Animal Cage and Surgical Vacuum Line Decontamination
Animal Cage and Surgical Vacuum Line Decontamination
Highlights
- Lock-out Tag-out isolation of hazardous energy sources system
- Cleaning each equipment system for disposal or reuse
Overview
Loureiro was contracted by a Connecticut-based pharmaceutical manufacturer to assist with the decontamination and removal of vacuum lines associated with their animal cage vacuum system and a surgical room vacuum system. The systems were being removed from the building they were housed in since the building was scheduled for demolition. The project involved the lock-out/tag-out (isolation of hazardous energy sources) of the equipment, the cleaning and removal of equipment for disposal, and the cleaning of the main vacuum units that were returned to the pharmaceutical manufacturer for reuse.
Approach
Each system required cleaning prior to removal. Loureiro devised an innovative closed loop method to clear caked-on residue by using a vacuum truck, 3/8” stone and a drum header to suck the 3/8” stone through the vacuum lines and capture it in a drum for continuous reuse. Once the interior of the vacuum pipes were cleaned to bare metal, Loureiro technicians used our pipe jet system to thoroughly wash and disinfect the lines prior to removal, capturing wastewater in drums using the vacuum truck and drum header. Our technicians removed the decontaminated vacuum lines and discarded them as scrap and individually wiped down and disinfected the main vacuum units.
Results
The customer was explicit that a closed loop cleaning system was necessary and operation was maintained by Loureiro for the entire duration of the cleaning process. This request created added challenges that required the Loureiro team to thoroughly plan out the entirety of the project prior to execution. The approach Loureiro recommended was customer approved and worked flawlessly through the operation. The volume of waste removed was minimized with the reuse of the 3/8” stone. The process also minimized the amount of water necessary to wash and disinfect the lines prior to disposal as scrap. Each waste stream was managed by Loureiro, and transported and disposed of in accordance with applicable state and federal regulations. The project was completed on time, on budget, and without any quality non-conformances or incidents.
