LIFE SCIENCES – HAZARDS & SOLUTIONS by ANSELL
Companies within the Life Sciences industry are focused on research, development and the manufacture of products that enhance human well-being. Workers within this industry face a number of hazards not only to themselves but to their vital research and products. Laboratory workers and research facility workers who are exploring vital ideas for new drugs, vaccines, medical devices and other solutions face numerous serious hazards throughout their working day ranging from particulate, chemical, biological to heat and cut. Once the research and clinical trials are completed and the vaccine, for example, is to be upscaled and mass produced there are strict protocols to take into consideration. The primary focus for protection shifts to the product to ensure there is no risk of contamination during the manufacturing process, with facilities either operating in clean or clean and aseptic/sterile environment using PPE with validated sterility levels, cleanliness levels and chemical permeation levels.
PRIMARY HAZARDS IN CLEAN, CLEAN/STERILE LIFE SCIENCES ENVIRONMENTS
The biggest hazard within a cleanroom/controlled environment is human contamination often in the form of particulates. To avoid the introduction of contamination/particles it’s imperative workers wear the most appropriate PPE for the cleanroom ISO classification. These include disposable garments, gloves, goggles, facemasks, and other items. The user should assess the choice of apparel and accessories carefully to ensure these are suitable for the Class of cleanroom, the nature and duration of the task. This table is only intended as a general guide and should not be construed as a recommendation of the apparel required for a particular Class of cleanroom. Please see the Standard Operating Procedure of the cleanroom for the apparel required, the gowning procedure and change frequency. *Hoods and facemasks are not recommended in ISO 1&2 as full face respirators or encapsulation suits may be in use.
LIFE SCIENCES HAZARDS & SOLUTIONS
Risks and hazards within the Life Sciences industry varies dependent on the environment, facility and the task being undertaken. Whether working with hazardous chemicals whilst compounding vital drugs and vaccines or handling hazardous chemicals during semiconductor/micro-electronic manufacturing, biological hazards in biomanufacturing or assembling medical devices which must be absolutely contamination free, the appropriate level of PPE is key.
PRODUCT PROTECTION
For many life sciences applications the main purpose of PPE is to protect the product from contamination. Equipping workers with PPE that is compatible for use within strictly regulated cleanrooms and controlled environments is essential to reduce the risk of cross-contamination, which can be in the form of particulates (dust, skin, hair), bioburden (bacteria, viruses, fungi) and chemicals (solvents, residues), to ensure the integrity of the products being manufactured or the research being undertaken.
Note: Product availability may vary. These styles serve as examples only. For tailored recommendations for your unique needs and applications, please request an AnsellGUARDIAN® assessment.
CHEMICAL PROTECTION
To ensure the safety of workers within pharmaceutical manufacturing, compounding pharmacies, academic and R&D laboratories, biomanufacturing, micro-electronics and precision engineering who can be exposed to hazardous chemicals on a daily basis in a variety of ways - whether that‘s when blending, compounding solids and/or liquids, transferring liquids, cleanroom cleaning and preparation or FAB equipment maintenance and cleaning, wearing the right PPE with the right level of chemical protection is paramount.
Note: Product availability may vary. These styles serve as examples only. For tailored recommendations for your unique needs and applications, please request an AnsellGUARDIAN® assessment. Or use our self-service AnsellGUARDIAN® Partner tool to search our extensive chemical permeation and degradation data and identify the appropriate hand and body protection for the chemicals you use.
UNDERSTANDING THE STANDARDS
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When choosing PPE for protection against viruses like 2019-nCoV, it’s important to know which regulatory standards to look for. Several top selling Ansell styles that meet relevant EN and ASTM standards are featured below. Please consult individual product information for details regarding the specific standards different products meet.
EN 14126: 2003 defines performance requirements for clothing materials to protective against infectious agents. Test method ISO 16604 is relevant for resistance to penetration by blood-borne pathogens.
BIOLOGICAL PROTECTION
Biological hazards often referred to as Biohazards are biological substances, that pose a threat to the health of living organisms primarily humans, including medical waste, micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses or toxins produced by micro-organisms. As a result of COVID-19, workplaces must consider the need to protect against the spread of illness and viral infection. Ansell offers a wide range of solutions that comply with the World Health Organization’s guidance regarding infection prevention and control. In order to make an informed decision, product purchasers and users should stay abreast of the latest and most complete information regarding appropriate PPE to protect against COVID-19 and other viruses in their specific environments and applications.
Note: Product availability may vary. These styles serve as examples only. For tailored recommendations for your unique needs and applications, please request an AnsellGUARDIAN® assessment.
STATIC PROTECTION
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) if not contained or controlled can be the cause of major disruption and damage to micro-electronic components or be the cause of ignition during powder processing, so it‘s imperative that the PPE worn by workers (carrying out applications with a risk of generating electrostatic discharge) are anti-static including garments, overshoes and gloves. Ansell have a range of solutions which have been tested to and pass anti-static standards.
Note: Product availability may vary. These styles serve as examples only. For tailored recommendations for your unique needs and applications, please request an AnsellGUARDIAN® assessment.
ALLERGY PROTECTION
Occasionally, wearing glove products can cause issues with the health of our skin. Skin allergies from adverse reactions to glove products are generally classified into three distinct types - immediate hypersensitivity/ Type I, delayed hypersensitivity/Type IV or irritant contact dermatitis. Latex allergy, also known as Type I allergy, is the reaction to the residual allergenic protein present in natural rubber latex products. Type IV allergies mainly occur due to a reaction to chemical accelerators used in the glove manufacturing process.
Ansell leaches and washes gloves to minimize the accelerator residue in the final products or eliminate the accelerator from the manufacturing process altogether if possible.
ERGONOMIC PROTECTION
Workers within a Life Sciences environment usually wear gloves to protect either themselves, the research being carried out or products being manufactured from contamination. Prolonged muscle effort from spending hours carrying out repetitive tasks and small hand movements could cause muscle strain leading to glove induced hand fatigue and, over time, may increase the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.
Note: Product availability may vary. These styles serve as examples only. For tailored recommendations for your unique needs and applications, please request an AnsellGUARDIAN® assessment.
 AnsellGUARDIAN® is our consultative service to help companies select and implement the right personal protective equipment solutions to improve safety, increase productivity and reduce costs. Using our 125 years of experience, proprietary software system and database of over 30,000 chemicals, we analyze PPE needs and identify the solutions that will work best for each company’s unique risks and applications. As an industry pioneer with the most advanced technology and analytics, we have evaluated and implemented best business practices in over 15,000 facilities worldwide, reducing injuries and saving companies a total of $165M. AnsellGUARDIAN® assessments address 7 functional areas:
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ABOUT ANSELL
As a global leader in personal protective solutions with over 125 years of experience in keeping people safe, Ansell‘s mission is to provide innovative and reliable solutions for safety, well-being and peace of mind to workers around the world. Our global team of more than 12,000 people in 55 countries design, manufacture and market cutting edge PPE that millions of workers in industrial and healthcare settings rely upon every day. We offer a comprehensive portfolio of hand and body protection products and provide customers with tailored solutions to meet their unique needs across a wide range of industries and applications.
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Except as noted, Ansell, ® and ™ are trademarks owned by Ansell Limited or one of its affiliates. US Patented and US and non-US Patents Pending: www.ansell.com/patentmarking © 2021 Ansell Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Neither this document nor any other statement made herein by or on behalf of Ansell should be construed as a warranty of merchantability or that any Ansell product is fit for a particular purpose. Ansell assumes no responsibility for the suitability or adequacy of an end user’s selection of gloves for a specific application.