Summer is fast approaching, and for science technicians it can mean very different things. For some, it marks the start of a 6-week term-time break. For others, it means working those plus 5, 10 days, and for the endangered full-time, 52-week technicians, summer can be one of the busiest times of the year.
Whichever category you fall into, this is a useful time to pause, reflect and review. Once Year 11 have left and the daily practical requests ease slightly, there may be a little breathing space to look properly at the prep room, chemical store and department paperwork. Time for deep cleaning, stock checks, ordering, and preparing the department for September.
Ask some honest questions. Do you have up-to-date risk assessments for technician work, chemical handling and chemical storage? Have your circumstances changed during the year? Perhaps a colleague has left, staffing has been reduced, you now find yourself working alone more often. If so, do your risk assessments reflect those changes?
Stay safe whilst working alone
Working alone in school during the holidays can feel like the perfect chance to catch up without interruptions, but before you get stuck in, take a moment to check your school’s health and safety arrangements. Most schools will have a lone working policy, and it should cover the kinds of tasks technicians are likely to be doing — from routine prep to handling equipment or chemicals. Make sure your risk assessments clearly set out how you’ll keep in touch, who is supervising or checking in, and what to do in an emergency. It’s also worth confirming the basics: who to contact if something goes wrong, where the emergency stops, alarms and exits are, and how to get help quickly if you need it.
Hot weather and the chemical store
The recent hot weather has highlighted an issue that may become more common each year: keeping chemical stores safe when temperatures rise. CLEAPSS guidance notes that short periods of daytime heat, followed by overnight cooling, are not usually a major problem, but this relies on adequate ventilation and checks being in place and the staff being in the building to carry out these checks.
Unfortunately, many school chemical stores and prep rooms are poorly ventilated. Over the holidays, when doors may remain closed for long periods and fewer staff are on site, fumes could build up in enclosed spaces. This is worth considering as part of any review of your chemical storage risk assessment.
Questions to ask before the summer break
· Is the chemical store ventilated effectively, including when the department is closed?
· Are chemical containers in good condition, with no signs of damage, leaks or deterioration?
· Does the chemical storage risk assessment reflect current staffing, lone working and holiday arrangements?
· Are technicians and relevant staff aware of what to do if they enter a closed store after a period of hot weather?
A short review before the summer break can make September feel much more manageable. Check that your risk assessments reflect how the department works, use the relevant CLEAPSS guidance to support any updates, and raise any concerns about ventilation, lone working or chemical storage before staff leave for the holidays.
And once the checks are done, take time to relax, recharge and make the most of your well-earned summer holiday.
Quick reference: useful CLEAPSS documents to check
GL246 – checking the condition of bottles in the chemical store.
GL247 – monitoring the shelf-life and possible deterioration of chemicals.
GL308 – ventilation in chemical stores and prep rooms.
DLH7 – risk assessment for chemical storage.
GL469 – laboratory and technician areas summer break checklist.
Gl505 – Lone working in a science department