Lab and Prep Room Science Technician Checklist

How often should science laboratories be checked?

Science technicians play an essential role in keeping practical science running safely and efficiently. A well maintained laboratory is not simply about having the right equipment. It is about making sure facilities work, safety equipment is available, faults are reported, stock is controlled and practical resources are ready when teachers and students need them.

Regular checks can help identify problems before they affect a lesson. They also give technicians a structured way to record issues and follow up maintenance with the appropriate person or team.

This checklist is designed as a practical starting point for secondary schools and colleges. It does not replace your school's health and safety policy, local procedures, risk assessments, manufacturer's instructions or specialist inspection and testing requirements.

A useful approach is to separate checks into:

• Routine visual checks: Carried out regularly by technicians as part of normal departmental practice.
• Pre use checks: Appropriate for equipment or facilities where condition can change through use.
• Scheduled maintenance and servicing: Carried out at intervals determined by the equipment, manufacturer, risk assessment or school maintenance arrangements.
• Specialist inspection and testing: Undertaken by a suitably competent person where required.

The important point is to have a system that identifies what needs checking, who is responsible, when it was checked and what happened when a fault was found.

DfE guidance emphasises that schools should clearly define responsibilities, identify health and safety issues, take appropriate action and monitor and review arrangements.

1. Health, safety and emergency equipment checklist

Key checks for safety and emergency readiness include:

• Is the appropriate PPE available for technicians and teachers?
• Are sufficient safety goggles available, clean and suitable for student use?
• Are specialist PPE requirements identified for relevant practicals?
• Are emergency eyewash facilities available, accessible and in good condition?
• Are emergency procedures and contact information clearly displayed?
• Are first aid arrangements appropriate for the department and known to staff?
• Are spill kits available where required and appropriately stocked?
• Are fire extinguishers, fire blankets and associated signage present and unobstructed?
• Are emergency exits and routes clear?
• Are safety signs present, legible and appropriate?
• Are laboratory doors, access controls and locks functioning correctly?
• Are staff aware of relevant local rules and emergency procedures?

First aid provision should be based on the school's first aid needs assessment, with suitable equipment, facilities and personnel available.

Remember that specialist servicing and inspection of fire safety equipment is not simply a routine technician check. Follow your school's fire safety arrangements and use competent contractors where required.

2. Laboratory facilities checklist

Key checks for laboratory infrastructure and environment:

• Are sinks clear of debris and draining correctly?
• Are taps secure and functioning correctly?
• Are there any leaks around taps, sinks or pipework?
• Are handwashing facilities supplied with soap and suitable drying facilities?
• Are laboratory worktops free from significant damage?
• Are floors free from trip hazards, damage and loose surfaces?
• Are benches and stools/desks stable and in good condition?
• Are windows, blinds and doors functioning correctly?
• Are ventilation systems operating as expected?
• Are fume cupboards visibly in good condition and free from unnecessary storage?
• Are fume cupboard test/service records current?
• Are electrical sockets, switches and visible cables free from obvious damage?
• Are gas taps and associated fittings visibly in good condition?
• Is the gas supply subject to the school's required maintenance and inspection programme?
• Are lighting and room controls functioning correctly?

A note about gas and electrical checks

Technicians should not be expected to carry out specialist electrical or gas testing.

For gas installations and appliances, DfE guidance states that maintenance must comply with gas safety requirements and that gas work should be carried out by a suitably competent, Gas Safe registered engineer.

Similarly, HSE does not require every portable electrical appliance to undergo an annual PAT test. Employers must ensure equipment is maintained so that it does not present danger, using a proportionate, risk-based approach. Visual inspection is an important part of that system.

For technicians, the practical question is therefore often: "Is this equipment visibly safe to use, and if not, have I taken it out of service and reported it?"

3. Laboratory equipment and glassware checklist

Key checks for daily apparatus and glass items:

• Is laboratory glassware clean and stored appropriately?
• Have chipped, cracked or damaged glass items been removed from use?
• Are test tubes and racks clean and ready for use?
• Are measuring cylinders, beakers and flasks available in appropriate class quantities?
• Are thermometers and temperature sensors functioning correctly?
• Are balances clean, functioning and stored appropriately?
• Are microscopes clean, functional and ready for planned practicals?
• Are microscope slides and coverslips appropriately stocked?
• Are tripods, gauzes and heatproof mats in usable condition?
• Are Bunsen burners and associated equipment in appropriate condition?
• Are electrical leads, power supplies and other practical equipment free from visible damage?
• Are demonstration safety screens available where required?
• Are equipment class sets complete enough for planned practical work?
• Are charging leads, rechargeable equipment and batteries ready for use?

The aim is not to check every item every time. Use your practical programme and equipment usage to identify which checks need to be routine and which can form part of a periodic stock or condition audit.

4. Prep room and chemical store checklist

Key checks for chemicals and prep room storage:

• Are chemicals stored according to the department's procedures and relevant hazard information?
• Are incompatible substances appropriately segregated?
• Are containers clearly labelled and in suitable condition?
• Are damaged, leaking or deteriorating containers dealt with promptly?
• Are chemical stocks reviewed regularly rather than simply replenished automatically?
• Are chemicals approaching expiry identified where shelf life is relevant?
• Are waste chemicals and other hazardous waste managed through the school's agreed procedures?
• Are chemical storage areas secure and appropriately organised?
• Is the chemical store free from unnecessary clutter?
• Are fume cupboard inspection/testing records current?
• Is the fume cupboard free from inappropriate storage when it is required for practical work?
• Are relevant emergency and spill procedures readily available?

Chemical management is an area where a good stock system can save both time and money. Reviewing what is actually being used can prevent unnecessary duplicate purchasing while ensuring essential reagents are available for the practical programme.

CLEAPSS provide guidance for schools and colleges on the storage and disposal of hazardous chemicals and materials.

5. Specialist equipment checklist

Not every department will need every item below. Include only equipment relevant to your curriculum and local regulations.

• Are biological specimens and prepared materials appropriately stored?
• Are cultures and biological materials managed according to departmental procedures?
• Are incubators clean and functioning correctly?
• Are autoclave servicing and maintenance records current, where applicable?
• Are centrifuges, water baths and other specialist equipment functioning correctly?
• Are specialist electrical and electronic devices charged and ready?
• Are radioactive sources present and accounted for where applicable?
• Are required records, inspections and leakage tests for radioactive sources current?
• Are deionisers or water purification equipment maintained where applicable?

For specialist equipment, the checklist should point to the relevant maintenance or inspection record rather than asking a technician to perform technical tests outside their competence.

6. Practical readiness checklist

A safe laboratory also needs to be a ready laboratory. Before a new term or significant period of practical work, consider:

• Have upcoming practicals been reviewed against available equipment?
• Are sufficient quantities of essential apparatus available?
• Are commonly used consumables sufficiently stocked?
• Are class sets complete?
• Are damaged or missing items identified before they are needed?
• Are rechargeable devices charged?
• Are balances, microscopes and other frequently used equipment ready?
• Are practical instructions and preparation requirements clear?
• Are equipment and chemicals stored where technicians can access them efficiently?
• Are outstanding maintenance issues recorded and followed up?

This is where a checklist becomes more than a safety document. It can become part of the department's practical planning system.

A technician who identifies a missing power supply, damaged glassware or non-functioning microscope before the lesson has created considerably more flexibility than one who discovers it five minutes before students enter the laboratory.

7. What should happen when you find a fault?

A useful checklist should not simply record Yes or No. For every issue, consider recording:

• What was found?
• Where is it?
• Does it need to be taken out of service?
• Who has been informed?
• Does it require specialist maintenance?
• What is the priority?
• When should it be followed up?
• Has the issue been resolved?

For equipment that may be unsafe, follow your school's procedures for removing it from use and reporting the fault.

This creates a simple audit trail and helps prevent recurring problems from becoming part of the department's normal routine.

Building a manageable checking routine

You do not need to inspect everything every day. A more manageable approach is to divide checks into daily, weekly, termly and scheduled maintenance activities, based on your department's risk assessment, equipment and workload.

Daily / before practical use

• Visual condition of equipment being used
• Obvious damage
• Availability of required resources
• Emergency access and exits
• Any immediate laboratory hazards

Weekly or according to local regulations

• Frequently used equipment
• PPE and emergency supplies
• Prep room organisation
• Spill kits and consumables
• Equipment requiring regular condition checks

Termly

• Broader laboratory and prep room condition review
• Stock review
• Equipment audit
• Outstanding maintenance
• Practical readiness for the next term

Scheduled

• Specialist servicing
• Fume cupboard testing
• Gas safety work
• Fixed electrical installation inspection
• Equipment specific servicing and certification

The exact schedule should reflect your school’s arrangements, risk assessments, manufacturers' instructions and the equipment you have.

The bottom line

A good science technician checklist should make the department safer, more prepared and easier to manage. Not create unnecessary paperwork.

The best systems combine routine visual checks with clear escalation routes for anything requiring specialist inspection or maintenance. They also use the practical programme to inform what equipment, consumables and facilities need attention.

You are not expected to identify or repair every technical fault yourself. The important thing is knowing what you can safely check, recognising when something needs to be taken out of service, and making sure the right person knows what needs attention.

Browse laboratory essentials, explore science equipment or speak to our technical team for advice on choosing the right products for your department.