Title
Why
It is important that electricity supply is guaranteed. In case of power-failure electricity needs to remain available in the laboratory rooms and for critical equipment such as the computer server. For example: if one is working in a flow cabinet with hazardous pathogens, the cabinet should not shut down in case of a power failure, endangering the staff member because the pathogens are now not removed from the flow cabinet. Another example is the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test: when a PCR is running a shut-down due to power failure would negatively influence the examination or even make it useless.
What
Install a generator that switches on in case of electricity failure. Install an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) for equipment that should never be shut down at all (such as flow cabinets and PCR machines). Incubators and freezers/refrigerators do not necessarily have to be connected to a UPS; short power breaks will not influence bacterial growth as long as electricity will be supplied again when the generator has started. Also install voltage regulators/stabilizers on equipment sensitive to power fluctuations.
How & who
Biosafety Officer:
- Make a list of equipment that should be connected to a generator.
- Make a list of equipment that should be connected to a UPS.
- Make a list of equipment that should be connected to a voltage regulator/stabilizer.
- Calculate how large the capacity of the generator should be and how many UPSs and voltage regulators/stabilizers are needed.
- Report this to the Laboratory Manager.
Laboratory manager:
- Enable funding for financing the purchase of a generator of sufficient capacity, UPSs and voltage regulators/stabilizers.
- Order the generator, UPSs and voltage regulators/stabilizers needed.
- Facilitate connection of critical equipment to the generator and UPSs.
- Add a line to the yearly budget for fuel for the generator
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