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Tag Archives: laboratory move

4 Things You Should Consider When Discussing A Lab Relocation With Laboratory Movers

Author WEBMASTER Posted on

Communication is key during all stages of a laboratory move – so it’s important to understand how you will liaise with the experts responsible for the removal as well as colleagues and staff throughout the process. Here we share four key things to consider when discussing transportation and relocation with laboratory movers.

Rules and regulations

Naturally a range of rules and regulations apply to laboratory moves, as they tend to feature a variety of specialist requirements. Dangerous goods and hazardous materials are commonplace. Chat with your laboratory movers in depth before the move and during the preparatory stages to make them aware of the full situation and understand the regulatory obligations and expectations of your relocation. Laboratory movers will be required to meet a range of regulations including H&S legislation, GLP and FDA plus any local or facility guidelines – so it’s important that you’re honest and upfront and provide comprehensive information right from the start to allow them to prepare adequately.

Hazardous materials and dangerous goods

It goes without saying – hazardous materials and dangerous goods need specialist attention. A separate set of regulations will apply here – so discussing any dangerous or hazardous materials present (including poisons, chemicals and biohazards) with your laboratory movers should be a key priority.

Costings are key

Budget is very important – so it’s vital to discuss realistic costings with your laboratory movers before you begin the preparatory stages. Laboratory relocation must be budgeted for – especially where specialist provisions are involved.

Cold chain materials must be considered

Biological materials and chemical samples are often temperature sensitive – so it’s crucial that constant conditions are maintained throughout transportation. Climate-controlled trucks and specially trained technicians will need to be on-hand to monitor temperatures, especially where frozen goods are concerned. Back-up plans will also need to be in place – so it’s important to discuss this with your laboratory movers prior to the relocation date.

If you’re planning an upcoming laboratory relocation, you’ll need specialists on hand to ensure safe transportation and a smooth transition to new premises. Get in touch with our dedicated team today.

Good Lab Practice and Why It’s So Important

Author WEBMASTER Posted on

Good laboratory practice is paramount for UK labs – as stringent adherence to regulation ensures licence renewal, optimum results and staff satisfaction. Here we explore the relevance and importance of good lab practice and explain how Johnsons lab services can help.

What does good lab practice involve?

The term ‘good lab practice’ serves as an umbrella for an extensive range of disciplines and requirements that ensure the safe and smooth running of a laboratory environment. Indeed without a good lab practice policy laboratories simply can’t function, as licencing and permissions greatly depend on it. Government guidelines state that any facility conducting safety tests on medicines, chemicals, cosmetics, foodstuffs or biocides must be a member of the UK GLP, its laboratory compliance monitoring programme. Therefore when inspections are carried out on an annual basis labs are expected to meet a stringent set of requirements and regulations.

Why is good lab practice important?

The importance of good laboratory practice can be defined by the consideration of three principle elements – safety, ethics and management. For a successful lab operation staff and visitors must be safe. Practices must be ethical. Management must be well organised and comprehensive. When panning out a little to take in the wider picture it’s clear to see why compliance is key. Good lab practice prevents isolated internal incidents that could have catastrophic implications outside the four walls of the facility, such as cross-contamination, chemical leaks and infection.

A simpler, safer way to ensure good lab practice at all times

At Johnsons we take good lab practice, safety and compliance incredibly seriously. We understand that when labs work with us, we are by default an extension of their operations, therefore our knowledge and the quality of our services is a reflection of their wider function. For this reason we go the extra mile for our clients, providing a dangerous goods safety advisor as standard who will advise on advise on the classification, packing, handling, labelling, and transportation of hazardous materials.

Planning an upcoming laboratory move? Need to ensure full compliance and good lab practice throughout? Get in touch today to learn more about our specialist lab services.

The Importance of a Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor

Author WEBMASTER Posted on

A laboratory relocation is often a complex and sensitive operation – requiring a cohesive effort involving multiple agencies and specialists. Relocation can be further complicated by the presence of dangerous goods – often found in a range of laboratories. Despite this some providers don’t include a dangerous goods safety advisor as standard – potentially leaving laboratories open to catastrophic consequences, compromised operations or even legal action. So why is reliable dangerous goods management so important, and how can you choose a reputable DGSA to support your relocation?

Dangerous goods require specialist assistance

From cleaning products and pesticides to solvents and biological samples – even seemingly inoffensive or unassuming items can be classed as dangerous goods. Their classification is complex and nuanced – involving nine different tiers each with varying regulations and recommendations. Dangerous goods naturally require careful handling and management by fully trained professionals. Good lab practice considers the safety of employees and operations as a whole in conjunction with one another, so when a lab move is on the horizon dangerous goods management is naturally front of mind.

What does the role of a dangerous goods safety advisor involve?

A dangerous goods safety advisor or DGSA has extensive and specific knowledge relating to the handling, management and transportation of dangerous goods. They understand that careful planning and preparation is paramount and will consult and advise on the dangerous goods aspect of the relocation.

Choose wisely for complete peace of mind

We take the movement of dangerous goods incredibly seriously – so we have in-house dangerous goods safety advisors who are on-hand to assist during laboratory relocation. Naturally this greatly minimises risk and ensures compliance and appropriate handing and management at all times. Having in-house knowledge of dangerous substances helps lab managers to retain complete peace of mind – but there are additional benefits associated with having expert assistance on side. A specialist advisor can oversee this aspect of the move, helping to significantly streamline the process and lowering costs thanks to the elimination of wasted time and resources.

Planning for an upcoming laboratory move? Get in touch with Johnsons today to discuss your requirements.

The Balance of Effective Cold Chain Transportation

Author WEBMASTER Posted on

Cold chain transportation requires a delicate balance of multiple services, all executed with care and compliance. It’s used extensively in the science sector to ensure the safe movement of sensitive goods such as samples, medicines and more. Here we explain the importance of getting specialist cold chain transportation services on-side when planning a laboratory move or relocation.

What is cold chain transportation?

Cold chain management refers to the maintenance of a constant temperature during the handling and transportation of temperature-sensitive goods. It’s mostly used in the food industry and within laboratories, where a difference of just one Celsius could have dramatic consequences – especially where medical research is involved. The terminology denotes a key aspect of careful management and transportation – as the ‘chain’ refers to an ongoing set of conditions that must never be broken or altered.

Why is effective cold chain transportation and management important?

Cold chain transportation and management is perhaps most important when working within laboratories, as so many ingredients, individual elements and biological samples require specialist attention if they are to be handled or moved. Vaccines, serums and tests for infection are all examples of goods requiring stringent cold chain management. An unbroken cold chain is an uninterrupted series of refrigerated production, storage and distribution activities, along with associated equipment and logistics, which maintain a desired low-temperature range. Breaking this temperature range could seriously compromise any results, potentially ruining months of painstaking research or causing hundreds of retests, delaying vital results.

Choosing the right provider with appropriate credentials is key

Given the importance of cold chain transportation, choosing a reliable partner to guide and manage the process is key when planning a relocation or arranging courier services for lab equipment. At Johnsons we follow a strict, carefully developed process that ensures the cold chain is never broken. We specialise in handling samples, medical supplies and other temperature-controlled goods. Our expert handlers all work in line with current GLP legislation and deal with all aspects of the process, from packaging and transportation solutions to clearance, storage and customs clearance.

Johnsons provides specialist lab services and cold chain transportation throughout the UK for large and small removal projects. Get in touch with our expert advisors today to organise a plan tailored to your specific requirements.

Chemical Disposal And The Importance Of Getting It Right

Author WEBMASTER Posted on

Chemical disposal is a default requirement for hundreds of laboratories throughout the UK. In today’s blog we explain the importance of responsible chemical disposal, and share our eco-conscious, diverse methodology that ensures safe and sustainable practice.

Why is safe chemical disposal important?

The importance of safe chemical disposal may seem obvious – but there are in fact multiple additional benefits associated with arranging specialist management of dangerous materials. Notably compliance can streamline lab processes, reduce costs and help organisations to grow and acquire positive press and publicity. As funding bodies, government agencies and consumers are becoming more conscious of ethical, eco-friendly and safe practice, an increasing number of laboratories are focusing on sustainable chemical disposal methods. As a laboratory or organisation in charge of chemical waste, hazardous materials or dangerous goods, it is your responsibility to ensure that they are disposed of safely and correctly in line with government guidelines.

Are different methods of chemical disposal available?

Whilst it may seem as though there’s only one option for such a specialist requirement, good waste management companies will have a range of solutions available in compliance with dangerous goods, UK GLP and GxP regulations. Landfill and incineration are no longer the only options on the table – and in fact many chemical products can be sold on or reused to significantly reduce environmental impact and the cost of waste management.

Responsible chemical disposal and management is crucial

Choosing a responsible waste management partner is incredibly important – especially for laboratories with a chemical disposal requirement. Unethical or unregulated waste disposal could result in contamination, legal action or at worst injury or death – so locating trusted specialists is a serious matter for consideration.

Want to save money and the environment with specialist chemical disposal services? Get in touch today.

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