‘BE Prepared’, to quote the worldwide Scouting movement, is also something of a motto for us here at Grotech Production Ltd.
As Yorkshire’s premier contract manufacturers and packers we have the privilege of working with all kinds of powders, liquids and granules in varying volumes.
The bespoke nature of our work means we have to be properly prepared for whatever comes our way. Sometimes the substances we are asked to manufacture or pack are straightforward; at other times they are not.
One particular recent powder filling job was especially challenging. It involved a dusty and highly caustic deliquescent material which had the ability both to absorb moisture while also being soluble. Packing this substance had the potential to cause damage and injury to operators and filling equipment so taking the time to think through the job was crucial.
In evaluating all aspects of the operation, we simplified how we would fill the product to reduce the time the powder was exposed to the atmosphere and constructed the entire filler from materials that wouldn’t corrode. Operators were completely decked out in personal protective equipment (PPE) which had been tested to confirm its resistance to highly caustic substances.
Our ways of working were changed to limit the amount of time the operator would be wearing this PPE to no more than four hours. They were then required to remove the protective suit and dispose of it before showering and either returning to another task at work or finishing for the day. This reduced the operator’s exposure to the powder when removing the PPE for breaks because they didn’t return to this task after a break.
We also carried out the powder packing process in a laminar flow booth to keep any dust resulting from the operation away from the operator and contained within a certain area preventing contamination of surroundings.
As a result, the job was carried out on time and to budget; there was no damage to equipment or injury to operators and a new standard of PPE and usage policy for handling high hazards materials is now in place.
Of course, there’s always room for improvement and there are still things we could do differently to make things even better but that’s a challenge for another day!
If you have a product that’s proving tricky to pack, why not let us take on the challenge for you? To find out more contact us here or give us a call on 01405 761746.
