When it's time to get from A to B safely - The transport and storage of hazardous materials is subject to many directives and regulations. Safe handling must be ensured at all times, especially when transporting and moving hazardous materials. Handling support not only provides safety, but also enables ergonomic working.
When we talk about transporting hazardous materials here, we are talking about in-house transport. In contrast to conventional transport tasks, the transport of hazardous materials entails an increased risk potential. In addition to material damage, hazards and risks to employees can arise if the containers are damaged. Therefore, safety guidelines must be observed at all costs and, in addition, risks must be avoided from the outset. Lift trucks, lifting aids or handling systems that are used facilitate the transport of heavy hazardous material containers and are subject to certain specifications that must be taken into account when transporting large loads. For example, the Load Handling Ordinance (LasthandhabV) requires the use of suitable aids to reduce physical risks for employees as best as possible: "The employer shall [...] use suitable work equipment, in particular mechanical equipment, to avoid manual handling of loads that pose a risk to the safety and health [...] of employees." (§2 LasthandhabV) Furthermore, the Ordinance on Hazardous Substances states: "The employer shall exclude hazards to the health and safety of employees during activities involving hazardous substances. [Preferably by] designing suitable processes and technical control devices of processes, the use of emission-free or low-emission forms of use, and the use of suitable work equipment and materials according to the state of the art."
(§7 GefStoffV)
Hazardous substances are often in drums or canisters that have to be transported or emptied. Safety and ergonomics have top priority here. Â Improper handling can result in environmental and health hazards. For example, if a drum tips over or falls down, there is a risk of damage to the drum, which could result in the uncontrolled release of hazardous substances, for example. In addition, employees are exposed to severe physical stresses from carrying, lifting or holding drums by hand, which can lead to fatigue or loss of concentration. Therefore, there are suitable work tools to minimize the risks when transporting hazardous materials in drums.
Practical tool for transporting hazardous materials - handling drums and canisters
In our application example, the vacuum lifter ezzFAST is used to handle chemicals in a manufacturing plant. The task here is to handle drums and canisters weighing up to 250 kg. The special feature is that lifting is to be performed from above or from the handle of the canisters.
In a chemical and hazardous materials warehouse, drums and canisters are delivered in sumps. For storage, the products have to be transferred to the in-house plastic pallets. For transport to the point of use or for disposal, the products must be placed back in catch basins before leaving the warehouse.
Best Handling Technology's solution consists of a system of vacuum lifter and ceiling-mounted overhead crane that covers the entire storage area. The vacuum lifter, which is adapted to the drums, picks up plastic and metal drums at the lid. For the canisters, a special pick-up has been developed that hooks into the handles of the canisters and eliminates slippage during transport. Both pick-ups can be exchanged by a quick-change system.
The solution offers advantages for the customer in three respects. Firstly, the safety aspect is guaranteed. Due to the operating principle, the load can only be released after it has been set down. On the productivity side, the intuitive operation, the appropriate lifting and lowering speed and the smooth running of the crane system enable an optimum working speed. The use of the handling system made it possible to dispense with the need for a second person during repositioning. As a third aspect, ergonomics also play a role: lifting heavy loads is no longer necessary and the extended operating handle allows working in an upright posture.
Use in hazardous areas
Hazardous materials are also frequently used in hazardous areas of companies. The vacuum lifter in the ATEX version is ideal for this purpose.
Especially in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, products often have to be handled that are located in hazardous areas. The basis for this is the ATEX product directive 2014/34/EU. This states how systems and machines must be designed so that they may be used in the Ex area. In the ATEX version, the ezzFAST from Best Handling Technology is also ideally suited for the potentially explosive area. It is important in the Ex area to avoid ignition sources. This can be avoided in various ways. For example, all metallic components of the EX version of the ezzFAST are made of stainless steel to prevent sparks. Plastic parts are electrically conductive or are designed in such a way that static charging cannot occur. The vacuum hose has a metal coil that is grounded at both ends, as is the vacuum supply hose. In addition, all conductive components are protected by grounding cables. Depending on the Ex class, the vacuum pump is either electric or pneumatic. In an EX zone "0", the vacuum pump draws air from the hazardous area and must therefore be designed as a pneumatic vacuum pump. In this case there are no moving parts, but by the Venturi method, compressed air is used to create a negative pressure which provides the required vacuum.
To protect the vacuum pump, an ATEX inlet filter is placed in front of the pump, which cleans the intake air before it can enter the pump.
The ezzFAST in ATEX version is attached to a crane made of metal (aluminum or stainless steel). In the ATEX version of the crane, the carriage is designed with bronze rollers. The ezzFAST can then handle bags, for example, using a suction cup. A pneumatic gripper, also designed for hazardous areas, is suitable for particularly difficult gripping operations. This pulls plastic bags out of a cardboard hobbock, for example. The bags are very elastic, so they cannot be sucked in with a vacuum. The gripper grips so well that it can grab the material under the closure of the bag and pull it out of the hobbock.
