Occupational Safety & Fire Protection for medical devices

Occupational safety in medical technology involves hazards that one does not always expect in companies of this size. Sterilisation with ethylene oxide uses a carcinogenic, explosive gas; cleaning and pickling processes use acids and alkalis; laser processing and marking involve radiation of high laser classes; cleanrooms have staff working for hours in protective clothing. On top of this come metal dusts from grinding and polishing, which are combustible in the case of titanium and aluminium.

The foundation is the same everywhere: the risk assessment required by occupational health and safety law, supplemented by the rules on hazardous substances and work equipment and — wherever explosive atmospheres can arise — an explosion protection document. Fire protection is added, often under special conditions: cleanroom ceilings, ventilation systems with high air change rates and the storage of flammable liquids need to be considered together.

The providers listed here act as external safety specialists and occupational physicians, prepare risk assessments and explosion protection documents, design fire protection concepts, train staff and inspect installations and work equipment. For smaller companies, external support is the norm.