Maintenance should include
- keeping the equipment clean, in good condition, and in good repair
- explaining proper sanitation and disinfection of the work area and lab supplies
- adhering to lab prohibitions (e.g., no eating, no drinking, no applying make-up, no putting on contacts or lip balm, no gum chewing, no neglect of personal hygiene)
- attending to inventory control
- following industry guidelines and regulations
- identifying precautions to prevent contamination of apparatus, work surfaces, self, others, and work environment
- recording supplies and reagents, the date when they were opened, the initials of who opened them, and the new expiration dates if changed.
Process/Skill Questions:
- Why is it important to keep the lab equipment clean?
- Why is it important to keep the lab equipment in good repair and condition?
- Why are safety and cleanliness so essential in a lab environment?
- What procedures should be in place for reporting equipment problems?