Laboratory freezers play an essential role in preserving and safeguarding research and assets. However, there's a common tendency among laboratories to prioritize the aftermath of a freezer failure.
Last updated: February 23, 2024
While navigating the consequences of failure is undeniably important, we would like to shift our attention to prevention – an essential yet challenging concept companies struggle to navigate. The difficulty arises from the myriad of solutions available and the variety of vendors presenting technologies that appear similar. In situations like these, it’s key to meticulously address the preventive measures that should be in place to avert asset loss, fully understanding their scope and implementation. It’s equally vital to recognize that the vulnerability of your equipment to failure poses a significant risk – one that could not only lead to financial losses in the millions but also severely hamper your research, particularly if critical assets are compromised.
In the following sections, we will review a freezer maintenance checklist, going into the considerations that go beyond mere box-ticking and incorporating advice and expertise from the XiltriX SafetyNet Team. With over 30 years of monitoring experience, the SafetyNet team has meticulously developed a comprehensive guide to assist users in the life science industry in safeguarding against freezer malfunctions and minimizing potential asset losses. Additionally, we'll explore the importance of understanding human responses during crises, ensuring that your lab personnel are better prepared to navigate such situations.
The first line of defense against freezer failure is a monitoring system. The second one is establishing a monthly preventative maintenance routine. To make this simple, we created a comprehensive template with detailed explanations designed to be a valuable reference for maintaining these practices.
Freezer Maintenance Checklist
During a crisis, the common response from most users tends to be one of panic and uncertainty — “I don’t know what to do…Maybe I’ll check tomorrow…There’s nothing I can do…”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a study that dissects the psychology of a crisis, and the results are a true representation of the behavior we’ve noticed customers adopt during equipment failure. People going through a crisis tend to:
It has been proven that “people want messages confirmed before taking action.” It’s no surprise that users in the lab are more likely to take the right action if they speak to a credible source during a crisis. The value of live agent support is of the essence when users encounter alarms and struggle to interpret them accurately.
When confronted with a freezer failure alarm, it’s key to pivot towards quick and informed action. Even if you’re dealing with the best-trained lab personnel, that doesn’t mean they will respond accordingly. Issues in the lab and potential mistakes are exacerbated when more personnel are involved.
Having a team of 24/7 live monitoring agents to act as an extension of your team can provide invaluable support, helping your team navigate the crisis effectively. With that in mind, it’s important to consider these precautions during the alarm: