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Partnering June, 2021
Specialty Pumps for Hazardous Chemicals in Medical Device Manufacturing
By Jeff Elliott I
n medical device manufactur- ing, potentially hazardous chemicals such as acetone and
isopropyl alcohol are often stored in 55 gal (208l) or larger drums for dispensing into smaller con- tainers or at the point of use. When hazardous chemicals
are brought into any facility, it must come in with GHS-compli- ant safety data sheets and GHS- compliant labels. The “Globally Harmonized
System” (GHS) was established by the United Nations to create a unified system for identifying and communicating information
about hazardous chemicals. Safety Information In those safety data sheets
(SDS) are details about the po- tential environmental hazards, what to do in the event of small and large spills, and suggestions for treating injuries related to breathing in or coming into phys- ical contact with chemicals are outlined. The SDS will also suggest
personal protective equipment (PPE) and safe storage guide- lines. For flammable and com- bustible liquids specifically, any-
one who reads SDS can find the information quite upsetting. De- pending on the chemical sub- stance, SDS can include descrip- tions of severe injuries, “trans- genic” damage to cells and organs and even the alarming possibility of fatalities in the workplace. With such dire potential con-
sequences in mind, proper stor- age and handling is outlined in an attempt to prevent these danger- ous situations from occurring. For flammable and combustible liq- uids, that advice is very consis- tent and unwavering across most, if not all, of the SDS.
Specialty Pumps Whether mandatory or
Are you
READY? July 21-22, 2021
guideline, ensuring the safe transfer of these chemicals means utilizing some type of sealed or closed-loop pump sys- tem that will not allow vapors to escape, or chemicals to come in contact with the person dispens- ing them. These pumps also need to be designed using materials and seals that can withstand contact with the chemical sub- stance and should come with grounding wires to prevent static discharge.
Ensuring the safe delivery of
chemicals also requires proper safety training, the use of per- sonal protective equipment (PPE) and, in some cases, further engineering controls. Fortunate- ly, these types of pumps are available and are utilized throughout the medical devices industry, alongside many other industries who face similar chal- lenges. A sealed pump dispens- ing system enhances safety by eliminating spills and enables spill-free, environmentally safe transfer that prevent vapors from escaping the container. GoatThroat Pumps, a manu-
komaxevents.com
facturer of industrial safety pumps and engineered chemical transfer solutions, offers pumps with spring actuated tap handles that can be immediately closed to stop liquid flowing preventing any spills. The design of this sealed pump system also pre- vents liquid vapors from exiting the container when the pump is unused. The combination of all these features ensure the pump meets
both NFPA30-2015.18.4.4 stan- dards and NFPA 77. Because combustible and flammable liq- uids can easily be ignited by a flame, hot surface, static electric- ity, or a spark generated by elec- tricity or mechanical work, it is critical to eliminate external ig- nition sources when handling such liquids.
Volatile Solvents Highly volatile solvents are
even more hazardous because any vapor (VOCs) released can reach ignition sources several feet away and flash back to the liquid. When transferring flam- mable liquids from large contain- ers, to a smaller container, the flow of the liquid can also create static electricity which could re- sult in a spark. Static electricity buildup is possible whether using a pump or simply pouring the liquid. If the bulk container and re-
ceiving vessel are both metal, it is important to bond the two by firm- ly attaching a metal bonding strap or wire to both containers as well as to ground, which can help to safely direct the static charge to ground. That is why — in addition to the guidelines of the SDS — OSHA states that containers used in the transfer of Class 1 liquid (flammable) and Class 2 and 3 (combustible) with a flashpoint below 100°F (37.8°C) must be grounded or bonded to prevent electrostatic discharge that could act as an ignition source. NFPA 30 Section 18.4.2.2
also requires a means to prevent static electricity during trans- fer/dispensing operations. To meet this requirement, pumps like the GoatThroat SCP200S with santoprene seals are made of groundable plastic and come complete with bonding and grounding wires. Pumps of this kind should also be designed with elastomer seals such as Viton, EPDM, Nitrile, Santo- prene or PTFE that ensure com- patibility with the chemical
being dispensed. Contact: GoatThroat Pumps,
60 Shell Avenue, Milford, CT 06460 % 646-486-3636 E-mail:
info@goatthroat.com Web:
www.goatthroat.com r
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