STRODE’S COLLEGE 64910

BTEC LEVEL 3
Subsidiary Diploma
APPLIED SCIENCE (Forensic Science)

Worksheet 1

1. Write down two organisations that you know of and then think about whether they use science to
carry out their work. In 2’s, discuss your individual organisations and produce an A4 sheet
summarising your findings.

2. Write definitions for the following terms:

Science environment

Procedure-An established way of doing it

Practice-

Calibration-the action or process of calibrating something

Hierarchy- a system in which members of an organization or society are ranked according to

relativae relative status or authority

3. Complete the table explaining the use of each piece of equipment:

Equipment Use
Centrifuge It is for the separation of fluids, gas or liquid, based on density. Separation
is achieved by spinning a vessel containing material at high speed
Microscope To look at specimens in great detail

Balance A mechanical scale or balance is used to describe a weighing device that

is used to measure the mass, force exertion, tension and resistance of an
object without the need of a power supply.
pH meter PH meter, electric device used to measure hydrogen-ion activity (acidity or
alkalinity) in solution.
Oven An oven is a thermally insulated chamber used for the heating, baking, or
drying of a substance, and most commonly used for cooking
Incubator Incubator is a device used to grow and maintain microbiological cultures or
cell cultures. The incubator maintains optimal temperature, humidity and
other conditions such as the CO (CO2) and oxygen content of the
atmosphere inside
Fume cupboard Fume cupboards are used widely in laboratories and are designed to
capture and remove air-borne hazardous substances generated during
laboratory experiments
Graduated pipette Graduated pipettes have a scale divided into units of one and of 1/10th of a
millilitre. Because of their wide necks it is less accurate than the
volumetric pipette. They are used when taking volume of solutions in which
accuracy does not have to be very high
Heating mantle A heating mantle, or isomantle, is a piece of laboratory equipment used to
apply heat to containers
Burette Burette, is used in quantitative chemical analysis to measure the volume of
a liquid or a gas
Bunsen burner A Bunsen burner is a piece of laboratory equipment that produces a
single open gas flame, which is used for heating, sterilization, and
combustion
STRODE’S COLLEGE 64910
BTEC LEVEL 3
Subsidiary Diploma
APPLIED SCIENCE (Forensic Science)
Desiccator a glass container or other apparatus holding a drying agent for removing
moisture from specimens and protecting them from water vapour in the air
Oscilloscope a device for viewing oscillations by a display on the screen of a cathode ray
tube

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) analyse

SOP 1 – Handling and Disposal of Laboratory Glassware

1. Who is responsible for ensuring safe handling of glassware?

The Worker who is trained to safely handle chemical and biological spills.

2. If a spillage occurs who must be notified?

The department safety officer must be notified.

3. Why is it so important to have an SOP relating to glassware?

As broken glassware has many risks and can seriously injure the worker, due to residual materials
on the glassware and the broken. Thus, a SOP must be made to ensure that all glassware is
correctly disposed and that any risks are lowered

4. What must be worn in the lab?

5. How would you find out the appropriate type?

6. How should glassware be stored?

7. How should contaminated glassware be disposed of?

8. Why is it so important that this SOP is followed carefully for contaminated glassware?

SOP 2 - Equipment Maintenance and Quality Control

1. What is the purpose of the SOP?

2. How often is temperature dependent equipment checked for proper functioning?

3. How are maintenance and repairs monitored? Who organises this and who has access to the
records?

4. If laboratory equipment has an electrical fault, how should this be dealt with?

5. This SOP is for a pathology laboratory that carries out medical tests. Why is equipment
maintenance so important? (p33 will help)

SOP 3 – Managing Physical Evidence

1. What main areas does this SOP cover?

2. What rules of evidence does the FTAI adhere to?

STRODE’S COLLEGE 64910
BTEC LEVEL 3
Subsidiary Diploma
APPLIED SCIENCE (Forensic Science)

3. What information must be included on the evidence?

4. What does the Evidence Custodian do as soon as they receive the evidence?

5. Give 3 reasons why it is so important that a Chain of Custody procedure like this is followed?

SOP 4 – Laboratory Waste Disposal

1. What is the purpose of this SOP?

2. What needs to be done before any waste is disposed of?

3. How should old chemicals be disposed of?

4. How should biohazardous waste be disposed of?

5. Why is it so important that correct procedures for disposing of biohazarous waste are followed?

6. Give 2 reasons why chemical waste should not be poured down the drain:

SOP 5 - Chemical Ordering and Storage

1. What is the overall purpose of the SOP?

2. Who is responsible for providing an inventory of all chemicals, and what form is it in?

3. How would you find out more information on storage instructions for chemicals?

4. Who ensures good work practices are implemented when chemicals are stored?

5. Give 3 chemical storage area guidelines:

6. Give 3 reasons why is it so important that chemicals are properly stored?

7. Look at the ‘Incompatible Chemicals’ Guide and choose 2 pairs of chemicals that should not be
stored together. List them and describe what might happen if the procedure was not followed and
they were stored together (you can use the internet)