pharmaceuticals

HOW WE CAN HELP

Extraction systems in the pharmaceutical industry

Within the pharmaceutical industry there are many types of company from global corporates to specialist R&D firms. Vent-Tech works with a wide range of companies in the pharmaceutical sector, including Perrigo, AstraZeneca and Medtronic. This experience means we have an exceptional understanding of the types of risks involved posed by dusts and fumes. We are experts in using dust and fume extraction, filtration and containment technology to reduce these risks.

What are the specific dangers during the design and manufacture of pharmaceuticals?

Many dusts are present in pharmaceutical production facilities. Some are toxic and require professional and effective removal by law.

By-products such as dust can be extremely hazardous to health when airborne. Therefore, it is vital that appropriate extraction solutions are installed. These will control the risks of these substances coming into contact with employees. The HSE requires effective control measures to be in place.

As some pharmaceutical dusts are combustible, measures to prevent fire and explosion must be put into place. DSEAR (Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations) sets minimum requirements for the protection of workers from fire and explosion risks related to dangerous substances and potentially explosive atmospheres. The HSE gives guidelines for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids.

Another consideration is the risk of cross-contamination during certain processes which will need to be eliminated. Manufacturers must have processes in place to not only avoid contamination scenarios but also provide documented evidence that contamination has not occurred.

What are the pharmaceutical processes that may generate dust?

The following are examples of the processes that can cause hazardous dust to become airborne and endanger workers health in the factory or lab:

Crushing, mixing, blending and milling.

Screening, sampling, compressing, granulating.

Pelletising, dispensing, drying, coating.

Batching, weighing and packaging.

Exposure to hazardous dusts causes short and long-term health conditions for your workers. This could be through, for instance, toxicity, allergic reaction or respiratory problems. You are likely to be held liable if adequate measures are not in place.

How Vent-Tech can help with LEV extraction in the pharmaceutical industry

Product containment, air filtration, dust collection and extraction will reduce or eliminate these risks to your workers and provide a cleaner and safer processing environment.

They may also allow you to recover commercially valuable dust by-products.

With our experience and expertise, we can provide the best solutions for you. Our approach is always to carry out a site visit so we can see your particular challenges and how your staff work. This means that we can create an LEV system that will work for you in a real-world environment.