The pharmaceutical industry It is one of the most important in the world. According to a report from StatisticalIn 2020 alone, revenues of more than 1.25 trillion dollars were generated in the world. In Latin America, the market leading countries they are Brazil (tenth place globally), Mexico and Argentina. But now the important thing is to know how it can be offered personal protection members of this area.
Actions to take to protect workers
One of the keys to maintaining productivity status in pharmaceutical companies is security. Manufacturing processes entail risks in the different areas that make up the pharmaceutical industry: from handling chemical or biological substances to working in potentially explosive areas. In addition, small skin cells, a hair, a nail, or even lint from clothing would contaminate the drug composition.
In the research and development laboratories, synthesis, extraction and fermentation processes are carried out that involve the exposure to substances that may be harmful. To prevent them from coming into contact with the skin, it is necessary to use personal protective equipment. Likewise, tasks such as physical and chemical analysis, taking tests, work in contact with animals and microbiological activities carry risks such as scratches or exposure to corrosive materials.
For this reason, it is necessary that inside the laboratories the personnel wear suits, gowns or aprons, sleeves and other accessories that offer the required protection due to the care of disinfection and sterilization that is needed within the laboratories to prevent any type of contamination, these are called “clean rooms”. Currently there are technologies that provide a high level of protection and that, being light and breathable, allow you to work comfortably.
Another phase of the process is the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients and intermediates, where chemical and biological processes are carried out. It covers tasks such as cleaning of pharmaceutical reactors, as well as tanks and containers, the loading and unloading of chemical substances in trucks or work with solvents.
Ways to offer personal protection in the pharmaceutical industry
These tasks, in which you are continuously exposed to active pharmaceutical ingredients. They need personal protection equipment (EPP) that protect from fine particles, vapours, liquids and aerosols, some compounds of chemical and biological substances of high concentration.
One more stage of pharmaceutical industry It is the final manufacturing of drugs, which includes aseptic tasks (vaccine manufacturing, prefilled syringes, eye drops) and non-aseptic tasks (granulation, compounding, coating, dispensing, drying, grinding, mixing).
Both types of tasks have their dangers: in the case of aseptic tasks, microbiological and particulate contamination of the products. And the non-aseptic, exposure to corrosive liquids, particles and dust.
Another process of pharmaceutical industry is solvent extraction and other production tasks that involve working in explosive zones, where you are exposed to flash fire, electric shock, vapors and extreme heat.
Finally, in the area of machinery and maintenance, where you work with sharp objects or other materials, there is also exposure to sharp objects, so the need for gloves that offer different degrees of mechanical protection from cuts to resistance to abrasions is unavoidable. the abrasion.
To keep the personnel safety in the pharmaceutical industry, it is advisable to adopt the 4Ps methodology: Predict, Prevent, Provide and Protect. This will allow pharmaceutical workers to confidently face the risks that may exist in their respective work areas and get home safe and sound.