OSU PRO 303: Use and Maintenance

Purpose

To ensure that capital equipment is properly used, maintained, and serviced to maintain the efficiency and usefulness of the equipment for as long as possible and to make the most effective use of the university's assets.

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Policy

Use
Equipment on the OSU inventory is intended for institutional use and not for private purposes.  Use may be additionally restricted by the terms of the research contract or grant for which the equipment was acquired, if applicable.  See PRO 900: Sponsored Research and Federal Property and PRO 206: Equipment Acquisition-Loan.  Equipment should only be used by properly trained personnel and only for the manufacturer's intended purposes, and not misused.

Non-Use
Non-required equipment that has not been used for a substantial period of time should be made available to others or sent to Surplus Property for disposal. 

Maintenance
Capital equipment should be maintained by department personnel or outside vendors in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedules.  Maintenance schedules should be followed for equipment currently in use and equipment in storage.  Records of maintenance performance should be kept for each item of capital equipment.  Maintenance may include:

1. Periodic inspection,
2. Regularly scheduled lubrication,
3. Protection from exposure,
4. Routine cleaning,
5. Proper cleaning prior to storage, and
6. Associated record keeping.

Maintenance records must be kept for agency-owned equipment (e.g., federally owned equipment belonging to DOD, NASA, DOE, etc.).

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Cross Reference

See PRO 1002: Inventory Records Maintenance

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