What Should My Laboratory Desk Look Like?

Most people who think of desks think about a large wooden desk with pictures of kids or a spouse, with perhaps a coffee cup or a plant. However, laboratory desks or laboratory workstations are different than a regular desk would be, because of the nature of the work. If you are working in a laboratory, or you manage one, there are things you need to think about when you are designing space for a professional to work. Here are some of the items you need to consider when you are designing a workspace.

What Kind of Work Will Be Done?

Some labs have a laboratory desk that is separate from the work area, while others have laboratory workstations where all the work is done. You need to think about the kind of work that is done in the lab. The most common type of laboratories are chemical ones. Chemical labs need specialized work areas for people to experiment. If you are working with chemicals, you will need a surface that is easily cleaned and impervious to chemicals. A wood desk would not be suitable here, because chemicals can cause deterioration of the wood, or it can rot. A better surface would be stainless steel or powder coated steel, as they clean easily and are impervious to most chemicals.

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Does your facility need new laboratory furniture?

If you own a lab, then you know that cleanliness and the ability to sterilize with ease is important. You do a number of important tasks in the lab, and due to this, it is important that you have the necessary furniture that not only makes it possible but gives you enough space to comfortably work. This can only be done with the ideal furniture for the space.

Whether or not your lab requires new lab furniture depends on a few specifics of the space and what you are currently using, if anything, within the space. Here are some points to consider if you’re unsure of whether your lab needs new furniture to use.

Signs Your Facility Needs New Lab Furniture

When you notice any of these signs in your space, it might be time to make the switch to something newer, better, larger or just something that fits in with the needs that you have.

• You find that you do not have enough space to do the work that needs to be done, as this can cause you to look for further counter space to do the work on.

• The furniture you are currently using is not up to standards for the quality control in the space, as some spaces require more quality control and sterilization than others, which is huge in any lab facility.

• You notice that your lab does not have enough counter space to work on, or it might be cluttered, and you want to remove the clutter from the space that you are working on.89

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Storage Solutions for your Laboratory

When it comes to creating a laboratory, it is important to have the right storage solutions. From the stockroom to the workspace, you need to have the right storage solutions in place for the laboratory to run smoothly. Below are a few tips on storage solutions as well as options for setting up your lab space for quality control as well as productivity.

Stockroom Organization

If you have a laboratory, then you most likely have a stockroom or space where you place all of your necessary supplies. You don’t want to waste time by running out of what you need or spend more money because you duplicated orders for the stockroom. With the right organization in place, you can improve your purchase orders and have everything you need in its rightful place ready to use.

When organizing your stockroom, take advantage of labels and shelving. Have a place for every chemical, cleaning agent, etc. that you need, so that everyone in the lab can access items and know when something needs to be reordered. It can be helpful to have a list or notepad for jotting down items needed with the manager taking a look at the list every week and supplied reordered.

Storage Options for your Lab

In a lab, the environment needs to be controlled for experiments to work and testing to be done correctly. Everything should have its place and no changes made unless everyone is on board. The day will run smoothly if all lab techs know where tools and supplies are. In a lab space, your storage options may be limited. Instead of choosing bulky cabinetry, consider going vertical. Shelving on walls can be a great addition to offer you storage without taking up floor space. You can easily run shelving along the walls, having somewhere for your supplies to rest in-between experiments.

Going vertical can be very helpful when it comes to storing supplies. From wall shelving to tall shelving units, going up can help to take up less floor space and provide the storage solutions you need for the lab.

Dealing with Clutter

It is also important to clean out the laboratory every few months to give yourself more space for supplies. Take a look at your stockroom and lab storage. Are there items that you are no longer using or perhaps something is out of date? If so, chuck it. Do not hold on to items that only create clutter in the lab. If you have broken equipment or obsolete equipment, get rid of it. There is no reason for the equipment to be taking up space that you could use for other things.

Staying organized and cleaning up the clutter on a regular basis will ensure the lab operates smoothly day in and day out. Take a look at your lab and see what changes you can make that will be helpful. Contact us today to learn more about storage solutions like cabinetry that can be beneficial to your business.