Risk mitigation for Christchurch-based laboratory

The devastation caused by the recent earthquakes in Christchurch has highlighted the need to mitigate risks in laboratory operations as GunnLab explains.

Catastrophic earthquakes of magnitude 7.1 on 4 September 2010, 6.3 on 22 February 2011 and thousands more aftershocks caused severe damage and destruction in Christchurch and its environs. Hills and buildings collapsed and lives were lost in the villages of Sumner, Redcliffs, the Christchurch CBD and the wider region. Half of the city’s roads were torn up and iconic landmarks and businesses were abruptly taken, including the closure of eight major supermarkets.

At GunnLab we consider ourselves lucky to have survived the chaos unscathed. Fortunately our premises were left intact, in contrast to properties either side which required evacuation. GunnLab’s plastics testing laboratory operations are now fully restored. This was partly due to extraordinary responses from local council, national and international assistance teams and partly due to business continuity preparedness.

Within two weeks of the February event, our power, water, sewerage and road services were restored to allow full resumption of our laboratory services. A number of initiatives have since been undertaken to strengthen our position should further disasters occur. Local recovery groups have started forming ‘self-sufficiency’ communities to mitigate the impact of any new event. Sharing local resources and talents has now become the norm in business and residential groups.

Of paramount importance has been, and remains, the safety, security and needs of staff, customers and suppliers on site. Our site has been declared safe.

Critical laboratory instruments now receive filtered power through uninterruptible power supplies with a backup generator. During electricity network outages, neighbours have been made welcome and allowed to recharge their mobile phones and laptops from our system.

Frequent audits of safety equipment, hazard management, health (including sanitation) requirements and waste disposal are carried out. Emergency provisions are checked and maintained for future use. This recent experience has surprised us about how much potable water, gas and batteries are required to get through each day of basic emergency living.

Modern cordless handsets for landline phones became inoperable, and cellular networks were often unreliable and overloaded. At least one battery-driven radio and analog phone must always be kept in the emergency kit to ensure information keeps flowing and to contact families and customers. Our immediate stress levels responded well to receiving updated condition reports. Many businesses and homes failed to store these basic items.

Continual management of off-site backup and recovery of important business records is now accorded high importance. Evacuation procedures have been updated.

To avoid lengthy queuing on roads and in stores, reorder levels on raw materials (including cafeteria stock levels) have been adjusted, to avoid shortages when other businesses are unable to deliver. Good supply lines ensure our ability to deliver promptly, which is core to our business principles.

Constant communication with all stakeholders has been imperative during all phases of this disaster. People ask to be informed of our current capabilities. We are thankful for the overwhelmingly supportive responses received from colleagues in the plastics, packaging and related industries.

Confidence in GunnLab’s ability to continue delivering scientific testing services has been maintained by ensuring we care for our stakeholders, frequently check safety and emergency kits, manage appropriate stock levels, perform preventative maintenance checks, and stay true to our basic business principles.

About GunnLab

Measurement of layer thickness.

GunnLab is a family-owned business that has offered independent and confidential testing of plastics and packaging to clients in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region, since 1995. The company’s specialised plastics and packaging materials testing capabilities cover flexible packaging, rigid packaging and other plastic products and materials.

Differential scanning calorimetry.

The mechanical properties of plastic films can be investigated for tensile strength; and tear, puncture and impact resistance. Gas and permeability tests include oxygen and water transmission rates and the structure and materials of composition can also be determined. Other tests carried out at GunnLab include melt flow index, coefficient of friction, wetting tension and oxidative induction. The company can assist manufacturers with product development and quality assurance and consumers with compliance and performance.

Oxygen transmission measurement.