The Organized Lab Bench: What You Need to Know
A lab bench is a space where you probably spend most of your time at work. The bench is your home away from home so to speak, where you do all your daily tasks. Having an organized lab bench space will ensure that you can work correctly and efficiently throughout the day. The best way to have an organized space is to start from scratch. Clean off the lab bench surface, removing everything and starting from a fresh perspective. Follow the tips below to get your laboratory benches set for optimal efficiency.
Dominant Hand Organization
Begin your reset of the lab bench by placing tools you use on a regular basis on the side of your dominant hand. Tools and pipets among other items can be placed in this manner to make it easy for you to reach and use. Your trash bin should also be placed on this side of your workspace. Easily place trash in the bin instead of dirtying up your area.
Non-dominant Side
On the non-dominant side of your work bench, add the items you commonly use. This could be stock solutions and chemicals that you need for daily projects. Anything that you do not use daily should be placed on upper shelves instead of the work surface.
Add other items to this section including markers, scissors, wipes, labeling tape, etc. If you have drawers available, or organizational storage bins, place these miscellaneous items inside. Knowing where these materials are will help you to continue to work in an efficient manner.
After you have set up your work bench correctly, practice good habits. Be sure to place items back where they belong. Throw away disposable supplies as they accumulate. Do what you can to create a habit as you work. This will help to keep the space in good working order.
An Organized Lab
Overall, it is important to have an organized lab space. It can be easy to lose track of materials if the items you use most frequently are not put back in their place. Labs can run out of chemical supply and solutions when there is not a dedicated storage space for such items.
To ensure the workday runs smooth, built-in storage cabinets and additional extra storage solutions should be set up in the lab. Employees need to have individual responsibilities so that each section can be organized, and materials will not run out when needed. With everyone having a certain responsibility, items will be ordered on time and put in the right place.With quality organization, a lab can operate at a high level. Projects and experiments can continue without delay as the space is filled with everything needed to work. Employees do not spend time looking for lab equipment or chemicals because everything has its proper place. If your laboratory needs organization, consider how changes can be made to clean up the space. With the right furniture and commercial solutions, any lab can be fully functional. Contact our team today so that you can find solutions for your laboratory space.
FAQs
There are several strategies to increase your lab’s storage capacity:
– Utilize Vertical Space: Install shelves or cabinets that go all the way up to the ceiling to take advantage of underused overhead space.
– Implement Rotating Storage: Rotating storage racks or carousels allow you to store more items in a compact footprint.
– Optimize Bench Space: Use lab storage bins, trays, and organizers to neatly store frequently used items within easy reach on your lab bench.
– Invest in Bulk Storage: Dedicated storage rooms or cabinets can house larger volumes of less frequently accessed supplies and reagents.
Keeping your main lab bench or central workspace organized is key for efficiency:
– Designate a weigh station area for balances and scales at eye level.
– Arrange common buffers, cell culture flasks, and other frequently used items within arm’s reach.
– Minimize clutter by moving seldom-used items to upper shelves or storage cabinets.
– Ensure there is enough open benchtop space to accommodate current projects without feeling cramped.
Proper inventory control and documentation are essential for a well-run lab:
– Maintain an accurate freezer inventory to quickly locate stored samples.
– Use physical lab notebooks in addition to digital records for redundancy.
– Designate a central file cabinet or storage area for important documents.
– Establish protocols for labeling and tracking chemical supplies, reagents, and consumables.
An organized lab saves time and reduces errors:
– Eliminate wasted “dead space” on benches and shelves.
– Train lab technicians on proper storage and retrieval of materials.
– Ensure adequate bulk storage for overflow supplies to replenish workstations.
– Design the layout to create a logical, streamlined workflow.
– Regularly audit the lab’s organization and make adjustments as needs change.