Running a lab isn’t an easy job. There are plenty of things to keep track of, and it’s easy to feel quite overwhelmed. It’s also important to note that the scientific and medical industries are always changing, which means that labs need to be able to adapt to these changes.
Whether you’re new to running a lab or you’ve been doing it for a few years, you may want some tips to help make the job easier. You’ve come to the right place – keep reading to learn about a few key things you need to know about running a lab.
You need the right equipment
Labs differ from many other businesses in the sense that they need highly specialized equipment. Most businesses need a few computers and maybe a printer or two to keep them running smoothly, but a lab likely won’t be able to function without the necessary equipment. Which equipment you need will depend on the type of lab you are running.
For example, most labs need some type of freezer, but different freezers perform different functions. Your lab may need a phcbi freezer for your lab as opposed to other freezers. And when it comes to other equipment such as lab peg board and drying wall racks, quality of the products is very essential.
Aside from ensuring that your lab has the right equipment, you also need to do regular checks and maintenance to ensure that the equipment is working correctly.
You also need the right supplies
While having the right equipment and making sure it’s working is very important, labs don’t just need specialized, fancy equipment in order to work – they also need some basic supplies.
The odds are that your lab relies heavily on things like vials, gloves, and sanitizer. If your lab runs out of these things, it could end up being quite disastrous. Luckily, there’s an easy way of avoiding this – simply do a regular stock take and order these items as needed.
You need to write standard operating procedures
An important part of lab work is precision. Everything needs to be done correctly, otherwise, the results could be skewed.
It is therefore important to write up standard operating procedures (also known as SOPs) for all important tasks. This will ensure that everyone knows which steps they need to take when doing a task, and it also makes sure that everyone is following the same steps instead of doing things their own way. For some tips on how to write an SOP, click here.
You need to send employees for safety training
Most businesses have some kind of safety training that educates employees on how to act in an emergency or if someone is hurt. While you should do this for your lab employees too, you also need to keep in mind that there are various other safety issues involved in a lab, and employees need to be trained regarding this as well.
They need to know how to stay safe while working with dangerous samples, as well as what to do if something goes wrong. You can hire an external training company for this, or you can create a training program.
