ASSIGNMENT 4D
Understand how scientific information
may be stored and communicated in a
workplace laboratory
P7 – EXPLAIN HOW SCIENTIFIC
INFORMATION IN A WORK PLACE
LABORATORY IS RECORDED AND
PROCESSED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
THE CUSTOMER AND ENSURE
TRACABILITY
This section of the assignment will highlight the ways in which scientific
information in a laboratory is recorded from the use of paper worksheets to
laboratory notebooks including what key data should be recorded on a day to
day basis and who is responsible for recording such types of data.
Additionally how this data recorded is then processed with the use of
computer softwares in order to maintain record as well as meet the
requirements of the customer and ensure traceability. Furthermore how the
information collected is processed in the form of different types of
documents will be useful to the customer wether that is external or internal
will also be discussed
,How is information about scientific apparatus recorded
Scientific laboratories require recording down a range of day to day
information they obtain and receive. For example the relevant information
about the apparatus the scientific laboratory utilizes such as when the
apparatus was purchased and data for the maintenance of the apparatus as
well as the manufacturer. It is significant that the date of purchase is
recorded down so that the laboratory knows when it is required for the
apparatus to be newly purchased if they are old. The lab technicians normally
required and are responsible for recording information about the scientific
apparatus that the laboratory purchases. There are a range of methods that
can be utilised in order to record such data. For example some laboratories
will prefer using a digital pathway by producing a spreadsheet via the
software developed by Microsoft known as excel. Excel is a spreadsheet
generator which many scientific laboratories rely on for recording down
their information. The information is then backed up and saved by Microsoft
one drive.
How information about chemicals and substances are recorded
Additionally relevant information about the chemicals and substances that a
scientific laboratory posses should be recorded. All the different types of
chemicals and substances that a scientific laboratory posses should be
recorded down including the dates of which each chemical has been utilised,
which individuals have utilized them and when they were placed back in the
chemical room. Additionally information such as where each chemical is
located should be recorded since this allows easy access to individuals
working in the laboratory. When chemicals and substances are purchased by
the scientific laboratory they are required to label these chemicals according
to the guidelines provided by COSSH and the origin/where the chemical was
purchased from is also relevant to be recorded down. To ensure the
traceability of the chemical or substance each chemical has an identification
number generated which is unique, this generated number should also be
recorded. In order to record such necessary information some lab
technicians take advantage of the software excel provided by Microsoft to
2
, keep a record of such information which can be easily accessible to those in
the scientific laboratory. However the information can also be recorded using
a paper based pathway in which pre made grid templates can be printed out
and filled in and stored in a ring binder or folder.
How information about laboratory experiments are recorded
The purpose of scientific laboratories are for scientists to perform a range of
experiments for research purposes, to test hypothesis, to test samples or to
investigate a certain aspect and produce data from them for the customer
who has demanded the investigation of the aspect. All these scenarios
require obtaining scientific results which should be recorded. In the duration
of scientific experiments some Individuals conducting the experiment choose
to record the results down in a laboratory notebook containing previous
results of all the experiments that the scientific laboratory has conducted.
The information can then further be processed digitally with the use of cloud
back up softwares which will be discussed further on. Some laboratories
prefer to keep a record of the laboratory notebooks even upon processing the
results digitally to deem as a backup Incase data leaks occur. This is because
the information obtained by conducting experiments are very valuable and
take large amounts of time in order to produce such results especially if the
results are to be communicated only with the customer. Therefore a paper
copy can act as a backup incase something happens to the digital results.
Furthermore this method of processing results is beneficial for internal
customers since the laboratory notebook can be photocopied and distributed
to the individual who wants to access them.
Alternatively a data logger can be utilised. A data logger is a device designed
for automatically recording/logging data while being connected to an
external pieces of equipment. This method does not involve manually
recording results and is more reliable since it eliminates the occurrence of
human error to interfere with results obtained. The data recorded with the
use of a data logger can then be transferred onto a computer. A data logger is
a very beneficial piece of equipment which many scientific laboratories take
advantage of on a day to day basis in order to produce accurate results.
3
Understand how scientific information
may be stored and communicated in a
workplace laboratory
P7 – EXPLAIN HOW SCIENTIFIC
INFORMATION IN A WORK PLACE
LABORATORY IS RECORDED AND
PROCESSED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
THE CUSTOMER AND ENSURE
TRACABILITY
This section of the assignment will highlight the ways in which scientific
information in a laboratory is recorded from the use of paper worksheets to
laboratory notebooks including what key data should be recorded on a day to
day basis and who is responsible for recording such types of data.
Additionally how this data recorded is then processed with the use of
computer softwares in order to maintain record as well as meet the
requirements of the customer and ensure traceability. Furthermore how the
information collected is processed in the form of different types of
documents will be useful to the customer wether that is external or internal
will also be discussed
,How is information about scientific apparatus recorded
Scientific laboratories require recording down a range of day to day
information they obtain and receive. For example the relevant information
about the apparatus the scientific laboratory utilizes such as when the
apparatus was purchased and data for the maintenance of the apparatus as
well as the manufacturer. It is significant that the date of purchase is
recorded down so that the laboratory knows when it is required for the
apparatus to be newly purchased if they are old. The lab technicians normally
required and are responsible for recording information about the scientific
apparatus that the laboratory purchases. There are a range of methods that
can be utilised in order to record such data. For example some laboratories
will prefer using a digital pathway by producing a spreadsheet via the
software developed by Microsoft known as excel. Excel is a spreadsheet
generator which many scientific laboratories rely on for recording down
their information. The information is then backed up and saved by Microsoft
one drive.
How information about chemicals and substances are recorded
Additionally relevant information about the chemicals and substances that a
scientific laboratory posses should be recorded. All the different types of
chemicals and substances that a scientific laboratory posses should be
recorded down including the dates of which each chemical has been utilised,
which individuals have utilized them and when they were placed back in the
chemical room. Additionally information such as where each chemical is
located should be recorded since this allows easy access to individuals
working in the laboratory. When chemicals and substances are purchased by
the scientific laboratory they are required to label these chemicals according
to the guidelines provided by COSSH and the origin/where the chemical was
purchased from is also relevant to be recorded down. To ensure the
traceability of the chemical or substance each chemical has an identification
number generated which is unique, this generated number should also be
recorded. In order to record such necessary information some lab
technicians take advantage of the software excel provided by Microsoft to
2
, keep a record of such information which can be easily accessible to those in
the scientific laboratory. However the information can also be recorded using
a paper based pathway in which pre made grid templates can be printed out
and filled in and stored in a ring binder or folder.
How information about laboratory experiments are recorded
The purpose of scientific laboratories are for scientists to perform a range of
experiments for research purposes, to test hypothesis, to test samples or to
investigate a certain aspect and produce data from them for the customer
who has demanded the investigation of the aspect. All these scenarios
require obtaining scientific results which should be recorded. In the duration
of scientific experiments some Individuals conducting the experiment choose
to record the results down in a laboratory notebook containing previous
results of all the experiments that the scientific laboratory has conducted.
The information can then further be processed digitally with the use of cloud
back up softwares which will be discussed further on. Some laboratories
prefer to keep a record of the laboratory notebooks even upon processing the
results digitally to deem as a backup Incase data leaks occur. This is because
the information obtained by conducting experiments are very valuable and
take large amounts of time in order to produce such results especially if the
results are to be communicated only with the customer. Therefore a paper
copy can act as a backup incase something happens to the digital results.
Furthermore this method of processing results is beneficial for internal
customers since the laboratory notebook can be photocopied and distributed
to the individual who wants to access them.
Alternatively a data logger can be utilised. A data logger is a device designed
for automatically recording/logging data while being connected to an
external pieces of equipment. This method does not involve manually
recording results and is more reliable since it eliminates the occurrence of
human error to interfere with results obtained. The data recorded with the
use of a data logger can then be transferred onto a computer. A data logger is
a very beneficial piece of equipment which many scientific laboratories take
advantage of on a day to day basis in order to produce accurate results.
3
