Unit 4: Laboratory Techniques and their Application
GlaxoSmithKline- GSK
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is a pharmaceutical company which is a global business that research,
develops and manufactures pharmaceutical medicines, vaccines, and consumer healthcare
products; this improves the health of millions of people around the world. The
pharmaceutical business involves innovating and establishing medicines in respiratory; HIV,
immune-inflammation, and oncology. The company is strengthening the research and
development network through a focus on immunology, human genetics, and advanced
technologies to help the company transform new medicines for patients. GSK vaccine
company is one of the world’s largest, delivering vaccines that protect people at all stages of
life. The company’s research and development aim on developing vaccines against
infectious diseases that combine high medical need and strong marketing potential.
Furthermore, the world-leading consumer healthcare products business combines science
and consumer insights to create innovative everyday healthcare brands that consumers
trust, and experts recommend.
(https://www.gsk.com/media/5894/annual-report.pdf).
When working for an organisation it is essential that there are legal responsibilities
implemented for employers. Companies are legally obliged to create a healthy and safe
working conditions with safe procedures and working environment. The law states that:
- The employer is responsible for the health and safety of the workforce, including
staff and contractors. Any guests and general public who may come into contact with
the workplace, its products and the local environment, the employer will also be
responsible for their health and safety.
- The employers are also responsible for their own health and safety and their
colleagues.
GSK has a commitment to safety which requires the organisation to guarantee no physical
harm comes to any of their people while they are at work. To focus on their goal of no harm
to their employees they concentrate on preventing incidents before they occur, this is done
through guaranteeing there is appropriate training and awareness activities.
Main legislations that the company abides by:
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
The company guarantees to abide by country laws and regulations that apply to the
company across the world. The organisation is accountable in following The Health and
Safety Executive rules. The HSE is an independent regulator that aims to prevent work-
, related ill-health, injury, and death. HSE is significant to the company GSK as it ensures that
employees are not injured or made ill by the work they do and that they can develop a
positive healthy and safe environment in their workplace, and then become second nature
to workers. HSE can make unannounced inspections and shut a site down if there is
something majorly wrong or if there is an incident/accident; as a result, senior managers
may be prosecuted.
(https://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/charities.htm).
GSK ensures that The Health and Safety Executive rules are followed through conducting
health and safety risk assessments. They do this by reviewing workplace systems and to see
whether any dangers are existing. In order to ensure basic lab safety all employees must
follow these steps:
- If there are any spillages clear up all immediately.
- A tidy work area must be maintained at all times.
- Make sure hands are kept clean and wash at all times.
- Make sure correct PPE is worn at all times: a laboratory coat, eye protection, hair is
tied back and out of the way, wear gloves if necessary, not wearing any clothing that
exposes the skin for example shorts and t-shirts.
- Make sure containers/bottles are labelled correctly and making sure none of them
are mixed up at any point.
- Do not eat or drink in the laboratory or eat without sterilising hands properly.
- Frequently check if glassware is not cracked or damaged that could put you at risk,
and that all equipment is safe to use.
- Organise workspace so it is clear and tidy.
- Conduct risk assessments every day or every time a practical takes place.
Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals
Regulation (REACH)
Chemicals are used at every stage in pharmaceutical, vaccine and consumer healthcare
production. Chemicals are necessary to GSK to enable them to carry out research into the
causes of disease, the discovery of new medicines, the manufacture of active
pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and in the formulation of the products. “The types of
chemicals that are used include reagents, catalysts, solvents, acids and bases, intermediates,
surfactants, biocides, colours and flavourings and a wide variety of excipients”. There are
GlaxoSmithKline- GSK
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is a pharmaceutical company which is a global business that research,
develops and manufactures pharmaceutical medicines, vaccines, and consumer healthcare
products; this improves the health of millions of people around the world. The
pharmaceutical business involves innovating and establishing medicines in respiratory; HIV,
immune-inflammation, and oncology. The company is strengthening the research and
development network through a focus on immunology, human genetics, and advanced
technologies to help the company transform new medicines for patients. GSK vaccine
company is one of the world’s largest, delivering vaccines that protect people at all stages of
life. The company’s research and development aim on developing vaccines against
infectious diseases that combine high medical need and strong marketing potential.
Furthermore, the world-leading consumer healthcare products business combines science
and consumer insights to create innovative everyday healthcare brands that consumers
trust, and experts recommend.
(https://www.gsk.com/media/5894/annual-report.pdf).
When working for an organisation it is essential that there are legal responsibilities
implemented for employers. Companies are legally obliged to create a healthy and safe
working conditions with safe procedures and working environment. The law states that:
- The employer is responsible for the health and safety of the workforce, including
staff and contractors. Any guests and general public who may come into contact with
the workplace, its products and the local environment, the employer will also be
responsible for their health and safety.
- The employers are also responsible for their own health and safety and their
colleagues.
GSK has a commitment to safety which requires the organisation to guarantee no physical
harm comes to any of their people while they are at work. To focus on their goal of no harm
to their employees they concentrate on preventing incidents before they occur, this is done
through guaranteeing there is appropriate training and awareness activities.
Main legislations that the company abides by:
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
The company guarantees to abide by country laws and regulations that apply to the
company across the world. The organisation is accountable in following The Health and
Safety Executive rules. The HSE is an independent regulator that aims to prevent work-
, related ill-health, injury, and death. HSE is significant to the company GSK as it ensures that
employees are not injured or made ill by the work they do and that they can develop a
positive healthy and safe environment in their workplace, and then become second nature
to workers. HSE can make unannounced inspections and shut a site down if there is
something majorly wrong or if there is an incident/accident; as a result, senior managers
may be prosecuted.
(https://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/charities.htm).
GSK ensures that The Health and Safety Executive rules are followed through conducting
health and safety risk assessments. They do this by reviewing workplace systems and to see
whether any dangers are existing. In order to ensure basic lab safety all employees must
follow these steps:
- If there are any spillages clear up all immediately.
- A tidy work area must be maintained at all times.
- Make sure hands are kept clean and wash at all times.
- Make sure correct PPE is worn at all times: a laboratory coat, eye protection, hair is
tied back and out of the way, wear gloves if necessary, not wearing any clothing that
exposes the skin for example shorts and t-shirts.
- Make sure containers/bottles are labelled correctly and making sure none of them
are mixed up at any point.
- Do not eat or drink in the laboratory or eat without sterilising hands properly.
- Frequently check if glassware is not cracked or damaged that could put you at risk,
and that all equipment is safe to use.
- Organise workspace so it is clear and tidy.
- Conduct risk assessments every day or every time a practical takes place.
Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals
Regulation (REACH)
Chemicals are used at every stage in pharmaceutical, vaccine and consumer healthcare
production. Chemicals are necessary to GSK to enable them to carry out research into the
causes of disease, the discovery of new medicines, the manufacture of active
pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and in the formulation of the products. “The types of
chemicals that are used include reagents, catalysts, solvents, acids and bases, intermediates,
surfactants, biocides, colours and flavourings and a wide variety of excipients”. There are
