Services - Safe De-commissioning: MAIN PROCEDURAL STEPS
When a wet bench has reached the end of its useful service life either through old age or technology shift it is important that it is disposed of in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.
From a safety point of view all wet benches removed from everyday service are heavily contaminated with residual chemicals from the processes that have been carried out in the wet bench during its every day working life. Consequently it is advisable to employ the services of a specialist contractor to uplift the bench from the site and have the bench systematically dismantled and de-contaminated.
The following procedures should be carried out when the bench is disconnected from factory services such as chemical drains and chemical distribution systems: -
- Wash down all external surfaces and flush to waste before disconnecting the plumbed services.
- Ensure that all pipe work ends are plugged and sealed and bagged to prevent the escape of liquids from the bench.
- Wrap the bench in polythene sheet and label to identify the risk of chemical hazard (special labels can be obtained from Vinylglass or Plade for this purpose).
- Contact Vinylglass's shipping department to arrange for uplift.
The procedures that will be followed at Vinylglass's de-contamination centre: -
- Take bench to the de-contamination area and carefully unwrap
- Bag wrapping materials for safe disposal and mark as chemical hazard.
- De-contamination team will follow safety procedures for dismantling wet bench components marking and identifying for re-cycling where practical or clean up and safe disposal.
- Stripped carcass will be de-contaminated and assessed for either re-cycling or cut up and disposed of safely.
- On completion of work a safe disposal certificate will be prepared and issued to the customer confirming that the hazard has been safely neutralised.
Contact Vinylglass for a quotation for the removal and environmentally friendly de-commissioning service for redundant wet process benches.
