SPECIAL FILES : Files and Records

As a lab technician some very important files are kept in labs under your direct supervision. We are going to describe such files in this section.

Safety File : Now we will describe what a safety file should contain.

Every now and again hazard warnings are issued. They originate from manufacturers/ suppliers, from your employer, from professional bodies such as the loss prevention Association of India Ltd. Education, from the scientific press and from union safety offices in case of factories, these should be filed in the Safety File. You might choose to include copies of memos reporting hazards and your subsequent actions, as well as any communications from safety representatives and management concerning safety. You can also keep the statement of health and safety policy of your employer if available in a safety file.

Any regulations concerning the use of a Lab's Safety instructions for the treatment of spillage, basic first aid and other information that is "safety" related should also be included in the safety file. If you have a Safety Check List, this, together with the records of such checks made from time to time, should also be kept in the Safety File.

With all this information is file constitutes a useful package for new members of staff to read. In some establishments, new staff are required to sign a document confirming that they have read the Safety File.