Keeping your laboratory clean, well-organised and maintained is crucial for several reasons. In this blog, we’re going to highlight the importance of maintaining a clean laboratory. We will also explore why outsourcing your laboratory cleaning might be the best option!
Compliance With Regulation
By keeping your laboratory clean and well-maintained, you can ensure that your business is compliant with key regulations. For example, work equipment, including laboratory equipment and machinery, should be maintained to ensure staff safety under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER).
Similarly, by maintaining a clean laboratory environment, you are contributing to the safety and well-being of your employees, which is essential as outlined in the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974. Plus, laboratory practices often include the use of hazardous substances, which need to be stored, handled and disposed of under regulations such as the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH).
Maintaining a clean laboratory also ensures that the principles of the Good Laboratory Practice Regulations 1999 are complied with. If your laboratory is not regularly and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, there’s a risk that you are not compliant with key regulations.
Preventing Contamination
Preventing contamination is one of the core reasons to keep your laboratory clean and well-maintained at all times. If cross-contamination occurs, it can significantly impact the reliability, accuracy and validity of your test results. This, in turn, can cost time and money.
Contamination also increases the chances of your team members coming into contact with hazardous substances, especially if the correct PPE is not utilised. Through establishing robust cleaning procedures, you can help to prevent contamination in your laboratory.
Improving Efficiency
Regardless of the working environment or job, employees work more efficiently in a well-organised and clean environment. And that includes the lab! By having an organised, readily stocked and clean laboratory with reliable equipment, you will boost employee productivity, reduce laboratory mistakes and contribute to the overall efficiency of your laboratory.
Don’t Forget About Equipment Maintenance
Aside from keeping your laboratory and its equipment clean and sanitised, you also need to remain up to date on equipment maintenance. Well-maintained laboratory equipment is less likely to need repairs and will consistently deliver reliable results. Through regular maintenance, you can also extend the lifespan of your laboratory equipment while saving costs.
To ensure equipment maintenance is carried out regularly and effectively, it is worth establishing an SOP (standard operating procedure) and training your staff members on how to maintain their equipment and workstations.
Outsourcing Your Laboratory Cleaning
The best way to ensure you maintain a clean and safe laboratory is to outsource the cleaning to experienced professionals. By entrusting skilled cleaning professionals, you can be sure that advanced techniques are used to meticulously clean all areas and each piece of equipment to the highest possible standards.
Laboratory cleaning services also include thorough decontamination with certified cleaning agents as well as contribution to effective hazardous waste management.
As well as outsourcing your laboratory cleaning, your team members should be trained in lab cleanliness, contamination control and the correct use of PPE. Putting standardised protocols in place can help ensure that each team member pitches in and does their part to maintain cleanliness and safety when working.
Get In Touch
If you are looking for reliable and experienced laboratory cleaners, you have come to the right place. At Decent Cleaning, our team of fully insured and vetted cleaning operatives provide exceptional laboratory cleaning services across Cambridge. Get in touch today to find out more.