A major developer and manufacturer of pharmaceuticals contacted Alliance Environmental Group to clean its air ducts—a project that required heavy safety precautions because of the toxicity levels and chemicals at the facility.
During the production of pharmaceuticals, powder and other pollutants from active ingredients
become airborne and can create layers of harmful and infectious residue that adheres to ductwork.
In addition to routine daily and weekly cleaning, the entire facility is closed for a month every year for comprehensive preventative maintenance to ensure the health and safety of employees and consumers. Equipment is thoroughly washed, and the exhaust and HVAC equipment are methodically cleaned during this time.
The pharmaceutical company’s security team cleared and briefed Alliance’s Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) crew before work began, providing a detailed printout with locations where work would start and stop. Workers were required to wear personal protective equipment, which included a head-to-toe hooded body suit and double gloves. Gloves were doubled to prevent contact with any of the chemicals; even a small tear had to be reported immediately and treated. The company provided Alliance with a list of hazardous substances for identification and the protocols for handling them. The project’s scope also included sanitizing numerous exhaust systems throughout the plant.
The professional cleaning process began in each building’s attic, where highly trained technicians forced the air into high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. The team then moved to lower levels and cleaned from the grills back to the roof.
This facility is equipped with exhaust systems, piping and CO2 tanks, and extreme caution was taken to prevent flames or sparks. All equipment used on the project, such as static-proof vacuum hoses, wands, and brushes, had to be non-sparking to prevent fires or explosions. Alliance’s team finished the project with a comprehensive cleaning of the exhaust fans on the roof. As part of the cleanup, the crew ensured that all materials were properly discarded or turned over to the client’s security workers for disposal.
Because of the job’s complexity, it took four weeks to complete with eight-person crews working every day. By routinely cleaning the exhaust systems, manufacturers can eliminate chemicals that would otherwise linger in the buildings. In addition to providing many other indoor air quality services, Alliance Environmental safely restores clean airflow in such facilities to ensure the safety of employees and visitors.
