Vapor and Dust Particle Emission into the Air while Performing Work Tasks in an Analytical Laboratory

V zadnjem času se v industriji vse več pozornosti namenja zdravju in varstvu pri delu. Tudi v farmacevtski industriji se delavci med delom pogosto srečujejo s kemikalijami, ki so nevarne za človekovo varnost in zdravje. V okviru zagotavljanja varnega okolja za delo smo se tudi v farmacevtskem podjetju Lek odločili, da preverimo, v kakšni količini se delci nevarnih snovi v zrak prenašajo med različnimi laboratorijskimi operacijami. Želeli smo oceniti tveganje, ki ga za delavca predstavlja delo v preiskovanem laboratoriju. S pomočjo podjetja, ki ima dovoljenje za izvajanje strokovnih nalog s področja varnosti in zdravja pri delu, smo izvajali meritve prisotnosti kemičnih snovi na delovnem mestu. Za vzorčenje zraka smo uporabili posebno črpalko, na katero smo namestili ustrezen medij. Na mediju (filter, ogljikova cevka) se je med vzorčenjem zadržala nevarna snov, ki smo jo želeli analizirati. Iz podatka o masi posamezne snovi, ki se je na mediju zadržala, sem izračunala koncentracijo nevarne snovi v zraku med izvajanjem določene operacije, dnevno izpostavljenost in faktor prekoračitve. Za izračun faktorja prekoračitve sem uporabila mejno vrednost, ki sem jo pridobila iz Pravilnika o varovanju delavcev pred tveganji zaradi izpostavljenosti kemičnim snovem pri delu [9]. Za vse tri meritve prašnih delcev sem dobila zelo nizke faktorje prekoračitve (I < 3 %). Rezultate sem pripisala ustrezni uporabi odsesovalne opreme. Zaskrbljujoče rezultate je dala analiza medija hlapnega topila, ki smo ga dobili pri meritvah priprave vzorca na UV analizo. Dnevna izpostavljenost za hlape topila je namreč za več kot 1,5x presegla mejno vrednost za preiskovano snov. Ker je delavec med meritvijo vzorce pripravljal brez odsesovalnih naprav, smo se odločili za ponovitev meritve ob uporabi naprave za lokalno odsesavanje. Po izračunu faktorja prekoračitve za ponovno meritev sem ugotovila, da v primeru rabe odsesovalnih naprav faktor prekoračitve pade s 164 % na 44 %, torej pod mejno vrednost. Na ta način smo ugotovili, da je delovno okolje ustrezno, saj nobena koncentracija ne dosega mejne vrednosti, ki jo predpisuje slovenska zakonodaja, in da za varno delo v laboratoriju delavci ob pravilni uporabi odsesovalnih naprav ne potrebujejo zaščite dihal. Ugotovili smo, da k varnemu delu znatno pripomore ustrezna raba odsesovalnih naprav, ki kontaminiran zrak vodijo do HEPA filtrov, kjer se prečisti.Recently industries are focusing more on health and safety at work. Pharmaceutical industry employees are also often in contact with chemicals threatening one’s safety and health. Having in mind the objective of guaranteeing a safe working environment we have decided to obtain data of the amount of hazardous particles air transmission while performing various laboratory services. We wanted to estimate the level of risk taking for an employee working in an analytical laboratory. With immense help of a company that possesses a permit to carry out professional assignments that deal with health and safety at work, we were able to measure the presence of hazardous substances at work. To sample the air, a specialised pump was used with an attached suitable medium. During the sampling, the medium (a filter, a carbon fibre tube) intercepted a hazardous substance that we wanted to analyse. I was able to calculate the concentration of hazardous substances in the air during the performance of specific analytical laboratory services, the daily exposure and the excess factor with the acquired data about the mass of the particular particles stuck on the medium. I was able to determine the excess factor by using the exposure limit value obtained from Rules on the Protection of Workers from Risks Related to Exposure to Chemical Substances at Work [9]. All three measurements resulted in very low excess factors ( I < 3 %). I interpreted these results being such due to suitable extraction systems. However, the results of the analysis of the medium of the volatile solvent that was obtained during the measurements of preparing a sample for UV analysis are more concerning. The daily exposure to volatile substances for the substance under analysis exceeded the limit value by 1.5. The employee handled the samples without the extraction systems being turned on, therefore I decided to repeat the measurements and introduce the suction systems. The excess factor dropped from 164% to 44% which was below the limit value. The conclusion is the suitability of the working environment due to the concentration levels not exceeding limit values determined by the Slovenian labour regulations and the employees not being obliged to wear respiratory protective equipment under the condition of the appropriate use of the extraction systems. The level of laboratory work safety is significantly improved by the correct use of suction systems that use HEPA filters