Title:

Over-pack Containers

Hazard Category:

• Chemical
• Safety

Hazard(s):

• Dropping bottles containing chemicals can cause a hazard due to release of the chemical and breaking of glass.

Problem:

The Birck Nanotechnology Center at Purdue University uses various chemicals on a routine basis. Chemicals are typically stored in glass bottles. Carrying these glass bottle from one location to another presents the risk of dropping the bottle, which can cause health and safety hazards from the release of chemicals and broken glass. Another concern about dropped bottles would be the loss of product.

Risk Description:

Hazards associated with dropping glass bottles containing chemicals include:

• Inhalation of hazardous vapors.
• Reaction of chemicals with other materials in the area.
• Cuts due to broken glass.
• Splashes of chemicals in eyes.
• Slips, trips, falls.
• Dermatitis from acid/base liquids.

PtD Strategy

Prevention through Design is the effort by design engineers to make safer workplaces through implementing safety at the project design stage. At the Birck Nanotechnology Center they devised a procedure to greatly reduce the chance of a spill due to dropping a bottle containing chemicals while carrying it from one location to another.

They use an over-pack container, which is a two-piece plastic casing for the bottle. The bottle is placed in the bottom of the over-pack container and then the top of the container is placed over the bottom and twisted into place. The bottom portion of the container has only half of the handle. When the top part of the container is placed over the lower part and twisted into place, both halves of the handle lock into place forming a complete handle. This design discourages use of just the bottom part of the over-pack container, because it only has half a handle and would be very difficult to carry.

• The containers are made in a two-piece design consisting of an interlocking top and bottom that makes it very difficult to use either piece separately.
• The container will fit most types of chemical bottles used in the Birck facility and has the ability to hold other containers because it seals when both pieces are assembled.
• The containers are composed of a hard, yet flexible, plastic made to absorb most of the impact force if dropped.
• This allows easy transport of materials without the risk of spills or breakage of the primary container.
• It makes it easier to carry chemicals the safe way due to ergonomic design.
• The containers fit into the dumbwaiter system for transport to the clean room.

Images

This picture shows the top and bottom halves of the over-pack container that is used to safely carry glass bottles containing chemicals.

The picture below shows the type of glass chemical bottles that are typically used at the Birck Nanothechlology Center.  The bottle can be placed into the over-pack container on the right for safe transport to another location in the facility.

This photo shows the top and bottom halves of the over-pack container twisted togeter so that a handle is formed, making for safe and convenient transport.  A few over-pack containers can be seen in the dumbwaiter in the background.