No dust on Hosokawa Micron
Where the management of specific dust containment levels is critical to filling and weighing operations and to the safety of personnel, a range of equipment offering guaranteed containment levels of between <1µg/m Significant investment in design studies and practical application tests means Hosokawa Micron can offer a range of isolators and downflow booths designed specifically for filling and weighing applications, all with independently verified guaranteed minimum containment levels of <1µg/m Tests carried out by independent occupational hygiene and environmental consultants Genesis Environmental 'confirmed the capability of the isolators to achieve and maintain airborne dust containment levels of less than 1µg/m3 and that the downflow booths were capable of maintaining personal exposures below 10µg/m3 during monitored activities'. The new isolator and downflow booth technology has been developed in response to health and safety legislation and increasing concentration of active ingredients and toxicity of ingredients used in pharmaceutical production leading to the demand for lower OELs to safeguard personnel in daily filling and weighing and product transfer operations. The independent testing of the equipment was carried out under strict control and close supervision at the premises of Hosokawa using paracetamol as the tracing material. 'It is important for the end user to appreciate that the working practices that are used can still have a significant effect upon the employee's exposure in practice, despite the effectiveness of the containment equipment. The results reflect accurately what can be achieved in an installed environment provided that isolators are installed, commissioned and operated under correct conditions,' said David O'Malley, managing director, Genesis Environmental.