A Care and Maintenance Guide for Lab Equipment

Importance of Preventative Maintenance

Laboratory preventative maintenance can impact productivity and profitability. Well-maintained equipment performs better, increasing productivity and reducing business downtimes. The last thing you want is malfunctioning equipment — this may shut down business operations and cost you more money. 

We recommend scheduling maintenance for all laboratory equipment to avoid costly repairs and replacements. Regular maintenance may also extend the service life of your laboratory equipment, helping you save money. Daily cleaning and maintenance are recommended for laboratory equipment. We also advise getting professional preventative maintenance every 3-6 months to ensure your equipment stays in top shape. 

Safety Protocols and Compliance

Laboratories must strictly adhere to and comply with safety protocols to avoid accidents and other problems. Below are some of the basic safety rules every laboratory should follow:

• Keep emergency contacts in case of an emergency.
• Know the location of safety equipment and tools, including first aid kits and fire extinguishers.
• Ensure everyone is aware of evacuation procedures.
• Work in ventilated areas only.
• Wear safety gear and equipment when dealing with hazardous chemicals.
• Avoid eye and skin contact with chemicals.
• Don’t eat or drink in work areas.
• Use tools and equipment only for their designated purpose.
• Strictly follow accurate procedures for experiments.
• Post warning signs when hazardous chemicals or equipment are present.
• Properly dispose of waste.

 

 

 

Making the Laboratory Countertops Clean and Organized

The laboratory countertops are where the sink is installed, and it can be found inside the laboratory being used as a platform where other items or devices will be placed upon. The laboratory countertops should be kept clean all the time, and the staff can use a cloth to remove the stains that have appeared on the laboratory countertops. Alternatively, they can also use specialized cleaning chemicals that would make their countertops look sparkling clean. The laboratory countertops are among the easiest to wear because it can be damaged anytime, and many laboratory countertops are stained by different chemical reactions or being chipped off because of accidental scratches.

Taking Care of the Laboratory Sinks

The laboratory sink is commonly located on a countertop, and this is where the scientists are washing their hands and the smaller equipment like test tubes and cylinders before coming into contact with a specimen. If there are chemical experiments that are going on inside the facility, it is important because the sink can act as immediate disposal for hazardous chemicals, and if someone came into contact with these chemicals, they can reach for the sink and have it washed off. A laboratory without a working sink can be dangerous, and scientific experiments can end up having awry results. It is recommended that science laboratories should have a sink equipped on their countertops.

To clean the laboratory sinks, the laboratory can either outsource someone who can do the job or hire someone who can clean it directly. When cleaning the laboratory sink, make sure that the water is running, and then start looking for any obstructions that are present in the tubes. Make sure that any chemical that has been disposed of into the sink has been flushed out completely. The cleaners should also do a test whether the sink is efficient in flushing out all of the water, and if it does not flush out the water completely, they need to do an alternative approach on how they can remove all of the dirt and external materials that might have clogged the sink. Once the task is complete, the staff inside the laboratory would notice that the sink started working fine once again.

Preventing the Fragile Glass Containers and Beakers from Breaking

The glass containers are important in a laboratory setting because this is where most of the samples are being kept. Without these containers, the samples would never be stored properly, and they can be prone to breakage. The glass containers should always be washed with soap and water after it has been used as a storage container for a liquid or solid sample. The glass containers can be kept on a rack that would hold them vertically, and it would also lower down the chances of the glass containers from breaking. If a glass container slipped off the hand of the staff working inside the facility, they would need to clean it up immediately because the small broken glasses can easily injure someone.

Beakers are containers that have a particular measurement helping scientists obtain a sample that has a definite amount, and they require the same treatment as glass containers. Beakers are also fragile and can break easily if someone accidentally dropped it. To take care of beakers, the staff should always clean it with soap and water after it has been used for an experiment. They should be wiped with a clean cloth after it has been washed and leave it as it dries. Beakers should be stored on a shelf or cabinet so they are protected from damage by outside forces.

 

Keeping the Ventilation Running with Canopy Hoods

The canopy hood is used to provide proper ventilation inside the laboratory. Normally, when scientists are performing experiments, they want to see are the complete effects of the experiment. Most of the time, they would need to use the workspace to observe the chemical reaction happening on a sample. To prevent other scientists from inhaling the chemical-filled fumes, the canopy hoods should be activated. Over time, the canopy hood would accumulate dirt, and the laboratory staff needs to clean the ventilation system so it will cycle clean air through.

If the laboratory staff are unsure about what they need to do, the facility should call on an expert that can help the facility in cleaning their canopy hood. The simplest way to clean the canopy hood would be shutting off all electrical connections near the canopy hood. Then, use a cloth to clean the canopy hood and remove all of the dirt and grime that might accumulate on it. The ventilation would work better if the canopy hood is properly maintained and cleaned, and if it is ignored, it could have negative effects on those who are working hard to achieve new scientific data.

Resource Utilization and Budget

You can maximize your resources through budgeting and by allocating resources to revenue-generating projects. Consider the equipment, project requirements and operating costs when identifying the budget. Next, allocate the right resources to projects that can maximize revenue. For startups, picking an efficient laboratory design or sustainable design can help you save money in the long run. Prioritize safety and compliance to avoid expenses associated with health and safety. 

Contact Us Today

Are you renovating a laboratory or designing a new one? LOC Scientific offers laboratory design services, which include the equipment selection process. We can help design laboratories with functional zones and efficient collaboration spaces. Additionally, our team can install equipment and tools. Talk to us about your plans, and we’ll provide you with the most cost-effective laboratory solutions. Get in touch with us today.