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.

Latest news from CLEAPSS..

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in Schools

Updated : 2nd March 2022

Various minor revisions to align with new DfE and HSE guidance.

GL343 - Guide to doing practical work during the COVID-19 Pandemic – Science

Student Safety Sheets - 2022 Update

Are you about to print off a set of Student Safety Sheets?

Then you may want to wait, we are in the process of fully revising them and plan to publish this all new edition in the Autumn term.

HSE inspection of schools holding radioactive sources in science

The Health and Safety Executive’s Field Operations Division has contacted CLEAPSS (and SSERC for Scotland) to explain it is undertaking a programme of inspections across England, Wales and Scotland to see how schools manage the safe use and storage of the radioactive sources used in science teaching. An inspection programme may come as a surprise to some when you consider the relatively low risk of these sources compared to those used in universities and hospitals. But low risk does not mean exemption from inspection.

The HSE has accepted our offer to provide their inspectors with an introduction to the importance of radioactive sources in practical science, and to explain the approach taken in CLEAPSS Guide L93 on how to manage the sources safely and meet all the regulatory requirements.

You can read more about this on the HSE eBulletin page here.

Ahead of the inspection programme, our advice for schools in England and Wales is to go through the checklist 16.1 in the latest edition of L93 and make sure they have the appropriate arrangements in place.

If you have any questions regarding this, if possible please email science@cleapss.org.uk rather than calling the helpline, unless it is urgent, as we are in the middle of moving into our new offices at the moment.

CLEAPSS is moving!

We will be moving to our new offices

The CLEAPSS Helpline number will stay the same and will remain operational during and after the move.

We will however have reduced capacity to respond during this time.

Thank you for bearing with us.

GL227 - CLEAPSS Fume Cupboard Testing

Now fully revised - GL227

This guidance lists the suppliers/manufacturers of fume cupboards and fume cupboard filters intended for the schools market.

To support schools buying fume cupboards, we have an updated buying guide GL123.

Please note that CLEAPSS no longer carries out routine fume cupboard testing / approval. Therefore, we have removed all references of fume cupboards which have or haven’t been tested / ‘passed’ by ourselves.

Any such claims cited in any sales or technical specifications should be ignored and referred to CLEAPSS via the Helpline. (N.B. It will take some time for companies to update their websites and sales literature, this updated guide was published in Feb 2022).

We have replaced our CLEAPSS fume cupboard testing scheme with a manufacturer based approval

process. This is where the manufacturer of the fume cupboard, asserts that their fume cupboard(s) meets the requirements as per the CLEAPSS guide G9.

This process will be totally external to CLEAPSS, although we do intend to carry out random spot checks to ensure this system isn’t being abused. The process is similar to other sectors where a self-approval has proved to be effective.

If you find a fume cupboard advertised as meeting the requirements in Guide G9 (sections 4 & 5 are the most relevant for this), and you feel that it does not meet parts of Guide G9 then please contact us via the Helpline.

Technicians Resources

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Handbook - Preface

Provides an overview and full index of all Laboratory Handbook sections.

Bulletin 095 - Spring 1996

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.

Tech Tip - Contents sheets for Molymod molecular model sets

Some resources to help with checking the contents of Molymod molecular model sets after they've been used in lessons.

PP081 - Fractional Distillation of Crude Oil

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

HC020b - Carbon disulfide

Risk assessment guidance for carbon disulfide.

HC052 - Salicylic acid, aspirin & similar esters

Risk assessment guidance for Salicylic acid, aspirin & similar esters

RB112 - Metabisulfite solutions

Guidance on the preparation and disposal of potassium metabisulfite and sodium metabisulfite solutions.

PP028 - Investigating gas laws 1 - pressure/volume (Boyle's law)

A straightforward investigation using simple equipment which will allow students to confirm Boyle's law.

PS063 - Manufacturers and suppliers of electronic balances

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.

GL269 Microbiology guidance index

Briefly lists all CLEAPSS documents relevant to school microbiology.

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