From everyday medical equipment to life-saving drugs, pharmaceutical advancements help improve the quality of life for millions of people every year. But the technology, production, and machinery required for such advancements come with potential dangers that could be prevented with the right equipment and upkeep.
A Real-Life Example of Pharmaceutical Operations Gone Awry
What kind of danger could a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant possibly be in? Take the West Pharmaceutical Services dust explosion, for example.
In January 2003, an explosion took place that resulted in six fatalities, several injuries, and an abundance of job losses. West Pharmaceutical used this plant to produce various medical products, many of which were made of rubber. The fine plastic powder which was kicked up by the manufacturing of rubber stoppers and syringe plungers had accumulated along the ceiling and ultimately became the fuel for the explosion.
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) found that West Pharmaceutical kept to adequate housekeeping and regular dust removal but failed to acknowledge the dust on the ceiling. The dust was ignored to the point where it reached one-quarter to a half-inch in accumulation despite a national fire code of a maximum 1/32 of an inch, leaving one to wonder whether the hazard of combustible dust had even been communicated to the employees.
The CSB then determined that there were a handful of causes that led to the explosion, including “inadequate engineering assessment for combustible powders” and “inadequate communication of dust hazards to workers.” In other words, despite the employees’ attempts at regular upkeep and caution, this disaster was preventable. It leads one to wonder: How much attention to dust accumulation is necessary for pharmaceutical manufacturers to stay safe? Or, for that matter, how does one prevent these disasters?
Preventing Combustible Dust Disasters
First and foremost, to prevent future explosions like that of West Pharmaceutical and others, adhere to your federal and state laws and regulations. Nothing can ramp up your disaster chances like ignoring the very laws put in place to prevent disasters.
Then you will want to ask yourself: Is your manufacturing dust combustible? You might be surprised by what synthetic and organic materials can produce combustible dust. Such materials include:
- Zinc
- Aluminum
- Magnesium
- Xanthan gum
Of course, not all these materials will be found in a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant. But, simply for peace of mind, it can be helpful to know what constitutes combustible dust. Some materials are less obvious than others. In fact, even oat flour, egg whites, and numerous other food sources are on OSHA’s combustible dust list.
Once you have verified the degree of combustibility of your material, consider following these tips for explosion prevention:
- Have up-to-date ducts and an explosion-proof industrial vacuum system operating smoothly in your plant
- Implement regular housekeeping strategies
- Update your safety handbooks as necessary and keep hazardous dust-related graphics posted around your working areas
- Use working surfaces designed for minimal dust accumulation
- Make sure your electronically powered machines are approved for hazard classification
- Train your employees on the potential hazards of combustible dust
Each industry is unique and will come with its own unique standards for safety and housekeeping – pharmaceutical manufacturing is no exception.
Finding the Right Equipment for the Job
There are industrial vacuums for combustible dust and machine-addons that can adequately serve your upkeep needs. Take the Mistral Pharma 30 D2, for example. This compact vacuum cleaner is NRTL certified for use in Class II, Division 2, Groups F and G. The Pharma 30 is designed specifically to meet the higher standards of pharmaceutical fields and is best when used in a centralized vacuum system in combination with Delfin’s filtering and separating units. See our product list for more industrial vacuums and collectors.
If you’re still waiting on the results of your dust type testing, you can take some time to consider other elements that will affect your purchase, such as cost, filtration, usage, and performance needs.
Decades of Experience, Ready to Serve You
The right cleaning system can not only help you adhere to regulations, but it can help maintain long-term, around-the-clock productivity. For over 25 years, Delfin Industrial Corporation has provided quality designs and innovations for manufacturers and workers across an array of industries nationwide. We will work with you to find the right equipment and ensure your company meets your industry’s cleaning requirements. Reach out today to learn more about how you can incorporate an industrial vacuum system for combustible dust into your pharmaceutical production line.
