Vacuum HEPA filters

Small areas Small puddles of liquid can be contained by covering with absorbent material such as vermiculite, diatomaceous earth, clay, sponges, or towels. Place the absorbed material into containers lined with high-density polyethylene. Larger puddles can be collected using vacuum equipment made of materials inert to the released material and equipped with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and appropriate vapor filters. Wash the area with copious amounts of soap and water. Collect and containerize the rinseate. Ventilate the area to remove vapors. 

Plant personnel, if trained but not certified, can perform minor repairs (approximately the size of a hand), taking special precautions regarding dust, sweep, or vacuum particles suspected of containing asbestos. The fibers are so small that they cannot be seen and can pass through normal vacuum cleaner filters and get back into the air. The dust should be removed by a wet-mopping procedure or by specially designed HEPA vacuum cleaners used by trained asbestos contractors. 

Cleanup within the clean area at the end of each shift should consist of broom cleaning and vacuum cleaning the floor with a clean vacuum, that is, a vacuum with a HEPA filter (99.97% efficient on 0.3-pm particles). 

Vacuum Line. Vacuum service should be protected by a disposable HEPA filter and a liquid trap to prevent entry of the chemical carcinogens into the central vacuum system. Figure 4 (8). A commercial system is available from Vacuum Guard II,... 

Small Areas Consolidate as much material as possible and place into containers. In heavily contaminated areas, employ vacuum devices equipped with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters to remove as much agent as possible. Decontaminate the area with a fresh solution of HTH pool bleach in denatured alcohol (approximately 9 percent by weight) followed by decontamination with copious amounts of aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (a minimum of 10 percent by weight). Vigorous off-gassing may occur during this process. 

Use a good quality vacuum cleaner (if possible one fitted with HEPA filter)... 

Small Areas Consolidate as much material as possible and place into containers. In heavily contaminated areas, employ vacuum devices equipped with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters to remove as much agent as possible. Ventilate any enclosed or confined spaces. 

Fixed equipment, walls, floors, and ceilings can only periodically be thoroughly cleaned down and decontaminated. There are only two approaches to cleaning acceptable for aseptic manufacturing areas, wet wiping or a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filtered exhaust. 

---