Tag: labs

Equifax launches International AI Innovation Lab in Ireland

Equifax has announced the opening of its state-of-the-art AI Innovation Lab at its operation in Wexford, Ireland, a new facility dedicated to advancing the company’s global artificial intelligence research and development. The new Lab builds on the company’s more than 10-year history of AI innovation and expands its global team of over 1,200 data and analytics professionals.

This investment, supported by the Irish Government, through IDA Ireland, will serve as a global hub for innovation, bringing together highly skilled data and technology specialists to create next-generation AI solutions that enhance decision-making, improve customer and consumer experiences, and help global organisations reduce risk.

The AI Innovation Lab will focus on developing advanced AI models, machine learning algorithms, Research and Development, and data analytics tools to address complex challenges faced by businesses and consumers. For its initial phase, the lab will concentrate on AI-driven solutions for credit risk assessment that can augment decision-making for fintechs and financial institutions. These innovations will leverage advanced AI to provide affordability and creditworthiness insights, helping more people access mainstream financial opportunities and driving greater financial inclusion. This includes enhancing fraud detection, improving credit risk assessment, optimising marketing strategies, and strengthening cybersecurity measures.

The lab will play an important role in advancing the Equifax global EFX.AI strategy, furthering the company’s ongoing innovation and the development of data-driven solutions that can help open up new financial opportunities for consumers.

Ceann Comhairle, Verona Murphy TD, said: “The Equifax decision to establish its AI Innovation Lab in Wexford is a powerful vote of confidence in Wexford and the South East Region, this investment highlights the highly skilled workforce and culture of innovation on offer in Wexford for companies that wish to expand their offering globally.”

Paul Heywood, Chief Data & Analytics Officer for Equifax Europe, commented: “Our new AI Innovation Lab is designed to empower financial institutions with the tools needed to make smarter, faster, and more confident credit decisions, helping more consumers live their financial best. Through the AI Innovation Lab, and by harnessing our unique data and insights within  the Equifax Cloud, we are committed to delivering secure, reliable, and innovative best-in-class solutions for businesses and consumers alike.

Driving AI innovation is a key EFX2027 Strategic Priority. We are incredibly excited to expand our Wexford team through this investment and have immense confidence in the calibre and expertise of the marketplace in Ireland and specifically in the South East, as evidenced by our thirty-year presence in Wexford town.”

Deirdre O’Connor, Head of Regional Development, IDA Ireland said: ‘I wish to congratulate Equifax on the opening of this AI Innovation lab. Artificial Intelligence is a key growth driver in IDA Ireland’s new strategy ‘Adapt Intelligently.’ The Equifax decision to expand its presence in Wexford is a testament to Ireland’s position as a hub for global innovation and AI. I am delighted that this will bring Equifax employment in Wexford to 100 employees and would like to wish them every success with this AI Innovation Lab.’’ 

The official opening on 10 September 2025 brought together senior Equifax leaders, Raghu Kulkarni, Chief AI Officer; Ritu Sharma, SVP, Global AI Governance and Model Risk Management; Elizabeth Chapman, VP Operations, Transformation and Change; and Paul Heywood, Chief Data and Analytics Officer for Equifax UK; as well as government representatives, and industry stakeholders including IDA Ireland.

WiSAR Lab Selected by Silicon Austria Labs for ESA-Funded CubeSat Communications Project

Silicon Austria Labs (SAL) has appointed ATU’s WiSAR Lab to a new ESA-funded project, ‘Enhancing CubeSat Communication: Beam Steering Antenna Systems.” The project is focused on advancing CubeSat communication with cutting-edge beam-steering solutions.

Dr. Nick Timmons, Director of the WiSAR Lab, highlighted the significance of the project, stating:
“This project represents a significant step forward in CubeSat communication technology. By leveraging advanced beam-steering solutions, we aim to overcome key challenges in space-based communication, enhancing data transmission efficiency and reliability. Our collaboration with Silicon Austria Labs and the European Space Agency underscores the importance of innovation in satellite communications, and we are excited to contribute to the future of space technology.”

Project Objectives

The primary goal is to enhance CubeSat communication circuitry by leveraging beam-steering technologies to overcome size and power limitations. The project will focus on identifying and implementing the most effective beam-steering solutions tailored to various CubeSat applications.

Background

CubeSats have gained popularity due to their compact size, low weight, and modular design, making them valuable tools for Earth observation, telecommunications, scientific research, and education. The increasing demand from governmental and private sectors has driven significant growth in the CubeSat market.

Despite their advantages, CubeSats face challenges in communication due to limited power supply and constrained coverage areas. To address these issues, beam-steering technologies offer a viable solution by dynamically adjusting signal directionality, thereby improving transmission and reception efficiency.

By integrating these technologies, the project aims to enhance data transmission rates, extend communication range, and improve reliability, unlocking new potential for CubeSat missions.

Significance and Impact

The successful integration of beam-steering technologies into CubeSat systems will revolutionize small-satellite communications, making them more capable and efficient for scientific, commercial, and educational applications.

Project Scope

This research will conduct a comprehensive analysis of state-of-the-art CubeSat communication, focusing on advancements in beam-steering antennas. Key aspects include:

  • Assessing power constraints, miniaturization, and CubeSat integration challenges.
  • Investigating cutting-edge technologies such as phased array systems, metasurface-based designs, and reconfigurable antennas.
  • Proposing a hybrid beam-steering system by designing a passive antenna to optimize CubeSat communication.

By advancing CubeSat communication capabilities, this project will contribute to the broader development of space technologies, paving the way for more efficient and adaptable small-satellite missions.

Spaceflux Wins Dstl Contract for Infra-Red Sensor Technology Demonstrator System and Launches Spaceflux Labs

Spaceflux, a leading provider of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) solutions, has been awarded the “Infra-Red Sensor Technology Demonstrator System for Space Domain Awareness” contract by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), a UK Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) executive agency.

The contract to design and build an infrared telescope testbed to de-risk the technology for ground-based surveillance and characterisation of satellites marks a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to advancing SSA capabilities and reinforces the firm’s position as a world leader in SSA. This project will be led by Spaceflux’s new innovation hub, Spaceflux Labs, a dedicated research division that will propel the future of SSA technology. 

Spaceflux Unveils Unique Daytime Satellite Tracking Capabilities 

Spaceflux’s innovative solution features a large optical telescope equipped with two cameras, integrating both Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) and visible sensors. This advanced setup will enable daylight tracking and unprecedented characterisation capabilities of satellites and space debris across all orbital regimes. Daylight tracking expands the operational window for tracking space objects beyond nighttime observation, allowing for 24/7 monitoring. This will help mitigate potential collisions, prevent accidental interference with operational satellites or missions and reduce the risk from in-space hazards. Advanced characterisation on the other hand, improves understanding of the behaviour of such objects and helps to optimise satellite deployments, de-orbiting procedures, and other space operations in increasingly congested orbital environments. 

As part of the project, Spaceflux will enhance its existing data analytics platform, Cortex, to further improve the characterisation of space objects. These enhancements will be integrated into the Spaceflux Miru Stations, a fully integrated optical SST (Space Surveillance and Tracking) system, and the Track & Guard service, further enriching the company’s product offering capabilities. 

The new infrared sensor system will be installed at the firm’s observatory in Spain, a strategic location that benefits from optimal weather conditions for infrared observations. Following the installation, Spaceflux will conduct a series of experiments over several months, and the results will be delivered to Dstl for assessment. Following the technology demonstrator, the company will integrate this advanced sensor into its global network permanently, enhancing Spaceflux’s ability to provide high-quality, timely space situational awareness data to its clients. 

Marco Rocchetto, CEO of Spaceflux, commented, “Winning this Dstl contract is a testament to Spaceflux’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of space technology. By integrating innovative sensor technologies with our AI-driven analytics platform, CORTEX, we are poised to advance the UK’s capabilities in Space Domain Awareness significantly.” 

Dr William Feline, Senior Principal Scientist at Dstl, commented, “Dstl are delighted to be working with Spaceflux in this novel and exciting area of research.  We hope that this project will lead to significant enhancements in the UK’s sovereign SSA capabilities in support of the National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC).”

Launch of Spaceflux Labs: A Hub for Innovation and Collaboration 

In tandem with the recent Dstl contract award, Spaceflux is thrilled to announce the official launch of Spaceflux Labs on October 1st 2024. Situated in London, Spaceflux Labs will serve as a dynamic hub of innovation, committed to pushing the boundaries of Space Domain Awareness through advanced research and close collaboration with customers and partners. Spaceflux Labs will act as a collaborative nexus, facilitating engagement with leading academic research in AI and Space Situational Awareness to accelerate the translation of cutting-edge science into market-ready solutions. 

Led by Prof. Ingo Waldmann, one of Spaceflux’s co-founders and a distinguished astrophysics professor at University College London, Spaceflux Labs will focus on pioneering projects such as self-calibrating sensors, track-before-detect technologies, and sensor fusion. These initiatives aim to enhance the detection capabilities of smaller and fainter objects in space, contributing to global efforts to ensure a safer and more sustainable orbital environment.  

Prof. Waldmann, who will be joining Spaceflux full-time as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead the Labs, stated, “Spaceflux Labs represents the next chapter in our journey to revolutionise space situational awareness. Our goal is to drive innovation in AI and sensor technologies, fostering collaboration and co-creation with our partners to deliver transformative solutions that meet the challenges of tomorrow.” 

This dual achievement showcases Spaceflux’s leadership and expertise in the field of space situational awareness and aligns with the firm’s recent successes and strategic objectives in the UK. This project not only advances Spaceflux’s technological capabilities, but also positions the company for future opportunities to supply next-generation state-of-the-art systems to other clients​​​. 

Lenbrook Media Group Unveils Plans for MQA Labs

Lenbrook Media Group (LMG), specialists in high resolution audio, has announced a suite of products from the newly formed MQA Labs that bring audio processing enhancements across the music supply chain. AIRIA by MQA Labs™ (also known by its technical name, SCL6) delivers high resolution audio while seamlessly scaling from full lossless to very lossy rates. FOQUS by MQA Labs™ represents an innovative approach for analogue to digital conversion. QRONO by MQA Labs™ brings a variety of audio processing enhancements within playback devices. These technologies are expected to debut in a variety of licensee products before the end of calendar 2025.

Gordon Simmonds, CEO of The Lenbrook Group, LMG’s parent corporation, reflected on the initial decision to acquire the assets of MQA. “These developments confirm our instincts around this team and the value of the IP. While the choice and accessibility of MQA content remains a priority  for us, this was never about a single codec,” he says.

The creation of MQA Labs and its newest product families reflect Lenbrook’s passion to improve the whole audio chain and bring the highest quality recording, distribution and playback technologies to benefit the entire specialty audio industry and its fans.

“The digitization of an analogue signal introduces a range of imperfections to the resulting audio file. One of the most common and critical is something often referred to as time smearing – when the resolution of two sounds is reduced because their timing is incorrectly reproduced within the digital file,” explains Greg Stidsen, Chief Technology Officer at Lenbrook. “MQA Labs’ team are experts in time-domain audio improvements, having invented many of the techniques to avoid or eliminate such audio defects.”

Two of the new product families will address the issue head on: FOQUS, which tackles the analogue to digital processes, and QRONO, which will address converting digital back to analogue.

The third product family is among the most anticipated of LMG’s future products. Previously known by its technical name, SCL6, it is a new codec seamlessly ensuring the best resolution possible regardless of bandwidth availability. Now named AIRIA by MQA Labs, the codec was developed to transform audio across wireless connections. Most recently, LMG successfully completed pilots for use as a distribution codec – perfect for streaming services.  As a transmission codec, it shines as a high-resolution codec with dramatic operational savings and reliability.

Early response from the industry around these new products has been positive.

“We are inspired by the reactions of our partners who are incorporating these technologies into their products,” explains Mike Jbara, Vice President & GM of LMG. “This is a milestone moment for us. We are committed to receiving and applying feedback from the market in how we apply our technologies and ensuring they are more flexible and accessible throughout the music supply chain.”

Nokia Bell Labs sets a new world record of 800 Gbps for transoceanic optical transmission

Nokia today announced it has set two new world records in submarine optical transmission, both of which will shape the next generation of optical networking equipment.

The first sets a new optical speed record for transoceanic distances. Nokia Bell Labs researchers were able to demonstrate an 800-Gbps data rate at a distance of 7865 km using a single wavelength of light. That distance is two times greater than what current state-of-the-art equipment can transmit at the same capacity and is approximately the geographical distance between Seattle and Tokyo. Nokia Bell Labs achieved this milestone at its optical research testbed in Paris-Saclay, France.

The second record was achieved by both Nokia Bell Labs and Nokia subsidiary Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN), establishing a net throughput of 41 Tbps over 291 km via a C-band unrepeated transmission system. C-band unrepeated systems are commonly used to connect islands and offshore platforms to each other and the mainland proper. The previous record for these kinds of systems is 35 Tbps over the same distance. Nokia Bell Labs and ASN broke the record at ASN’s research testbed facility, also in Paris-Saclay.

Nokia Bell Labs and ASN presented the scientific findings behind both records on the 4th and 5th of October at the European Conference on Optical Communications (ECOC), held in Glasgow, Scotland.

Making lasers that blink faster

Nokia Bell Labs and Alcatel Submarine Networks were able to achieve both world records through the innovation of higher-baud-rate technologies. “Baud” measures the number of times per second that an optical laser switches on and off, or “blinks”. Higher baud rates mean higher data throughput and will allow future optical systems to transmit the same capacities per wavelength over far greater distances. In the case of transoceanic systems, these increased baud rates will double the distance at which we could transmit the same amount of capacity, allowing us to efficiently bridge cities on opposite sides of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. In the case of C-band unrepeated systems, higher baud would allow service providers connecting islands or off-shore platforms to achieve higher capacities with fewer transceivers and without the addition of new frequency bands.

The research behind these two records will have significant impact on the next generation of submarine optical transmission systems. While future deployments of submarine fiber will take advantage of new fiber technologies like multimode and multicore, the existing undersea fiber networks can take advantage of next-generation higher-baud-rate transceivers to boost their performance and increase their long-term viability.

Sylvain Almonacil, Research Engineer at Nokia Bell Labs, said: “With these higher baud rates, we can directly link most of the world’s continents with 800 Gbps of capacity over individual wavelengths. Previously, these distances were inconceivable for that capacity. Furthermore, we’re not resting on our achievement. This world record is the next step toward next-generation Terabit-per-second submarine transmissions over individual wavelengths.”

Hans Bissessur, Unrepeated Systems Group leader at ASN, said: “These research advances show that that we can achieve better performance over the existing fiber infrastructure. Whether these optical systems are crisscrossing the world or linking the islands of an archipelago, we can extend their lifespans.”

PURO Sound Labs headphones discounted

PURO Sound labs have some great discounts on offer for the month of July and from testing their products before they are certain win for kids especially they have extended their range since and we will be going hands on with some reviews coming soon where you see the product itself and what the results are, check out the deals below and tell us is there something you want covered in detail.

  • Product Name: Puro Sound Labs PuroPro volume limiting, active noise cancelling adult headphones.
  • Amazon Prime Day Price: £101
  • RRP: £120
  • Discount: £19 off
  • Link: Amazon

 

  • Product Name: Puro Sound Labs BT2200 Plus Volume Limited Kids Headphones
  • Amazon Prime Day Price: £90
  • RRP: £100
  • Discount: £10 off
  • Link:  Amazon

 ONANOFF HEADPHONES

 

  • Product Name: BuddyPhones® Cosmos+ wireless ANC kid-proof, kid-safe headphones to protect little ears from increasing tech exposure
  • Amazon Prime Day Price: £79.92
  • RRP: £99.90
  • Discount: 20%
  • Link: Amazon.co.uk

  • Product Name: ONANOFF PlayEars+ Wireless Kids Headphones
  • Amazon Prime Day Price: £48
  • RRP: £59.99
  • Discount: 20%
  • Link: Amazon UK.
  • Promotion running 11th to 31st July.

  • Product Name: BuddyPhones® POP Fun wireless kid-proof, kid-safe headphones, designed to sound great, but also protect children’s hearing health
  • Amazon Prime Day Price: £23.80
  • RRP: £27.99
  • Discount:15%
  • Link: Amazon.
  • Promotion running 11th to 31st July.

Dell Technologies Expands Limerick Customer Solution Center Innovation Lab Capabilities

Minister for Finance Michael McGrath TD joined Dell Technologies to announce the expanded capabilities of its Customer Solution Center (CSC) Innovation Lab located at its campus in Limerick.

The CSC Innovation Lab provides a unique environment for organisations to test and deploy new digital solutions to address specific business challenges. Global customers can experience real-life examples of how AI, 5G and edge computing can advance the development of smart cities, connected healthcare and Industry 4.0.

The expanded capabilities, built in collaboration with partners Vodafone and Ericsson, include the implementation of edge computing and emerging technologies such as computer vision, advanced analytics, and private wireless networking. This will enable customers to develop new ways to capture, analyse and make decisions at the edge, in proximity to the data source. Access to this new capability will support customers and partners in industries including manufacturing, healthcare and agrifood sectors. The expanded offering ensures that Dell can accelerate the pace of digital transformation for customers from the edge to the cloud.

The partners together with NovaUCD, the hub of innovation at University College Dublin, are developing an accelerator programme to support innovative start-ups with global potential accessing Dell’s CSC Innovation Lab to test their new solutions.

The partnership and expansion of the CSC Innovation Lab, which is one of 14 CSCs globally, comes following the recent opening of Dell’s redeveloped Cork Customer Solution Center and the Open Telecom Ecosystem Lab, also in Cork.

“Dell Technologies has continually been at the forefront of innovation and helping businesses here in Ireland and across the globe to harness new technologies,” said Minister for Finance Michael McGrath TD at the Customer Solutions Centre in Limerick. “The expansion of the company’s capabilities at its CSC Innovation Lab in Limerick and its support for innovative Irish start-ups is very welcome news. It not only highlights the company’s commitment to Ireland but also the importance of helping businesses to embrace edge computing and emerging technologies. I wish the Dell team in Limerick, Cork, and Cherrywood every success into the future.”

“Since 2019, the CSC Innovation Lab has provided a space for industry leaders to collaborate with our team to unlock the power of technology for their businesses. With this exciting addition to our global Customer Solution Centers’ capabilities, we will enable our customers and partners to harness data at the Edge to accelerate innovation within their organisations and deliver new products and services,” said Des O’Sullivan, Vice President Customer Solution Centers at Dell Technologies.

Seán O’Reilly EMEA Vice President of Logistics and Limerick Site Leader at Dell Technologies added: “We’re thrilled to welcome Minister McGrath to our Customer Solution Center Innovation Lab here in Limerick and unveil the enhanced offering for our customers both globally and here in Ireland. The broadening of our capabilities and the continued evolution of our multi-functional campus in Limerick will help ensure that our team remains at the forefront of digital transformation.”

Donal Travers, IDA Ireland’s Head of Technology, Consumer and Business Services, welcomed this announcement saying: “Dell is a pillar company in the Irish enterprise technology ecosystem.  The partnerships announced today will see the implementation of critical technologies in customer solutions and will further enhance Dell’s positive impact across the business, educational, and entrepreneurial community in Ireland”.

For more information about Dell’s Customer Solution Centers visit: https://delltechnologies.com/customersolutioncenters

DxO releases 1,693 new Optics Modules, providing unrivaled corrections for Canon EOS R6 Mark II, Fujifilm X-T5, Sony A7R V, and a selection of Sigma lenses

DxO’s Optics Modules offer unparalleled corrections, including unique lens softness improvements and distortion corrections that maximize field of view. DxO’s software now corrects more than 80,000 lens and camera combinations.

Paris (France): DxO, the company that has pioneered calibration-based optical corrections for 20 years, today announces its latest batch of Optics Modules. The release of 1,693 DxO Optics Modules includes support for the Canon EOS R6 Mark II, the Fujifilm X-T5, the Sony A7R V, five lenses from Sigma, and more.

For quality-conscious photographers, DxO Optics Modules are a wealth of individually tailored, laboratory-grade corrections, which present the most accurate and powerful route to improving image quality on the market. Superior to other optical correction software, DxO’s adjustments vastly improve results, whether they are applied to entry-level lenses or professional-grade glass.

Essentially, the performance of any lens can be boosted by processing RAW files with DxO software: PhotoLab, PureRAW, FilmPack, and ViewPoint.

A unique approach to defeating lens softness

All correction software offers digital sharpening to combat lens softness, but DxO’s approach is unique and superior, taking into account the varying levels of sharpness across a lens’s entire field of view. Rather than applying general sharpening across the entire image (as with lesser software), DxO Optics Modules target sharpening as required, such as when a lens gets progressively softer towards its edges.

As seen with the Sigma 65mm F2 DG DN, the boost in image quality by DxO Optics Modules makes it perform better in terms of sharpness and distortion (while also eliminating vignetting and aberrations). As illustrated below, nowhere is this clearer than in combating lens softness. 

 

  • The uncorrected lens displays a significant difference in sharpness between the center of the frame and the corners.

 

  • Typically, photo editing software uses a generic profile to make a global correction across the entire image based on the sharpening required at the center.

 

  • Edge of frame sharpening from Adobe Lightroom® (left) and DxO Optics Modules (right). Unlike Adobe Lightroom, DxO Optics Modules are able to progressively increase corrections away from the frame’s center, allowing for a sharper overall image.

Sophisticated distortion corrections deliver greater image area

DxO’s Optics Modules frequently deliver a greater image area thanks to more refined assessments when correcting distortions. When needed, DxO Optics Modules give photographers the option to gain extra image area when compared with the crop applied as the result of Lightroom’s corrections.

Intelligent control of chromatic aberration

In addition, DxO’s Optics Modules remove chromatic aberrations — both longitudinal, and lateral. Chromatic aberrations vary depending on the focal length and distance, and DxO’s algorithms take these into account in order to perform more accurate corrections. Colored outlines are removed without degrading the image’s color or detail.

Vignetting accurately removed

Finally, vignetting is resolved, correcting the darker edges of the frame that can occur in certain lenses and at specific focal lengths.

The most exacting science, the highest quality

Each DxO Optics Module is created using individual camera and lens combinations. This means that any minor differences in the performance of a sensor can be measured across all the examples of it in a manufacturer’s lens mount range. 

For instance, with the new Optics Modules for the Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS S, measurements were not made using just a single full-frame Alpha camera, but with almost every Sony camera on the market.

Latest DxO Optics Modules

The latest DxO Optics Modules update — available now — includes the following cameras and lenses, each optimized for specific camera and lens combinations:

 

  • Canon EOS R6 Mark II
  • Fujifilm X-T5
  • OM System OM-5
  • Sony A7R V

 

  • Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | C (L-mount)
  • Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DG DN | C (Sony FE)
  • Sigma 65mm F2 DG DN | C (Sony FE)
  • Sigma 65mm F2 DG DN | C (L-mount)
  • Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS S (Sony FE)
  • Tokina ATX-M 11-18mm F2.8 (Sony E)

 

About DxO

For over 20 years, DxO has blazed a pioneering trail in the fields of photographic science and digital image processing. Built on principles of technical rigor and ceaseless innovation, we were at the forefront of bringing RAW development to photographers, and continue to build the most powerful and versatile software on the market, all designed to offer the greatest image quality and creative freedom. Along with its exacting Optics Modules, available in all our products, we publish DxO PhotoLab, which won the EISA 2020-2021 award for Best Photo Software and the TIPA award for Best Imaging Software in 2020, 2021, and 2022; the award-winning RAW preprocessing and noise reduction software, DxO PureRAW; and Nik Collection, the renowned suite of creative plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop®, Lightroom Classic®, and DxO PhotoLab.

Electrical safety in clinical laboratories

While electrical safety should be a key priority in every workplace, it’s simply essential in clinical laboratories, where high-stakes research is carried out using often volatile chemicals and valuable equipment. Although checking how electrically sound your equipment is may seem like a chore when you’re faced with a busy work schedule, it’s easy to keep on top of electrical safety – incorporate these simple but necessary checks into your everyday processes and you’ll reduce the risk of loss, wastage or accidents in the lab: 

Plug sockets – Because the vast majority of lab equipment (including chemical storage refrigerators) is powered by electricity, even a brief electrical failure can be financially catastrophic and unsafe for lab workers. A simple way to avoid this is regularly checking all connections, outlets and plug sockets in the environment – make sure you test outlets and plug sockets regularly and replace any cracked or damaged casing immediately. Keep a special eye on outlets positioned near sinks or other sources of moisture and ensure that these have ground-circuit protection

Circuits – Regularly check that all fuses and circuit breakers in the lab are present and in good working order to maintain electrical safety and avoid power outages. The nichrome wire found in many pieces of laboratory equipment is vulnerable to electrical surges, so ensure that you regularly use a handheld current tester to check on circuits in the lab – failing to do this could lead to expensive equipment replacement and maintenance fees. Where possible, make sure that electrical equipment is switched off and unplugged when not in use.

Equipment quality checks –  Conducting regular risk assessments of your operations and workplace (every 6 months to a year at minimum) can go a long way in reducing the risk of electrical emergencies in the lab. This includes removing and replacing any damaged equipment and ensuring that any maintenance work is carried out by a qualified electrician. When it comes to disposing of electrical waste and buying new lab equipment, try to be as eco-friendly as you can.

Emergency procedures – To avoid potential injury and ensure that things go according to plan in the case of an emergency, make sure that your staff have been trained in the proper emergency procedures. This could include how to shut off power or break circuits in the case of fire or an electrical accident, where to locate the main switchboard and where fire safety equipment and relevant PPE is located in the lab.