SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR AUTOCLAVES

You must reduce the risks outlined above by taking appropriate safety measures. What is required depends largely on the size of the autoclave, its operating pressure and the kind of pressurizing medium.

The starting point is to identify the safety critical parts of the autoclave system, including those where a single fault leads to total disengagement or loss of system integrity.

The nature of the autoclave, how it is installed and what it is used for may highlight other hazards such as:

•  – inadvertent opening/failure of the door mechanism while under pressure;
•  – overloading the supporting framework;
•  – corrosion/erosion;
•  – fragile containers, in autoclaves for sterilizing, shattering if exposed to a sudden temperature change.

Determining risk factors

You must assess the following key issues:

•  – inadvertent pressurization with a person inside the autoclave;
•  – inadvertent pressurization of blowdown, drain and transfer lines
•  – a door opening violently under pressure;
•  – verifying nil pressure before opening the vessel;
•  – location;
•  – instruction and training;

How risks are put out in Surdry Autoclaves

• Door opening violently under pressure

Surdry autoclaves have an intrinsically safe door locking mechanism with electrical switches interlocked with the internal vessel pressure. Then, the autoclave is not capable of being pressurized unless the door is completely closed, the securing mechanism fully engaged and the chamber sealed. 

When the vessel is pressurized, the Quick Closure system, composed by several ‘teeth’ in the door and vessel flanges, ensures that the door cannot be opened manually using the wheel, due to the internal pressure actin on them.

The autoclave should be vented to reduce the internal pressure to atmospheric conditions before the door-securing mechanism can be disengaged.

When the internal pressure has been released enough so the door can be slightly opened through the wheel, the special designed-by-Surdry door teeth allow to release residual pressure before the door is completely opened.

• Verifying nil pressure before opening the vessel

Surdry autoclaves, besides pressure gauges installed in the vessel, have a safety locking system that prevents from opening the door if any residual energy is stored within the vessel. When pulling back the pin to unlatch the door, a valve connected mechanically to such pin is opened. If any water or steam/air under pressure is seen through such valve, you must not turn the wheel. If the flow of water or steam/air is not immediately reduced you must close the safety device and call for maintenance or supervisor attention.

• Inadvertent pressurization with a person inside the autoclave. LOTO procedure

Any person entering the chamber must put a lock on the door, remove the key and keep the key with him/her. A tag with his name and signature must be made visible to others to warn them of his presence inside the chamber.

• Emergency stop

Emergency stop devices are used to stop the equipment operation immediately in case of emergency. Learn the positions of all emergency stop devices and how to use them.

Inadvertent pressurization of blowdown, drain and transfer lines

To prevent inadvertent pressurization or scalding at adjacent autoclaves, you must install independent drain and blowdown lines wherever possible. Where this is not possible, there must be additional safety devices to make sure only one autoclave blowdown valve can be in the open position at any one time.

Where the exhaust of relevant fluid from one autoclave is reused in another autoclave, it is essential to provide a valve in the transfer line. This must be interlocked with the door-locking mechanism of the autoclave that the relevant fluid is being supplied to.

Location

The operator needs safe access, taking account of relevant general hazards, such as:

• working at height;
• hot surfaces;
• poor visibility;
• awkward reaches.

To reduce risks to other people besides the operator further, install the autoclave so its door faces away from main thoroughfares wherever possible.

Position controls for the autoclave so they are remote from potential energy release created from failure of the door and from pressure relief, blowdown or drain outlets.

Situate the outlets remotely or install additional pipework to the discharge from these devices, to a place where it will not be a hazard.

Where trolleys are used to load product into the autoclave, avoid using pedestrian access platforms for this purpose. Provide dedicated trolleys and rails strong enough to support the product’s  weight. In all circumstances, do not exceed the maximum load of the trolley, rails and access platforms.

Instruction and training

The training and instruction given to operators should cover all the procedures and information they need to operate the system safely. It should also cover any special procedures to follow in an emergency. You also need to give existing staff regular refresher training.

Surdry provides an exhaustive training at customer’s facilities to ensure the operators can handle the operation proper and safely.

Do not allow anyone to enter the confined space of an autoclave, unless you have assessed the risks to health and safety, put a suitable safe system of work in place and provided training in confined space entry for the people involved.

Supervisors are crucial in making sure operators follow agreed safe systems of work. They also need to be competent to carry out their duties effectively and may themselves require refresher training, if there are changes to the way you work.

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