The use of gases is both fundamental and commonplace within the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries, used in a variety of settings, from the production process to essential sterilisation or decontamination procedures. But each gas required in these processes is accompanied by risks and can pose significant hazards to the health of employees, and sometimes to the safety of the whole facility. Gas safety is therefore a critical consideration in the sector, with constant and reliable gas monitoring and detection needed to protect personnel and plant from the buildup of higher concentrations of gases or environments where oxygen displacement can occur, either through accidental releases or leakage. This makes the implementation of a reliable gas detection system in the pharmaceutical industry crucial.
The approach and type of system used will normally depend on the complexity of the setting, and this is likely to be different in smaller pharmaceutical facilities or science laboratory settings than it would be in a large production facility.
The wide variety of gases and the different ways they are used, combined with the potentially high-risk nature of the hazards involved, can make gas safety seem a challenging area, further complicated by regularly evolving legislation and advice.
As a result, it can be difficult to know the best approach to take to ensure that the highest standards of safety are maintained. This is particularly true in smaller settings, not least because in such environments, health and safety knowledge (and resources) may be less comprehensive. This contrasts with, for example, a multinational pharmaceutical company, which may well have a large global health and safety team with specialists in gas detection.
For this reason, finding the right gas detection system for the task and working in partnership with an experienced and reputable provider to find the best solution can be particularly valuable within smaller or less complex facilities.
Example: Bio-Decontamination of Isolators or Enclosures
Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful disinfectant and sterilant for decontaminating equipment, facilities and medical devices, and is frequently a preferred substance for these processes due to its bioactive effect in killing bacteria.
While effective decontamination is essential in the pharmaceutical industry, safeguards must be taken to protect the health of personnel from the toxic effects of hydrogen peroxide.
Gas detection has two applications in this example. In the first instance, to monitor levels inside an isolator or other enclosure to ensure that the required concentration is reached and maintained for the required length of time, and once the decontamination is complete, the sensor will ensure the absence of hydrogen peroxide before the isolator is opened. The detector is attached to a small control panel that identifies the presence of hydrogen peroxide and indicates when it is unsafe to enter an area.
Secondly, gas detection is required for ongoing monitoring to alert personnel to leaks and enable action to be taken and accidents to be prevented.
If there is a leak, the gas detection system can be set up to automatically shut off the gas supply, preventing the situation from escalating. The system will also automatically shut off the vaporiser and turn on ventilation systems to help disperse the gas.
