7 Tips on How to Keep Your Laboratory Safe

For any university, think tank or IT-based industry, laboratoryresearch work is the most important asset. For these reasons,it pays to have adequate security measures to keep yourlaboratory safe from accidents, theft, security breach andother mishaps. Leading professional guard services aroundthe Bay Area recommend the following measures to ensurelab safety and security.

1 - Initial Assessment

Although the terms are used interchangeably, there is adifference between laboratory safety and laboratory security.While the former refers to protection against environmentalharm, the latter pertains to access by unauthorizedpersonnel.For lab security, you will have to develop and implement site-specific security policies. These include developing SOPs toregulate the flow of work, designing controls to prevent dataloss and training your staff on all important security protocols(such as identification tags and fingerprint scanners at work).

2 - Access Controls

There may several areas in your lab where hazardousmaterials are stored. These materials, if unchecked, can leadto serious environmental damages and lead to hefty lawsuits.Make sure that none of these materials is left unchecked andunattended.

Lock all laboratory doors when no one is present on site.Consider designing card keys and other access tools to ensurethat only authorized personnel can enter. Ensure that allhazardous materials are properly classified and stored inlocked freezers and storage cabinets at all times.

3 – Personnel Management

Knowing who is authorized to enter your lab helps youidentify unauthorized personnel. By creating a logbook,biometric scan or daily work management software, you cantrace all lab employees at different times in the lab.

Limit lab access to only authorized individuals. Request all labmembers to wear their ID cards at all times at work. Foradvanced security options, restrict off-hours access toindividuals authorized only by an on-site security officer (orrequest the visitors to furnish a written authority from Headof Security to visit the lab after hours).

4 - Procurement Regulations

For every lab, there should be a strict check and control overthe movement of materials into, out of and within the lab.Having written procurement and material issuancedocuments and policies are important from both security andaudit perspective. They also help in tracking the disposal ofwaste materials.

5 - Contingency Planning

No controls can make your lab 100% secure. There will alwaysbe a security risk. For this reason, it is necessary to device anemergency plan with the lab administration, security officialsand any external security experts. Review and update theemergency plan to incorporate new challenges and threatsfaced by your lab.

6 -Security Reporting

In the event of a security breach, you should have a properreporting procedure. This will help assist any subsequentinvestigations by security and regulatory agencies later on. Ifyou intend to engage any professional guard services to keepyour lab safe, security reports will help in bringing them up tospeed with your SOPs on lab security. In addition, you willhave to train your staff on all the necessary lab securityprocedures.

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San Jose’s Trusted Security Guard Company. If you own or manage a business,residential community, construction site or special event planning company inSan Jose, consider enhancing your security by hiring a private security guard.Give us a call today at (510) 742-8000.

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