The Key Components of Biohazard Safety Cabinets
When it comes to workplace safety — most companies would agree that the best way to protect your organisation, employees and workplace in general is to make sure that you are appropriately prepared for the most common threats present in your field.
For example, if you are a company handling shipments, you make sure that you have processes in place for shipment overloads. In the construction, chemical and industrial industry — preparedness comes in the form of having the right tools to handle all risks.
This is where having biohazard safety cabinets comes in handy! These cabinets are carefully designed to create a safe place for dealing with dangerous materials, keeping both your employees, your workspace and the environment safe.
With the benefits that a biohazard safety cabinet presents, let’s take a look into what makes it that safe and durable in the first place!
Components of a Biohazard Safety Cabinet
Cabinet Structure
Every biohazard safety cabinet is built strong. Typically composed of stainless steel, these cabinets are engineered to withstand rigorous use and provide a durable barrier against biohazardous materials.
Because they’re made without any seams, they’re easy to clean and don’t gather residue, which keeps the inside clean and germ-free.
HEPA Filters
A very important part of a biohazard safety cabinet is the HEPA filter. These filters catch tiny airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns with a 99.97% efficiency. They work by taking out harmful stuff from the air inside the cabinet, which helps stop dangerous materials from spreading and keeps the workplace safe.
Airflow Systems
Biohazard safety cabinets employ sophisticated airflow systems to control the movement of air within the cabinet. The most common types of airflow systems include:
Vertical Flow Cabinets
Air moves vertically from the top of the cabinet to the work surface, creating a downward flow that prevents airborne contaminants from escaping.
Horizontal Flow Cabinets
Air flows horizontally across the work surface towards the operator, providing a barrier against contaminants and ensuring a clean workspace.
Recirculating Air Cabinets
These cabinets recirculate filtered air within the cabinet, offering a cost-effective solution while maintaining a controlled environment.
Work Surface
The work surface of a biohazard safety cabinet is designed to be easy to clean and resistant to corrosion from chemicals. It is typically made of stainless steel or other non-porous materials to prevent the absorption of hazardous substances, ensuring a safe and hygienic working area for laboratory procedures.
Safety Features
Modern biohazard safety cabinets are equipped with advanced safety features to enhance user protection and operational efficiency. These may include:
Alarm Systems: Alerts for low airflow or filter saturation to prompt maintenance and ensure continuous safety.
Interlocking Mechanisms: Prevents simultaneous opening of multiple cabinet doors, maintaining airflow integrity and safety protocols.
Certification and Compliance
Before a cabinet is deemed safe and certified as a biohazard safety cabinet able to handle various chemicals and liquid, it first undergoes a series of tests depending on the regulatory body that is in charge of it within your locality.
Once they certify your cabinet as biohazard safe, you know that it is durable — able to protect you when the time comes and to properly contain any biohazard materials you may need to handle in your line of work!
In the end, biohazard safety cabinets make all the difference between making your workplace a safe place or a minefield for your employees!
As long as you comply with the most basic components to keep your biohazard safety cabinet’s structural integrity and are able to handle the chemicals it contains, you are not just showing your people that you value their safety but reducing any risks that your company might face.
Protect your Workplace the Right Way!
Ecospill’s variation of safety cabinets allows you to properly store your chemicals and spill kits safely! This helps minimise potential accidents in the workplace that involve chemical spills. Our biohazard safety cabinet is perfect for industrial settings where the day to day use of hazardous chemicals is the norm.
Visit our website to see more products we offer, or contact our team for a spill kit servicing. Enhance the safety of your organisation without compromising your obligations to our environment with Ecospill!