INDUSTRY FOCUS CHEMICALS & PHARMACEUTICALS/HAZARDOUS AREAS STAYING HEALTHY IN PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTION
John Horsey, technical manager, BOFA International, explains the important role fume extraction cabinets play in protecting technicians from hazardous substances in the pharmaceutical industry
The size, process, speed and properties
of the materials being worked will impact upon the dust characteristics and generation rates, but if emissions are smaller in size than 30 microns they are not normally visible to the human eye. “Of course, not all emissions are harmful
P
rocesses involved in the production of pharmaceutical products using drugs,
vitamins, minerals or herbs have the potential to generate dust that can be harmful to the health of employees. All businesses – and public sector
organisations – owe a duty of care in law to their people to assess the health risks associated with airborne contaminants involved in manufacturing and finishing processes, and to take action to maintain a dust-free environment. Employers will need to meet tightly mandated Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations in line with workplace exposure limits (WELs), which are presented as time weighted averages. The production of pharmaceutical
products has the potential to expose employees to airborne contaminants through a number of processes, including: • Powder weighing and handling • Chemical control • Tablet pressing and coating • Fluid bed drying • Spray drying, blending and granulation • General room ventilation
BOFA’s FumeCAB systems have been purpose designed for pharma production, meeting all necessary regulatory standards, including HSG258, and combining HEPA/gas filters with advanced carbon filter technology
to human health, but pharmaceutical manufacturing does involve the handling of some toxic materials, so there are clear risks associated with exposure, particularly where contaminants measure 2-3 microns,” said John Horsey, technical manager at BOFA International. “Contaminants of this size can most
easily pass into the alveolar lung region, and because they have the potential to carry complex chemicals, can trigger adverse reactions in the body. In addition, while particles of less than 0.5 microns will mostly be exhaled, if soluble they can diffuse into the blood stream.”
John Horsey, technical manager, BOFA International
DEALING WITH THE RISKS Pharmaceutical sector workers are at risk of being exposed to active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) in the products being manufactured. APIs are designed to deliver biological change in humans, so any inhalation or absorption can result in negative health consequences for technicians. Industry studies have shown respiratory
sensitisation resulting from exposure to several compounds, notably antibiotics and chemical therapeutic agents, along with evidence of bronchoconstriction related to exposure to opiates. Dust
‘WASH’ AWAY SENSOR RELIABILITY WORRIES
Contrinex’s IP68, IP69K, ECOLAB approved WASHDOWN inductive sensors are said to ‘wash’ away any worries about reliability in the harsh conditions of the food, beverage & pharmaceutical industries, ensuring uninterrupted production. Pressure resistant up to 80 bar, food safe and corrosion resistant, these WASHDOWN sensors are
available in conventional technology in M12 housings, or in Contrinex’s ‘Extreme’ robust Full Inox Stainless- steel technology, in sizes M12, M18 & M30. These Full Inox sensors have a totally impervious one-piece housing, where the front-face and the body
are machined from one piece of V4A / AISI 316L stainless-steel. They are therefore highly resistant to the corrosive chemicals used for ‘clean-in-place’ or ‘wash-down’ processes. The sensors are impact and abrasion resistant, even surviving being used to hammer nails in, so they
minimise the risk of being damaged by impact, for example in confined operating spaces. Additional benefits like ‘Factor 1’ sensing on steel and aluminium and extended sensing ranges up to 40
mm, meet the increasingly demanding sensing needs of industries such as pharmaceuticals. The sensors offer a temperature range of -25 to +85°C (-13 to +185°F) and an IO-Link interface. Find out more at
http://tiny.cc/CTX_Washdown Contrinex
26 FEBRUARY 2019 | PROCESS & CONTROL
contact can also lead to allergic reactions and/or skin irritation. Worker inhalation and exposure to
biologically active dusts is, therefore, of critical concern to pharmaceutical manufacturers, as is cross-contamination with other materials which has the potential to impact product quality and safety. Increasingly, the pharma industry is
turning to local exhaust ventilation systems, produced by manufacturers such as BOFA, to capture dust and recirculate clean air back into the working environment. This not only ensures a healthy workplace, it also prevents contamination of valuable process equipment, thereby improving productivity and enhancing a return on investment. For pharmaceutical businesses, fume
extraction cabinets play an important role in protecting technicians from hazardous substances. BOFA’s FumeCAB systems have been
purpose designed for pharma production, meeting all necessary regulatory standards, including HSG258, and combining HEPA/gas filters with advanced carbon filter technology. With the FumeCAB 700, the cam filter
change design enables safe and simple front loading filter replacement. The range includes units of different
sizes that are user-friendly and easy to maintain. Horsey commented: “It is essential for
pharmaceutical businesses to review and assess the effectiveness of their extraction systems to ensure they are adequately protecting their work force from any harmful dust generated during the manufacturing process. Exposure to hazardous dusts causes short and long- term health conditions through, for example, allergic reaction or respiratory problems, for which the employer is likely to be held liable. “And remember, once the system is
operational, it must be thoroughly inspected and tested at least once every 14 months, with a suitable record kept of the examination and tests for at least 5 years.”
www.contrinex.com
BOFA International
bofainternational.com
H A
S Z H S S
Z Z
H
H S Z H
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
