous procedure undertaken in the space. I will develop safe work practices, or make myself aware of any existing practices, before undertaking any such procedure.
4. I agree to report all accidents, incidents or near misses to the Xinchejian Staff on duty as soon as possible. Any accidents, incidents or near misses should be formally documented.
5. I agree that the space is a potentially dangerous environment and that I may be exposed to various risks as a result of work undertaken by me or others. Notwithstanding all reasonable attempts by 新车间 [Xinchejian]to ensure the safety of me and others, I agree to the full extent permitted by law to assume complete responsibility for my own actions and their consequences.
6. I agree to immediately comply with any and all safety directions given to me by the Xinchejian Staff.

Acceptable and Unacceptable Activities

1. I agree to take full responsibility for the legality or otherwise of any activities I perform in the space or using any equipment that is provided to me in the space.
2. I understand that this agreement may be varied at any time by the Xinchejian Staff at its absolute discretion.
3. I agree to be bound by any revised agreement so ratified.

For members under 18 years of age

1. Parent or Legal Guardian Approval is required if member is under 18 years of age.
2. For members under 18, the parent must agree to all of the terms and conditions herein on behalf of the child.
3. I agree that 新车间 [Xinchejian] and its officers, to the full extent permitted by law, takes no responsibility whatsoever for my child whilst they using the space.
4. I consent to my child being provided with an access device allowing them to access the space unsupervised 24 hours per day. I understand that whilst 新车间 [Xinchejian] may attempt to limit my child's access to the space these limitations are “best effort” and are in no way guaranteed.
5. I assume full financial responsibility for any costs or damages incurred by my child in accordance with the terms of this agreement.

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London Hackspace Rules

London Hackspace is run entirely by its members and, on the whole, this works pretty well. As hackers we hate making rules almost as much as we hate following them, so we really want to keep the number of rules to a minimum. We can only do this if members and visitors observe the spirit -- not just the letter -- of these rules; they are here firstly for your safety, and secondly to prevent annoyance to other users of the space.

One prominent hackerspace has only one rule: "Be excellent to each other." It's a good rule, but they have quite a lot of drama, and we've found that a few good rules can help reduce the drama.

We also have a number of guides that are good reading for prospective users of the space. This includes our policy on filming.

Rule Zero

0. Do not be on fire.

Safety

1. 1. Don't use tools unless you're sure you know how to do so safely. If you see someone working in an unsafe way, it's your duty to stop them and let them know.
2. 2. Don't defeat or hack safety features/equipment. This is for other people's safety as much as yours.
3. 3. Check the wiki for instructions. Read the warnings. If in doubt, ask.

Making Decisions

1. 4. If something is broken, fix it; don't complain. If you can't fix it, tell the trustees ASAP.
2. 5. If you're doing something major, ask the mailing list first.

Etiquette

1. 6. Do not treat the Hackspace like your home, it is a shared space. Sleeping anywhere on Hackspace property is forbidden. (More info)

Personal Items

1. 7. Members are allowed to store personal items in the space, but they must be kept in one of the plastic boxes, labelled with your name. One box per member. Empty boxes may be recycled for other members if needed.
2. 8. Larger/more items may be allowed, but please note that space is limited. You must email the mailing list first, and items should be clearly labelled as yours, and with the date they will be removed by. (We have Do Not Hack stickers in the office area on the ground floor.)

Donating, Loaning, or Borrowing Items

1. 9. Carefully consider the true usefulness of an item before bringing it to the space. Disposal requires effort and space is limited. Seek permission for large items.
2. 10. If you're leaving something and you would rather it was not mercilessly ripped apart, please label it accordingly.
3. 11. Likewise, if something looks expensive or useful please don't mercilessly rip it apart without asking first.
4. 12. Don't remove tools from the space without asking the mailing list first.

Tidiness

1. 13. Workbenches should be completely clean when you leave - be considerate for the next user. Please put tools back where you found them.
2. 14. Put your dirty cups and plates in the dishwasher before leaving the space. Don't leave them in the sink.
3. 15. Any items left on a workbench overnight become fair game. Put your stuff back in your box.
4. 16. If you have engaged in any waste generating activity (e.g. peeling wires), hoover the spot.
5. 17. Please do not bring bikes into the space unless you are working on them, they take up too much room.

Disposal

1. 18. If you think something should be thrown out, put it in the outgoing trash box. Two weeks later the box will go in the skip.
2. 19. If something is too big to fit in the trash box, you should probably post to the list about it.
3. 20. If you want to throw something away which looks useful, make sure the mailing list is informed well in advance.

Penalties

If you continually annoy or endanger others by ignoring these rules, the trustees have the right to impose sanctions, as described in the Grievance Procedure. It is not something they want to do.

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Sydney Hackerspace?

Rule Zero

0. Do Not Be On Fire.

Being a Member

How to become a member

1. 1. Pay-What-You-Like But Pay Monthly
2. 2. The 35L Rule

Using the Space

1. 3. Talk is Cheap Discussing ideas is wonderful and exciting, getting too attached to them is not. See The Bikeshed Anti-Pattern. Rule sometimes also interpreted as "Just get on with it".
2. 4. No CRTs Thank You relates to Hackspace donations & equipment you may bring to the Hackspace. Carefully consider the true usefulness and/or interestingness of an item before bringing it to the space. Seek permission for large items.
3. 5. DO NOT HACK means DO NOT HACK If you're leaving something and you would rather it was not hacked, please label it with a DO NOT HACK notice. If you see something has a DO NOT HACK notice on, don't hack it.
4. 6. Don't just *try* to clean up after yourself. Aim to clean up a little bit more mess than you make, because we all miss things from time to time, and mess builds up.
5. 7. The Space is Not For Sleeping Under the terms and attendant fire regs of our lease, overnight stays are not officially allowed.
6. 8. Don't be a contemptible fellow (be excellent to each other) - This is our main rule of behaviour. It takes priority over all other rules.

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Nottingham Hackspace Rules

What - The letter of the rule

• Do not knowingly take an action that will result in personal injury or injury or hurt to others.
• Hackerspaces by their very nature should be places that contain dangers. They should NOT be dangerous places.
• It is YOUR responsibility to guard yourself from those dangers!
• A hackerspace is not a work place but the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 still applies.

How - The spirit of the rule

• If you do not know how to use equipment and its use is apparently dangerous then seek help.
• Weapons, explosives and bio-hazards should not be brought to the space for hacking.

Nottingham Hackspace DO NOT approve of any illegal actions.

• Do nothing to endanger yourself or others.
• Do NOT dick around with tools, electricity, fire or anything else that could be expected to hurt or damage yourself or other people.
• Do NOT assume that the Hackspace is insured against YOUR stupidity.

Abandoned things

• A member will be considered to have left the space 4 months after no longer paying a membership fee by Standing Order. (from The_35L_Rule)
• At such times a combined notice to sell or dispose of abandoned goods should be sent via recorded delivery or registered letter. This is to meet legal requirements under the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977, Schedule 1 - Uncollected Goods parts I and II.

A sample notice is given below, and must include the address of NottingHack.

Dear [former members name],
Following your recent departure from NottingHack, we hereby serve you notice that your goods [list of goods which have been abandoned] should now be collected. Goods must be collected within [14 days if member lives in Nottingham or 28 days if they live further away].
Goods which are not collected during this time will be disposed of by NottingHack. If any goods are deemed by us to have a monetary value they shall be sold, and expenses for arranging the sale will be deducted from any amount raised. Any sum remaining shall be forwarded to you.
Any goods which we believe the value of will not cover the costs of arranging for sale will be destroyed/disposed of.
Yours sincerely.

Once the notice has elapsed then the potential value of any goods should be discussed at the next board meeting and an agreement to sell or dispose of the goods should be reached.

DO NOT HACK means DO NOT HACK

This rule is put there with the aim of people's projects not getting damaged or misused.

Objects In the Hackspace:

Some things are obviously not to be hacked, like tools and bits of infrastructure. Sometimes the presence of an object is ambiguous though. Do Not Hack signs are a simple way of disambiguating them, and protecting your projects from the awesome ideas of others.

There are all kinds of reasons for projects to be around the space; for instance some are too big to go in a member's box, or something might be a part-built piece of hackspace infrastructure. If it's not in a materials store or a consumables box, then assume it's not for hacking. It's possible that something not in materials storage or a consumables box IS available for hacking, but you should make sure first.

Protecting Your Projects:

When you've started work on something and it might be ambiguous that others aren't to mess with it, put a do not hack sign on it. For instance, you've found the perfect piece of board to make a mug rack later that week, or you've built a piece of furniture but need to store it until you've got time to finish the wood. For something so unfinished, it might be easy for another hacker to assume it can be used for something or even consumed as material for a different project.

Some tips:

• Attach the sign to the project with tape or something. Make sure the sign itself is prominent and can't easily go missing.
• Put your name on the sign. If someone needs to ask about it, or something happens to your stuff, this will make things a lot easier.
• Store your stuff in a way that mitigates possible damage. Bubble wrap and cardboard are cheap ways to shield your project from things going on in the space, and if you know it'll be there for a while it's well worth packing it like this.

No CRTs Thank You

A lot of people ask if Nottingham Hackspace needs donations of old cathode ray tube based TVs or monitors. In completely non-technical speak, that means non-flatscreens.

The answer to CRTs is always no. Take them to the tip instead. They're old, power-hungry technology, and if anyone has a use for them, we don't know who. Nowadays you generally have to pay to have someone take them away.

Pay monthly

• Members make a payment by Standing Order into the Nottinghack bank account. This payment should be received on a monthly basis. Where possible members should use a reference that states who they are and that the payment is for membership.
• Members who do not pay by standing order or miss payments for more than one month will be removed from the members mailing list and will not be informed of changes door codes or WiFi keys.
• Members who continue to attend Hackspace but have not made membership payments will be reminded to pay and ultimately excluded from the membership benefits.

Talk is Cheap

• Rule 3 is becoming an important part of the culture of Nottingham Hackspace.
• Talk is very cheap, and hackers love to gabble about stuff, and speculate on the directions a project could go in. Before you can say "Gantt chart", a relatively simple and practical project suddenly morphs into a massive technical specification for something that will, say, automatically display a tiny superfluous lolcat while performing its actual intended function. The person who just wants to get on with it may feel paralysed by the intentions and ambitions of others. The Bikeshed Anti-Pattern is a good explanation of the problem.
• When it's not a contentious issue, doing stuff counts far more than talking about stuff. If you're actually doing the thing, and it won't interfere with infrastructure or other hackers, then your opinion generally counts a lot more than the kind of idle speculation we're all prone to firing at ideas on the mailing list.

There are several ways to interpret Rule 3:

• Don't mistake speculation for intention.
• Just get on with it.
• If you're doing something awesome, you probably don't need permission from anyone else.
• Rule 3 is not carte blanche to do whatever you like; all members are expected to take other members into account. However, don't be put off doing something simple just because people have more ambitious ideas that they're unlikely to execute on.

The letter of the rule

• Only members may store projects at the Hackspace
• Each member may have a 35L Jelly type Box with lid
• The box is provided by the Hackspace, members do not bring their own 35L box. This is just to make sure they all stack.
• Do Not go through another members box without their express permission.
• Members who pay £20 or more in membership fees may (for now) buy additional boxes of the same type
• Hackers may increase their membership payments to increase their storage space by negotiation.
• The Hackspace should not become overrun with parts for projects in progress and "DO NOT HACK" signs for projects that never get started

Abandoned things

A member will be considered to have left the space 4 months after no longer paying a membership fee by Standing Order. At such time a trustee, or a member nominated by a trustee shall give notice of intention to dispose of or sell any abandoned things.

The two box system

There are a couple of large grey boxes in the space, which serve to filter donations. One of these boxes is "active", and all donations should be placed into it. Any member (see rule 1) may take anything from the two grey boxes and hack it, or put it in their personal 35L box to hack later. Periodically, these boxes are sorted and useless stuff thrown away. Useful items like magnets, motors etc will be filtered into the "Wall O' Boxes" where the Hackspace consumables are kept for later use by members. The hackspace as a whole may also take things from the box system to be stored for later use.

Bigger Projects

Some Other Hackerspace

Policies listed here are currently tentative.

• Treat everyone excellently.
• No smoking inside the hackerspace. Smoking outside is permitted.
• However it is up to the smokers good will to have ashtrays, keep them clean and safe.
• Clean up after yourself, your mama doesn't hack here.
• Ask before you use someone's tools.
• You break it, you buy it.
• Stuff that should be done behind closed doors should not be done in the public space at Hackerspace.
• Everything should be a Give and Take
• We want your contribution- ideas, creativity, good will, and everything else!
• There are no stupid questions.

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Some really long and heinous document

• Some really long and heinous document

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Membership Agreement of the Sydney Hackerspace

The intention of the Membership Agreement is to contain, when applicable, all rules, regulations, codes of conduct, and liability waivers required for continued membership in Sydney Hackerspace.

All amendments, changes, or additions to the Membership Agreement shall be made using the same process for making changes to the bylaws, as detailed in the Sydney Hackerspace bylaws.

Conduct

Be Excellent to Each Another

The following actions are prohibited by members and guests while at Sydney Hackerspace facilities or official events:

1. 1. Disregard for personal safety.
2. 2. Reckless endangerment of others.
3. 3. Intentional damage or theft of Sydney Hackerspace equipment or members' and guests' personal belongings.
4. 4. The use of Sydney Hackerspace equipment, facilities, or network to perform illegal acts

In the event of a prohibited act, the member or guest suspected of performing the prohibited act shall be prohibited from Sydney Hackerspace facilities and events during the time between the incident and the final membership vote.

Exceptions shall be made to allow the member or guest to defend him- or herself at the board of directors and general membership meetings described in the following section:

Following an incident, a special meeting of the board of directors shall be held at earliest convenience to discuss the severity of the incident and the appropriate consequence to recommend to general membership. The recommended consequence shall be put in effect if approved by vote of the general membership at the next regular membership meeting.

Possible punishments for prohibited acts are (but are not limited to):

1. 1. Permanent banishment from all Sydney Hackerspace facilities and events
2. 2. Temporary banishment from all Sydney Hackerspace facilities and events
3. 3. Partial banishment (e.g. banishment from all machine shop or computer equipment)
4. 4. Repayment for damages
5. 5. Forfeiture of all paid membership fees (in the case of prepayment of membership fees)

In the case where a paying member is suspended and later found to not be at fault, the Treasurer may grant a pro-rated credit to that members' account. Intentionally false accusations of wrongdoing shall be treated as a form of theft, and is therefore considered a prohibited act under this amendment.