With the current tough economy, leasing laboratory equipment could be the way to go for many labs that must now work with very tight budgets. Though leasing does carry some risk, it also has many advantages. 

Do you get frustrated with the Gen Y’ers in your lab? Do you find them to be lazy, apathetic and self-absorbed? Do you sometimes say to yourself, “Where did this generation’s parents go wrong?” Good news! Gen Y is as hard working as any generation before.

Label All Chemicals to Show the Name of the Material, the Nature and Degree of Hazard, the Appropriate Precautions, and the Name of the Person Responsible for the Container.

But for How Long?

Whether they are developing a new drug, dish detergent, airplane parts or computer chips, companies with heavy R&D requirements face a number of tough challenges. The ongoing economic recession means that businesses everywhere need to rein in spending and do more with less.

Tips for managing your laboratory research dollars.

This column over the last year has dealt with many lab-related workforce issues, but one constant running through them has been the need for versatilability™—not just when it comes to the people managers hire, but in every aspect of a lab's business.

First try to understand why they do what they do.

The National Safety Council reports that about 1000 people are electrocuted each year in the United States. That means grounded plugs on all electrical equipment in the lab are very important.

We have written previously on LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) certification program for green buildings. In this column, the Safety Guys will look at some of the potential health and safety issues involved when building green.