Tips for efficient maintenance and regular inspection of equipment at a low cost.
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Let's perform periodic self-inspections
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Grasp (Know) exactly the state of the equipment.
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Tips for lower ordering costs to traders
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Inspect on your own
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Utilize the data resulting from inspection
【Let's perform periodic self-inspections】
The best way to avoid sudden problems is to perform preventive maintenance.
The best way is to carry out "periodic self-inspection" (once within one year) stipulated by laws and regulations, and that is exactly why it is required by the law.
Guidelines for specific methods of self-inspection can be easily obtained.
If there is no professional knowledge available, or there are no human resources within the organization capable of responding, you can ask a contractor who conducts inspection and maintenance of research and experimental equipment.
【Grasp exactly the state of the equipment!】
"Local exhaust system" refers not only to the hood installed indoors but also to a whole series of systems such as ducts, dampers, exhaust fans and exhaust ports.
There are surprisingly many organizations that do not know the route of ducts of their laboratory and the location of exhaust fans.
Even if you have a blueprint of the building, it does not necessarily mean that construction was done exactly as in the blueprint.
If the fume hood exhaust suddenly stops, do you know where to check?
When outsourcing a periodic self-inspection to a specialist, it would be better to request the creation of materials that can grasp the state of the equipment.
【Tips for lower ordering costs to traders】
Overhead costs such as labor and transportation expenses account for a large percentage of the cost of hiring a contractor for the inspection.
Increasing the number of local exhaust ventilators to be checked in a day, or requesting them in a concentrated number of days if they can't be completed in one day, will lead cost reduction by “asking collectively".
In the case of a university, the more you "put together" a group rather than a lab unit, a building unit, a department, a division or a whole university, the lower the cost will be.
The compilation process takes a lot of time and effort to decide on a department to implement, but once it is in place, it is possible to select a contractor through bidding.
【Self-inspection】
According to the term periodic self-inspection itself, it is possible to perform and inspection by yourself/yourselves.
If you do not know how, at first, it is good to ask specialists or occupational health consultants for training.
Some have actually established a training system within their own organizations and are conducting regular voluntary inspections themselves.
Since the instruments used for inspection are expensive and require regular calibration, it is practical to use them in common.
If you do it yourself, you will only have to pay for the labor costs of the implementer and the maintenance costs of the measuring instruments. It's not easy to do the repairs yourself, so you can just ask a specialist to do them.
【Use data from the inspection!】
If you carry out periodic self-inspection, properly obtain the data and utilize the results!
Use also the history of repairs and parts replacement that came from the inspections.
For example, if you can get data to manage when the exhaust fan belt needs to be replaced next, you can avoid being at the mercy of the contractor and file a complaint if it breaks soon after replacement.
Deterioration of equipment usually depends on the good handling and operating time.
Depending on the operating conditions of the individual equipment, the necessary treatment may differ.
In addition, the machine may have its own peculiarity.
By accumulating inspection results and converting them into data and utilizing them, it is possible to improve safety and reduce costs.
