Unlocking safety: 7 steps to designing hazardous manufacturing facilities
February 04, 2025
February 04, 2025
Reshoring of manufacturing has made the handling of hazardous materials a priority
Recently, industries have danced back to the US, bringing hazardous materials with them. Supply chain hiccups during the pandemic pushed companies to set up shop closer to home.
But here’s the twist: Safety rules got stricter while they were away.
How do we cha-cha with these challenges? There are seven key steps—with a dance twist.
Hazardous manufacturing is popping up across various sectors. They include pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, battery production, and recycling centers.
Hazardous manufacturing is popping up across various sectors: pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, battery production, recycling centers—you name it. But before we hit the dance floor, let’s learn the steps.
Now that we’ve got our groove, let’s meet our partner—the hazard. We’ll review the occupational exposure limit (OEL) playbook. OEL values are like safety thresholds; they’re published by organizations like OSHA. OELs sometimes come in bands (occupant exposure bands).
These help us pick the right gear—in this case, our safety shoes and hard hats—for the manufacturing cha-cha. And yes, OEBs aren’t universal, so we’ll still need to know our OELs to avoid any missteps.
The restricted access barrier system protects the process and product from the environment while providing a higher degree of separation between the operator and the product.
Our dance partner’s physical traits matter too. Is it a solid, liquid, or gas? Particle size? Density? Imagine handling a glitter bomb (tiny particles) versus a water balloon (liquid). Knowing the form helps us choreograph the moves. With the OEL limit in mind, we’ll waltz through the space, avoiding any hazardous slipups.
Picture our facility as a grand ballroom—a place where people, materials, and waste do the hustle together. But safety isn’t just about fancy footwork; it’s about understanding the choreography:
Safety encore: Fire protection and building features
Now, let’s dim the lights and focus on safety stars:
Remember, these rules aren’t just for our facility; they’re for the whole dance hall—the community and environment. So, let’s keep the rhythm steady, protect our fellow dancers, and waltz safely through each routine.
Is it a solid, liquid, or gas? Particle size? Density? Imagine handling a glitter bomb (tiny particles) versus a water balloon (liquid).
Imagine our manufacturing dance floor. Hazardous materials are our dance partners, and we need choreography:
Now let’s review the video footage. If we have 3D models (our backstage crew), computational fluid dynamics (CFD) steps in. CFD visualizes airflows, spots risk points, and fine-tunes our moves. It’s like having a backstage mirror to perfect our routine.
Remember, safety isn’t a solo act; it’s a synchronized performance.
Imagine our safety ballroom—the one where hazardous materials waltz with controls. Now, let’s focus on the finale:
Remember, safety isn’t about flawless execution; it’s about minimizing missteps. You’ll be forgiven for missing a beat here and there as long as you finish strong—remember these seven steps:
So, let’s twirl through risks, reduce them, and keep the dancers safe.