CLEAPSS Supporting practical science and technology
CLEAPSS Technicians
CLEAPSS Supporting technicians

Technicians play a vital role in supporting the teaching of exciting, effective science safely. CLEAPSS provides guidance on all aspects of being a technician and resources such as stock lists, templates for laboratory checklists, requisition sheets, labels and much more to help technicians in their jobs. For help with finding these resources see here. CLEAPSS actively works with other organisations to raise the status of technicians in schools.

We also post details of technician networks and job vacancies.

If you need help or advice or would like to share a technician tip please get in touch by email or phone.

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Latest news from CLEAPSS..
Supply of chemicals - New Regulations

The regulations for supplying explosives precursors and poisons was updated on 27th September 2023 and came into force on 1st October. These put in place new requirements on the supply of certain chemicals which include the following commonly used in schools:

Explosives precursors: acetone, aluminium powders, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen peroxide, sulfur and sulfuric acid.

Poisons: ammonia, phenols, sodium hydroxide, sodium nitrite and sodium hypochlorite solutions. 

The regulations state that businesses and professional users should be verified by the supplier every time a new purchase is made of these regulated chemicals. 

 Where they are being supplied frequently or on a routine basis to the same professional user or business, verification should occur every 18 months or whenever there is a change or deviation from normal purchasing patterns. This is something suppliers can choose to do, but given schools don’t generally make frequent purchases of these chemicals, it is likely that the information will be required for each order.

The person making the sale (the supplier) must obtain the following from the business customer (i.e. the school):

<!--the business customer’s name and address. If the business customer is not an individual, the name of an individual who is authorised on behalf of the business customer should be recorded;

<!--a form of photographic identification of the business customer or, if the business customer is not an individual, of the individual making the purchase; this could be a school photo ID card

<!--a statement of the nature of the business customer’s trade, business or profession, or of the public function that the business customer performs; and the business customer’s VAT registration number, if the business customer has such a number

Your school will have to decide who is authorised on behalf of the business to make the purchase (the name on the order must match the individual). For schools it is most likely to be a technician, head of science or finance manager.

There is no licence which applies to these regulations, so there is nothing schools will need to apply for.

This information should be provided when requested by the company making the sale, there is no need to provide it in advance.

Further details including a list of the regulated substances and concentration thresholds can be found in the Explosives precursors and poisons: general guidance on the government website  

New edition of CLEAPSS guide GL016
We have just updated CLEAPSS Guide GL016 - Technical justification showing how L93 risk assessments meet the suitable and sufficient requirements of the Approved Code of Practice L121.

This revised version contains an additional table in Appendix 1 - that lists the dose rates at a range of distances for all the sources currently listed in L093.

The HSE have indicated that they will expect the RPS (schools) to have a copy this version and be aware of the dose rates for the sources in their school.
Heads of Science Training
Are you a head of science / subject / dept ? 

Not sure on how H&S law applies to you and your team ?

Then our H&S Course for HoD is ideal for you, find all the details here
CLEAPSS at the ASE Conference Northampton 2024
We were pleased to be returning to the ASE Conference in 2024 in Northampton.

Find our workshop details here.

Book your place with the ASE to join us here.


Teachers Risk Assessments
We have created a short video which covers the basics of how teachers should be manging risks in their practical lessons.

Watch it here and view the other related supporting guides.
Technicians Resources
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Members only resource Click to download Document.
Provides an overview and full index of all Laboratory Handbook sections.

Members only resource Click to download Document.
This edition includes notes on blood and cheek cell sampling, inappropriate dumping of waste chemicals, and the role and value of the CE mark on equipment.

Members only resource Click to download Document.
Some resources to help with checking the contents of Molymod molecular model sets after they've been used in lessons.

Members only resource Click to download Document.
Crude oil refinery is a foundation industry, providing fuel products for heating and transport, and raw materials for many further industries, including polymer and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Fract.. more

Members only resource Click to download Document.
Risk assessment guidance for carbon disulfide.

Members only resource Click to download Document.
Risk assessment guidance for Salicylic acid, aspirin & similar esters

Members only resource Click to download Document.
Guidance on the preparation and disposal of potassium metabisulfite and sodium metabisulfite solutions.

Free resource Click to download Document.
A portfolio of designs of school science laboratories, by Andy Piggott for the ASE

Members only resource Click to download Document.
A straightforward investigation using simple equipment which will allow students to confirm Boyle's law.

Members only resource Click to download Document.
This leaflet is intended to give brief details only of the major manufacturers and suppliers of electronic balances suitable for use in science within secondary schools and colleges.

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