Are Workers, Processes, and Environments in the Pharma Industry Really Protected?

The pharmaceutical industry consists of complex manufacturing processes that include handling chemical and biological substances, working in cleanrooms and controlled environments, working in explosive zones, and working with heavy machinery.

As a result, the selection of PPE varies broadly depending on the type of application. DuPont Protective Solutions can be used in every step of the manufacturing process, from research and development laboratories through active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) manufacturing to final drug development.

Research and Development (Cleanrooms)

1. In the cleanrooms, with tasks related to chemical synthesis, extraction, and fermentation processes where chemical residues can contact the skin, the highest level of microbiological protection is utmost during sensitive processes to avoid contamination.
2. The staff also needs protection from chemicals, biological substances, and mechanical injuries (e.g., animal scratches).

API Manufacturing

1. In chemical processes, workers need protection against highly concentrated organic and inorganic chemicals, fine particles, air and water vapour permeability, and the ability to repel water-based liquids and aerosols.
2. In biological processes, PPE offering excellent chemical permeation resistance to an extensive range of chemicals is needed.

Final Drug Manufacturing

1. The process and final product protection PPE minimises contamination risks and protects against chemical or biological hazards crucial during aseptic manufacturing, especially during manufacturing dosage forms such as pills, liquids, powders, or pastes.
2. Durable and comfortable CAT III protective garments of Type 4, 5, or 6 that protect the worker against small particles are best suited.

Working in explosive zones represents a high risk of potential burn injuries, and it is essential to protect the workers against heat, flame, and electric arc hazards.

Machinery Maintenance activities require effective hand protection against cut hazards; in some cases, an electric arc also represents a threat.

Process/Product Microbiological Protection

Protection against exposure to corrosive liquids, solid particulates, and airborne dust

Protection against arc flash, heat, and flame

Biohazards

DuPont offers protective apparel for various biohazard classifications & biosafety levels, and Bloodborne Pathogen Standards, for superior worker protection in the pharma industry.

In addition, the pharma industry also needs protective clothing for protection from hazards while handling cytostatics (aggressive, toxic substances) .

Care must be taken to prevent the formation of cytostatic aerosols and dust and to avoid contamination during the production, preparation, provision, disposal, storage, and transportation of such substances.

Potential health hazards to the staff can be caused even by low-level contact with cytostatic substances.

DuPont PPE helps to control contamination and protect against toxic chemicals, dust, bloodborne pathogens, and small particles, ensuring the safety of the pharmaceutical staff and sensitive pharmaceutical products and processes.

DuPont Protective Solutions - As single-use protective clothing, Tyvek?, IsoClean?, and Tychem? provide products that deliver superior contamination and bioburden protection during these high-risk environments.

1. Tyvek? IsoClean? coveralls are designed especially for use in cleanrooms and controlled environments demanding high levels of microbiological protection.
2. Protective suits made of Tyvek? are also suitable for activities involved in the production of cytostatics and offer different levels of protection depending on hazard type.
3. Garments and Accessories made of Tychem? provide additional protection from inorganic chemicals for body parts subjected to high levels of exposure.
4. Nomex? for laboratory protection - FR clothing made with DuPont? Nomex? helps minimise potential burn injury during short-term exposure to flames and helps provide valuable escape time.

DuPont coveralls offer superior protection in drug manufacturing, medical device manufacturing, or maintenance in healthcare, which require high standards of particle and microbiological contamination control.

By relying on the proven protection of DuPont, the pharma industry can worry less about potential contamination of their products or risks to their workers and focus on the greater good - healing the sick and helping healthy people stay healthy.

We advise HSE managers to use DuPont? SafeSPEC? - our powerful PPE product discovery and selector tool for ease of PPE selection, besides availing the assistance of a DuPont PPE.

DuPont experts are also available to work with the HSE manager to help simplify the process of properly matching PPE to the hazards your workers face.

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