In this on-demand interview, Vidya, LabGenius Therapeutics explains how the MyAmici HSE module moved chemical safety checks upstream into the ordering process, and what that meant for her lab ops team, her scientists, and LabGenius’s wider safety culture. The result was less manual chasing for lab ops, better planning by scientists, and a more safety-conscious workflow overall.
As LabGenius grew, the team was supporting more scientists, more projects, and a wider range of chemicals and consumables. Vidya, Lab Operations and Facilities Lead, explained that the earlier spreadsheet-based process worked when the company was smaller, but became harder to maintain as workflows expanded.
The key issue was timing. In the old process, checks were often done after delivery rather than before purchase, which meant lab ops had to spend time reviewing hazards reactively and making sure the right documentation was in place before chemicals were used.
Why spreadsheets break as labs scale
When workflows are stable, an Excel sheet can track everything. When you’re scaling targets, projects and new chemicals, checking COSHH assessments manually at goods-in stops being viable. Vidya walks through the exact tipping point at LabGenius.
What changes when HSE moves upstream in lab operations
Approval before purchase means hazardous items can’t be processed without the right documentation in place. Vidya covers how this works in practice including how lab ops can edit hazards, spot orders from unusual teams, and prepare lab controls in advance.
The culture shift this creates
The biggest surprise wasn’t operational it was behavioural. Scientists started placing orders weeks or months ahead so documentation could be completed in time. Vidya explains how the process reinforced “safety first” without slowing experiments down.
LabGenius introduced the MyAmici HSE module to support approval before orders were processed. That meant hazardous items could be flagged earlier, assessments could be completed in advance, and the team could prevent orders from moving forward until the necessary checks were done.
This gave lab ops a clearer sense of what was being ordered, by whom, and for which workflow. Vidya also noted that if an assessment was missing, the team could send a template to the scientist, get the information they needed, and approve the order once the documentation was complete.
The biggest operational benefit was control. Instead of discovering issues at goods-in, the team could review hazards before the item arrived, which made it easier to prepare the right controls in advance.
That mattered particularly for chemicals and other items that required specific handling or lab conditions. The team used monthly reports from MyAmici to review HSE-triggered items and keep internal records up to date.
The culture shift
A major outcome was a change in behaviour. Scientists began planning ahead, placing orders earlier, and completing the required documentation before needing the item in the lab.
Vidya said the process helped reinforce the idea that safety comes first, rather than being something that happens after the experiment is already underway. That is especially valuable in a growing biotech, where multiple teams may be working on different workflows at the same time.
Why this mattered for safety
The new workflow helped LabGenius introduce a useful sense check before orders were approved. Vidya explained that the lab ops team could spot when an item came from an unusual team or when a workflow had changed, then confirm whether the assessment still matched the intended use.
It also helped the team prepare for specific lab constraints, such as needing the right filtration or containment setup before certain materials were used. That kind of advance planning is important in labs where hazard control depends on more than just the product itself.
What LabGenius learned
Vidya’s main advice to other lab leaders was simple: spreadsheets can work at a very small scale, but they become much less practical when the organisation grows and the number of scientists, projects, and hazardous materials increases.
It’s clear that compliance works best when it is built into everyday workflows, not treated as a separate admin task. At LabGenius, the MyAmici HSE module helped shift safety into the ordering process itself, which made it easier to maintain standards without creating unnecessary friction.
If you manage lab operations in a scaling biotech, the LabGenius story is a useful example of what happens when HSE moves upstream. Earlier checks, clearer visibility, and better planning can help teams stay compliant while supporting scientific progress.
LabGenius needed a more scalable way to manage HSE as the company grew, because spreadsheet-based checks were becoming harder to maintain across more scientists, more projects, and more chemical orders.
How did the MyAmici HSE module help?
It let the team review HSE issues before orders were processed, so assessments could be completed earlier and hazardous items could be checked before they reached the lab.
Scientists were encouraged to plan ahead and complete documentation earlier, which helped avoid delays later in the process.
Biotech labs often handle more hazardous materials and more variable workflows than standard office environments, so earlier HSE checks can improve oversight and reduce operational risk.
Vidya’s advice to other lab leaders was straightforward: spreadsheets can work at very small scale, but they become much less practical when the number of scientists, projects and hazardous materials starts to grow. Compliance works best when it’s built into everyday workflows, rather than treated as a separate admin task.
If you’re managing lab operations in a scaling biotech, a short demo is the quickest way to see whether the MyAmici HSE module would fit how your team works.