Use this time to bring all safety requirements up to date – including Risk Assessments, SDS’s and the Hazardous Substance Register
Check/refurbish First Aid Cabinet
Wear gloves, check the condition of all safety glasses then wash in warm soapy water, rinse and air dry as per Should shared safety glasses be decontaminated after each use? Q and A published by Science Assist.
Service and clean all microscopes – see RLTG Science Manual
Clean outside of all electronic balances
Clean shelves/cupboards and everything on/in them
Wash articulated skeletons and repair where necessary
Check over Bunsen Burners and clean; check gas taps are unblocked; emergency buttons are working; check gas cylinders are secured and clean
Check all showers and eye wash stations are working well; fire-fighting equipment has been checked during the past 6 months; check smoke alarms are functioning; ensure that there is an updated evacuation map including instructions next to every door
Carefully check all glassware for cracks and sharp edges; de-stain/discard discoloured test tubes
Sort out those rocks
Reorganise and tidy the physics storeroom, clean and maintain equipment
Arrange for the Testing and Tagging of portable electrical equipment or do it yourself if qualified
Check all electrical leads and plugs are undamaged; remove from use and label any needing professional electrical attention
Check short electrical leads and change alligator/crocodile clips or make some more
Recharge batteries
Check compasses still work
Conduct the annual test of Radioactive Sources: inspection, wipe test and contamination – see Science ASSIST ‘s Handling sealed radioactive sources: alpha, beta and gamma , page 8
Audit the chem store; check labels are good and containers are sturdy, mark no longer used chemicals with a big red cross for disposal at a later date but leave in correct storage area; check extractor fan and door lock are well maintained; clean shelving and sweep out
Put together or check your Chemical Spill Kit – See RLTG Science Manual
Arrange the annual inspection of the Fume Hood – see web page for local suppliers www.labnetwest.asn.au – password to ‘Members’ tab is kingdom
For a comprehensive maintenance list from Science ASSIST please check Plant and equipment maintenance and servicing schedules for optimum performance, safety and to meet compliance
Close down the lab as if it is the end of year, cleaning out the fridge, disposing of any perishables, defrost the chest freezer and fridge. Leave the science area in a tidy and secure manner.
Advise suppliers of recent orders that your school will be closed and make alternate arrangements, e.g. to defer delivery until the schools have reopened
Maintain herb and vegetable beds, any aquaponics setup, outdoor fish ponds and animal enclosures, clean aquariums
Prepare the Science Budget in advance by obtaining pricing for equipment
Preparation of return to school re supplies etc (keep in front of those practicalities so helps with smooth return)
If working alone do not make up acid solutions etc and make arrangements to contact or see someone else in the school every couple of hours; keep the outside doors locked
Set up Stocktake sheets/Science Catalogue – long job – MM has a catalogue which may be useful
Take an opportunity to improve lab prep and/or classrooms i.e. sketch new design/layout, budget for furniture
Go through all the files and notebooks that you have taken and collected over the years and throw out any things that are now superseded, banned or just not used. If you are not going to use it again, get rid of it
Our usual role of supporting our teachers while they are at home conducting online classes
a. including finding online resources for teachers re pracs;
b. planning rosters for different pracs for year groups so teachers are not doubling up doing the same thing for the same year groups
c. helping with supplies if they are conducting a home demonstration
d. if we are allowed some access to school we can video specific pracs for the teachers to use
Get very acquainted with the Science ASSIST web site and discover mountains of information https://assist.asta.edu.au/
a) Bookmark their QUICK LINKS TO TECHNICAL RESOURCES page.
b) Read their “Guidelines for the design and planning of secondary school science facilities in Australian schools’ document.
Keeping busy working from Home
Update labels if necessary, print and file alphabetically for easy reference
Going through filing cabinets and paperwork and organising things better so it’s easier to access certain things in less time
Making labels and signs, laminating and sticking on the Velcro tabs etc. ready for the wall
Taking home stick insects/mealworms/pets and care for them at home
Make up a few more quadrats for biology
Wash lab coats and sew on missing buttons/press studs
Redo experiment sheets and laminate them, update procedures etc. for student use
Sew fabric covers for all the microscopes to replace the old plastic ones that get torn and discoloured
I know this one is not for everyone, but I have sourced some periodic table fabric from Spotlight and am going to sew new curtains for the Science teaching staff office and the Lab Tech office. I also purchased some other science fabric to make tablecloths for both rooms.