Working in the Science Industry
Assignment 3
Pass
When working in a scientific industry a wide range of data is used and produced daily around the world, if this
data isn’t kept safe it’s likely that the data will become lost or damaged. Therefore, in recent years the
importance of data storage has become increasingly important. Data storage is essentially the storage of
information within a storage medium, numerous types of data is able to be stored e.g. DNA, magnetic tape,
documents, etc. It also allows scientists to access and retrieve the data at a later date, when it’s required. Due
to major advancements in technology and equipment the storage of data in filing cabinets or large boxes has
been replaced with storage in things like hard drives and disks.
There are numerous types of data storage and those are as follows;
Type of Data What is it? The Reason to Keep Data Who can access it? Make
changes? And record it?
COSHH Records The term COSHH means These need to be kept ensuring awareness of Most COSHH records are
‘Control of Substances health and safety issues of substances are being available to be accessed from
Hazardous to Health’. used in workplaces. As when using chemicals or the COSHH website or LIMS
COSHH is the law which hazardous substances at a work place can (Lab Information
requires employers essentially put people’s health at risk, so it is Management Systems). The
within a workplace to required by the law that employers must following individuals are able
to access, make changes and
control substances which control their expose to substances which are
record COSHH records;
are hazardous to health. harmful to try and prevent ill health. Not only
storage technicians and any
Through COSHH health must they protect themselves but also individuals involved in the
hazards can be employees and other people who may have storing, use and ordering of
established and how exposure. So, through the Control of the substances used.
they can be prevented in Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations
a risk assessment. A (COSHH,2002) employers are required to either
record of all chemical/ reduce, prevent, or try to control exposure to
substance related hazardous substances so that ill health can be
incidents which cause prevented to their workers. When COSHH is
harm to staff. followed, it can improve production whilst
cutting waste. Also, a company can be more
effective and save money by not having to
replaced workers which are trained. Finally,
ensuring that workers stay healthy can ensure
healthy profits are obtained.
Scientific Apparatus Scientific apparatus These records need to keep data such as; the Scientific apparatus records
Records records, are essentially amount of scientific apparatus, and stock kept, can be stored on computer
records which contains date of purchases, maintenance data, schedules programmes e.g. Microsoft
various data on each for maintenance. These records require regular Excel. These records can be
scientifc apparatus used updating and regular stock takes. These records used to design graphs and
and stored within the need to be kept allowing theft to be reported if charts. The following
laboratory such as; a decreased amount of stock or apparatus is individuals are able to access,
maintenance data, date notified, also if stock or apparatus becomes make changes and record
of purchase, schedules of broken the records will need to be updated scientific apparatus records;
maintenance, etc. stating that there’s a decreased amount of Head of departments and
stock/ apparatus, the lab will have to replace their deputies and individuals
this with new stock/ apparatus. These records involved in schedules who are
can help when knowing when new stock needs all able to access these
to be ordered. Also, prevents the buying of records with the appropriate
unwanted apparatus. If data isn’t recorded, level of clearance such as
1
, Working in the Science Industry
Assignment 3
then purchased apparatus may end up not password protected.
being used and become out of date.
Waste Disposal Data of waste disposal is These records need to be kept, telling scientists These waste disposal records
essentially a type of data about waste disposal. From these are able to be accessed via
manual record which scientists are able to know what waste is the computer or a book,
contains various produced, how much waste is produced and folder or file. The following
information on states all how it is disposed of, the step-by-step individuals are able to access,
types of waste which procedure followed. As all substances and make changes and record
may be used within a materials tend to be disposed of in various waste disposal records; store
scientific lab. If this isn’t ways, therefore if a type of waste was wrongly technicians who deal with the
present within a lab it disposed of from analysing these records it majority of all waste
can result in bins would become known of how it was disposed of produced, also people who
overflowing which is a and possibly why it was in this manner, as if it a are involved with waste
workplace hazard. substance was to be wrongly disposed of e.g. disposal such as head of
chemicals put down a sink it can have a major departments as these tend to
impact on the lab if the sink was to become authorise disposal costs of an
blocked or damaged. It’ll tell who to contact to industry.
dispose of the waste. Also, for waste like
radioactive and biological it’ll state how many
days it can stay there.
Health and Safety These records need to be kept complying with
Checks Health and safety check the companies Health & Safety policy. By These can be accessed via a
records are essentially keeping these records, it shows that safety is computer, or a Health &
records which include being closely monitored by senior managers Safety Log-book and files.
everything associated and accidents reports are being held. These These records need to be
with the health and health and safety check records are initially a easily retrievable ensuring
safety of the industry. legal requirement in the workplace as health consistency and continuity.
These records ensure and safety records tend to be kept readily The following individuals are
that the industry is able available for inspection. It is also essential to able to access, make changes
to externally and keep these records, as in cases of potential civil and record health and safety
internally comply with litigation they might be requested on behalf of check records; heads of
the legal duties under claimants by their solicitors. For all workers department, Union Health
the law of health and under health surveillance health records must and Safety Representatives
safety. be kept, as from these connections are able to and health and safety
be made between health effects and any executive inspectors, safety
exposure. Health records for workers will tend officers, safety committee
to be kept for minimum of 40 years, this is and some possible others
because there is a long time between onset of who may have special
ill health and exposure. responsibilities.
Quality Assurance These Quality assurance (QA) data need to be
Quality assurance can
Quality Assurance also kept ensuring that a workplace is carrying out
generally be accessed via the
known as a quality processes which are as effective and efficient as
computer. However, to
record is a document possible for audit purposes. Through these
ensure that all documents are
which states evidence or mistakes are able to be prevented and defects
kept under good quality
results of activities which in manufactured products avoided. An industry
assurance a document
have been performed in with good quality assurance will be able to
management system can be
the workplace. E.g. increase their profits, increase the productivity
used. Through managing the
inspection results, audit of all the employees. When working with
documents, it can boost
reports, training records, customers it can ensure that excellent
efficiency of the working
etc. Also, how high the satisfaction is provided to them. Essentially
place and can even limit
quality was. keeping this quality assurance data, it can show
labour-intensive tasks e.g.
that the industry is maintaining a good
like an individual physically
2
Assignment 3
Pass
When working in a scientific industry a wide range of data is used and produced daily around the world, if this
data isn’t kept safe it’s likely that the data will become lost or damaged. Therefore, in recent years the
importance of data storage has become increasingly important. Data storage is essentially the storage of
information within a storage medium, numerous types of data is able to be stored e.g. DNA, magnetic tape,
documents, etc. It also allows scientists to access and retrieve the data at a later date, when it’s required. Due
to major advancements in technology and equipment the storage of data in filing cabinets or large boxes has
been replaced with storage in things like hard drives and disks.
There are numerous types of data storage and those are as follows;
Type of Data What is it? The Reason to Keep Data Who can access it? Make
changes? And record it?
COSHH Records The term COSHH means These need to be kept ensuring awareness of Most COSHH records are
‘Control of Substances health and safety issues of substances are being available to be accessed from
Hazardous to Health’. used in workplaces. As when using chemicals or the COSHH website or LIMS
COSHH is the law which hazardous substances at a work place can (Lab Information
requires employers essentially put people’s health at risk, so it is Management Systems). The
within a workplace to required by the law that employers must following individuals are able
to access, make changes and
control substances which control their expose to substances which are
record COSHH records;
are hazardous to health. harmful to try and prevent ill health. Not only
storage technicians and any
Through COSHH health must they protect themselves but also individuals involved in the
hazards can be employees and other people who may have storing, use and ordering of
established and how exposure. So, through the Control of the substances used.
they can be prevented in Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations
a risk assessment. A (COSHH,2002) employers are required to either
record of all chemical/ reduce, prevent, or try to control exposure to
substance related hazardous substances so that ill health can be
incidents which cause prevented to their workers. When COSHH is
harm to staff. followed, it can improve production whilst
cutting waste. Also, a company can be more
effective and save money by not having to
replaced workers which are trained. Finally,
ensuring that workers stay healthy can ensure
healthy profits are obtained.
Scientific Apparatus Scientific apparatus These records need to keep data such as; the Scientific apparatus records
Records records, are essentially amount of scientific apparatus, and stock kept, can be stored on computer
records which contains date of purchases, maintenance data, schedules programmes e.g. Microsoft
various data on each for maintenance. These records require regular Excel. These records can be
scientifc apparatus used updating and regular stock takes. These records used to design graphs and
and stored within the need to be kept allowing theft to be reported if charts. The following
laboratory such as; a decreased amount of stock or apparatus is individuals are able to access,
maintenance data, date notified, also if stock or apparatus becomes make changes and record
of purchase, schedules of broken the records will need to be updated scientific apparatus records;
maintenance, etc. stating that there’s a decreased amount of Head of departments and
stock/ apparatus, the lab will have to replace their deputies and individuals
this with new stock/ apparatus. These records involved in schedules who are
can help when knowing when new stock needs all able to access these
to be ordered. Also, prevents the buying of records with the appropriate
unwanted apparatus. If data isn’t recorded, level of clearance such as
1
, Working in the Science Industry
Assignment 3
then purchased apparatus may end up not password protected.
being used and become out of date.
Waste Disposal Data of waste disposal is These records need to be kept, telling scientists These waste disposal records
essentially a type of data about waste disposal. From these are able to be accessed via
manual record which scientists are able to know what waste is the computer or a book,
contains various produced, how much waste is produced and folder or file. The following
information on states all how it is disposed of, the step-by-step individuals are able to access,
types of waste which procedure followed. As all substances and make changes and record
may be used within a materials tend to be disposed of in various waste disposal records; store
scientific lab. If this isn’t ways, therefore if a type of waste was wrongly technicians who deal with the
present within a lab it disposed of from analysing these records it majority of all waste
can result in bins would become known of how it was disposed of produced, also people who
overflowing which is a and possibly why it was in this manner, as if it a are involved with waste
workplace hazard. substance was to be wrongly disposed of e.g. disposal such as head of
chemicals put down a sink it can have a major departments as these tend to
impact on the lab if the sink was to become authorise disposal costs of an
blocked or damaged. It’ll tell who to contact to industry.
dispose of the waste. Also, for waste like
radioactive and biological it’ll state how many
days it can stay there.
Health and Safety These records need to be kept complying with
Checks Health and safety check the companies Health & Safety policy. By These can be accessed via a
records are essentially keeping these records, it shows that safety is computer, or a Health &
records which include being closely monitored by senior managers Safety Log-book and files.
everything associated and accidents reports are being held. These These records need to be
with the health and health and safety check records are initially a easily retrievable ensuring
safety of the industry. legal requirement in the workplace as health consistency and continuity.
These records ensure and safety records tend to be kept readily The following individuals are
that the industry is able available for inspection. It is also essential to able to access, make changes
to externally and keep these records, as in cases of potential civil and record health and safety
internally comply with litigation they might be requested on behalf of check records; heads of
the legal duties under claimants by their solicitors. For all workers department, Union Health
the law of health and under health surveillance health records must and Safety Representatives
safety. be kept, as from these connections are able to and health and safety
be made between health effects and any executive inspectors, safety
exposure. Health records for workers will tend officers, safety committee
to be kept for minimum of 40 years, this is and some possible others
because there is a long time between onset of who may have special
ill health and exposure. responsibilities.
Quality Assurance These Quality assurance (QA) data need to be
Quality assurance can
Quality Assurance also kept ensuring that a workplace is carrying out
generally be accessed via the
known as a quality processes which are as effective and efficient as
computer. However, to
record is a document possible for audit purposes. Through these
ensure that all documents are
which states evidence or mistakes are able to be prevented and defects
kept under good quality
results of activities which in manufactured products avoided. An industry
assurance a document
have been performed in with good quality assurance will be able to
management system can be
the workplace. E.g. increase their profits, increase the productivity
used. Through managing the
inspection results, audit of all the employees. When working with
documents, it can boost
reports, training records, customers it can ensure that excellent
efficiency of the working
etc. Also, how high the satisfaction is provided to them. Essentially
place and can even limit
quality was. keeping this quality assurance data, it can show
labour-intensive tasks e.g.
that the industry is maintaining a good
like an individual physically
2
