Vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) is often used to disinfect and decontaminate work environments, including classrooms, medical and manufacturing facilities, confined spaces, and other areas that are designed for prolonged human occupancy. In the face of the coronavirus pandemic, all types of businesses will need to thoroughly disinfect their workspaces before bringing their employees back to work to minimize their chances of exposure. The coronavirus can live on surfaces for up to 72 hours. VHP can also be used to remove all types of microbial life, including bacteria, fungi, novel and everyday viruses, and diseases.
However, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is also considered harmful to humans if the VHP is not fully removed from the area either by being vented to the outside air or recaptured. Exposure can lead to a range of side effects and health hazards, including: irritation of the eyes/nose/throat, corneal ulcer, skin redness, and blistered skin. Employers must test their work environments for the presence of hydrogen peroxide before letting their employees back into the space.
At PK Safety, we have just added three H202 monitors to our website. If your business is considering using hydrogen peroxide to disinfect your workspace, learn more about hydrogen peroxide gas detection and how it can help your business and workers stay safe.
The Hydrogen Peroxide Sterilization Process
When disinfecting your workspace with VHP, you will need to use a generator to disperse the vapor through the environment. The generator will first dehumidify the area in question, and then it will produce VHP by passing aqueous hydrogen peroxide over a vaporizer. The generator will circulate VHP based on the desired concentration, usually anywhere from 140 ppm to 1400 ppm. The VHP will need to circulate in the air for a certain period of time, based on the environment and microbial hazard in question.
Once enough time has passed, the generator will typically suck up the VHP, where it will convert it back into liquid hydrogen peroxide. This allows the generator to recoup as much H2O2 as possible. However, you can also open the windows to air out your work environment if you don’t need to reuse your VHP. This will usually clear the area of VHP until it is safe for human occupation, typically <1 ppm.
However, you can never be too careful when it comes to the health and safety of your employees. That’s why it’s best to use a hydrogen peroxide gas monitor just to be safe.
Using H2O2 Monitors
At PK Safety, we now have three H202 monitors for sale on our website. They are all made by RKI instruments—one of the best and most trusted names in the personal protection industry. They work like most gas monitors. Set the exposure limit and an alarm will go off if the air exceeds this limit. Monitor your workspace after the disinfection process to make sure it is safe to enter.
The RKI SC-8000 Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Monitor is perfect for those that work in the solar energy, petrochemical, utilities, medical and pharmaceutical, and food industries. It’s extremely lightweight, portable, and durable, so you can easily wear it in the field. It comes with a large graphic display as well as a loud buzzer alarm for alerting the user if a leak is present. It features a real-time detection range of 0- 3.00 ppm.
The RKI GD-70D Hydrogen Peroxide Smart Transmitter is perfect for those that work in the medical and pharmaceutical industries. It’s also great for monitoring production lines and food processing plants. You can use it as a standalone device or in connection with other gas monitors and transmitters from RKI Instruments’ Beacon series. The instrument is easy to maintain. Swap out replaceable elements in just a few minutes with no tools required. The sensors on the monitor retain calibration information, which means they can be calibrated separately from the transmitter, so you don’t have to bring calibration gases into the field. It also comes with a real-time detection range of 0- 3.00 ppm.
The RKI EAGLE Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) Monitor is another great choice for those that work in the medical, pharmaceutical, food, and manufacturing industries. It can detect up to six hazardous gases simultaneously, so you don’t have to use more than one monitor at once. It comes with a long pump to collect air samples up to 125 feet away. You don’t have to worry about going into the room to monitor your workspace. The battery will last up to 30 hours, giving you and your team lasting protection.
The coronavirus has changed business as usual. Disinfecting your workspace is a must when bringing your employees back on the job. Contact the professionals at PK Safety today to learn more about hydrogen peroxide gas monitoring.
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