Concepts to counter the panic - Draeger · ext: Silke Umbach Danny Sacco, Safety ... Dr. Bettina...

Concepts to counter the panic

Pandemic

Every imprint of an unwashed hand transfers bacteria

Gas Protection Containers with

a bad atmosphere

Filtering Facepieces EN 149: New standard

stirs up dust

Research Foundations for tomorrow

The Magazine for Safety Technology September 2009

Dräger Review 98

01_Cover98 1 03.09.2009 13:33:14 Uhr

Protect your head with just a single click: with the Dräger HPS 6200 full-shell helmet, attaching your mask takes seconds. A single hand movement is all it takes using the Q-Fix mask attachment system, developed by Dräger, to secure your mask in place. The Dräger HPS 6200 is currently the lightest EN 443:2008-compliant helmet approved for category B use on the market today. It has been developed in close collaboration with our customers and is produced by Dräger at our own manufacturing facilities. The benefits are clear to see: a contemporary design and new levels of safety and comfort, all combined to provide head protection that is nothing short of superb. To find out more about the Dräger HPS 6200, visit www.draeger.com/hps6200

The new Dräger HPS 6200:with Q-Fix, giving a quick and secure mask attachment.

00:00:00

00:00:03

U2_381_S_Englisch 1 01.09.2009 18:42:59 Uhr

3Dräger review 98 | September 2009

Contents

experienCe 4 people Who perform Learn about

an explosion during the first year at school and the skies of Africa.

neWs 6 news from the World of Dräger

Dräger participates in the leading trade fair, A+A 2009 in Düsseldorf. Studies show that Dräger is an attractive employer. And a rescue tugboat for special deplyoments.

FoCus 8 pandemic — the Looming peril?

the fear is circling the globe faster than the virus itself. However, careful preparation helps to minimize risks.

report 14 en 149: new standard stirs up Dust

Health and safety at work is standards- oriented. these standards have now been further developed, and they provide increased safety.

16 Danger in Big Boxes Containers don’t just hold goods — sometimes they’re also filled with surprising gases. measure-ment ensures safety.

BaCkgrounD 20 timely Detection of Flammable

Liquids How can professional gas detection technology tackle this danger? And why is gasoline more dangerous than methane?

insight 24 pre-Development is a long-term

task at Dräger. that’s the only way to bring timely innovations to the market.

outLook 28 the second skin Chemical-

protective suits provide safety when working with hazardous materials.

serviCe 31 Where and Who? Dräger worldwide;

imprint

CLose-up 32 a nose that Works Like an eye the

Dräger X-am 5600 gas detector uses an optical method to measure concentrations.

approximately 1,940,000 viruses are released with each sneeze; coughing releases around 90,000 viruses. read more starting on page 8.

16 Measuring 24 MaxiMizing8 MiniMizing

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02-03_Inhalt_S 3 03.09.2009 13:34:09 Uhr

4 Dräger review 98 | September 2009

ExpEriEncE people who perform

What Moves Us — Dräger Worldwide

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Danny Sacco, Safety and Security chief and rescue procedure Specialist, pennsylvania / U.S.“i’ve been working in the area of public safety for 43 years now. for my entire adult life, i’ve been involved with ways to protect and rescue human beings. it all started with an explosion in a coal mine when i was in the first grade. the explosion was so powerful that it shook all the windows of the school building. i’ll never forget that day, because that was the day i lost my father. in the beginning i didn’t even realize what a strong impact that had made on me.

today i work in our regional hospital as the Director of Safety and Security — but that’s not all. i’m also the head of safety at the pa task force 1, a fast-response rescue team of the state of pennsylvania, and a member of the Special medical response team, which i co-found ed

25 years ago. on these teams, i help make sure that we’re on the spot in complex emergency situations throughout the U.S. — whether it’s at ground Zero or in the wake of hurricane katrina.

in particular, we’re experts when it comes to rescuing people who are trapped underground. to help locate them, we use tracking tech-nology that enables us to “look into” mountains. and thanks to Dräger we always have air to breathe and gas-measuring instruments to detect hidden dangers. today, we can do incredible things. and all the effort is certainly worthwhile. if you’ve drilled a very, very deep hole for days on end, and six or eight or nine people emerge from it alive — it’s hard to describe in words how good you feel.”

Dr. Bettina Vadera, Medical Director, AMrEF Flying Doctor Service, nairobi / Kenya“I came to Kenya for the first time when I was 18 — for six months of volunteer work at a mission station. I was trying to find out what I wanted to do with my life. Afterwards, I knew that I’d do something in the field of medicine, because it is needed all over the world. In the end, Nairobi has become my home. This is the base from which we operate the Flying Doctor Service. Our fleet consists of a number of short and middle range aircraft which I coordinate as the Medical Director. Depending on the distance, we also use jet aircraft — for example, when we repatriate patients who have become ill back to their home countries. This is good for our organization, AMREF Flying Doctor Service, because it enables us to finance our humanitarian missions. In a way, we’re Robin Hoods of the air.

I was a flying doctor for seven years. You see a lot of the con-tinent that way, not just the national parks. Our operational area extends to the East Africa Region, Ethiopia, the Congo, Somalia

04-05_Erfahrungen_S 4 03.09.2009 13:35:09 Uhr

Dräger review 98 | September 2009

What Moves Us — Dräger Worldwide

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Danny Sacco, Safety and Security Chief and Rescue Procedure Specialist, Pennsylvania / U.S.25 years ago. on these teams, i help make sure that we’re on the spot in complex emergency situations throughout the U.S. — whether it’s at ground Zero or in the wake of hurricane katrina.

in particular, we’re experts when it comes to rescuing people who are trapped underground. to help locate them, we use tracking tech-nology that enables us to “look into” mountains. and thanks to Dräger we always have air to breathe and gas-measuring instruments to detect hidden dangers. today, we can do incredible things. and all the effort is certainly worthwhile. if you’ve drilled a very, very deep hole for days on end, and six or eight or nine people emerge from it alive — it’s hard to describe in words how good you feel.”

Dr. Bettina Vadera, Medical Director, AMREF Flying Doctor Service, Nairobi / Kenya“I came to Kenya for the first time when I was 18 — for six months of volunteer work at a mission station. I was trying to find out what I wanted to do with my life. Afterwards, I knew that I’d do something in the field of medicine, because it is needed all over the world. In the end, Nairobi has become my home. This is the base from which we operate the Flying Doctor Service. Our fleet consists of a number of short and middle range aircraft which I coordinate as the Medical Director. Depending on the distance, we also use jet aircraft — for example, when we repatriate patients who have become ill back to their home countries. This is good for our organization, AMREF Flying Doctor Service, because it enables us to finance our humanitarian missions. In a way, we’re Robin Hoods of the air.

I was a flying doctor for seven years. You see a lot of the continent that way, not just the national parks. Our operational area extends to the East Africa Region, Ethiopia, the Congo, Somalia

and the rest of the African Continent. There are many wonderful aspects of Africa that I have seen, but I have also witnessed the results of poverty and armed conflicts. Because this is the case, I’m sure we’ll be needed for a very long time.

To support our work, we welcome guest medics as part of our Volunteer Physician Programme; Doctors who would like to spend their free time working as Flying Doctors (www.amref.org). Here we have anesthesiologists, intensive care physicians, and other specialists that would not be available in remote areas otherwise. And we have medical equipment that has to handle all sorts of challenges — for example, we always carry emergency ventilators with us, ranging from the Oxylog 1000 to the 3000. This equipment comes with us in the Cessna or it rattles through the bush in a Land Rover, but wherever it goes it has to function reliably. And Dräger always helps us if we have problems. We have never had them say, ‘We’ll take care of that in due time.’ That would be a catastrophe.”

04-05_Erfahrungen_S 5 03.09.2009 13:35:20 Uhr

6 Dräger review 98 | September 2009 Dräger review 98 | September 2009

News

A+A 2009: “Occupational Protection Concerns everyone”it is the leading international trade event for personal protection, occupational safety, and health at work: the A+A 2009. For the 28th time, the trade fair will turn Düsseldorf, germany, into the meeting point for experts from the occupational safety and health management industry. A+A’s credo “Occupational protection concerns everyone” is every bit as relevant today as it was at the trade fair’s premiere in 1954. the last A+A in 2007 featured roughly 1,400 exhibitors and attracted approximately 55,000 trade visitors. As managing Director of messe Düsseldorf gmbH, Joachim Schäfer has seen the classic segment of personal protective equipment come under increasing price pressure from importers outside of europe, “but those who wish to stay out of the price war focus on quality,” he says.

Health and safety at work is also a european goal. the Commission of the european Union wants to reduce the number of work-related accidents within the eU by 25 percent by 2012. worldwide, 270 million work-related accidents and two million work-related deaths occur each year. together with 160 million work-related illnesses, this adds up to an average four percent loss of gross domestic product worldwide. Supplementing the trade fair this year is the “innovation park Hazardous Substances,” which will be focused on reACH, the eU regulation on chemicals. A+A 2009 will be held in Düsseldorf from November 3 to 6. Dräger will be presenting its portfolio in Hall 6/g 06 against a backdrop modeled on the various divisions of an industrial company. Specialists on such topics as occupational pandemic concepts and new requirements for the maintenance of gas detection and alarm equipment will be available in a series of panel discussions by experts.

spotlight on safety: The industry will gather for four days in Düsseldorf.

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A Rescue Tugboat for special DeploymentsA rescue tugboat for deployment in the North Sea is currently under construction at peenewerft in wolgast, germany. the boat is scheduled to be launched in early 2011 and will replace the Oceanic, germany’s only ocean-going salvage tug, which began operations in 1969. the boat, which will have a top speed of 19.5 knots (roughly 36 kilometers per hour), is being built by Arbeitsgemein-schaft Küstenschutz (Coastal protection working group). it will be the first rescue tug in the world that is capable of operating under full gas protection to help damaged ships that are leaking toxic or explosive substances, for example.

in this case, an air supply system completely independent of the ambient air will be used to protect the entire crew inside the boat. Designed and built by Dräger, the fully autonomous system is able to provide sufficient protection against gas because it uses an air reservoir with no additional filtered air. Crew members can leave the safe interior of the boat via an airlock for outdoor deployments in chemi-cal protective suits. retention systems protect the airlock to minimize the risk of hazardous substances entering the boat.

Retirement pending: The rescue tug “Oceanic”.

Dräger: A Popular employer too

How popular is an employer? “trendence,” one of europe’s leading personnel marketing institutes, asked this question in a survey of 200,000 students approaching graduation in 22 countries. “the

trendence studies are very meaningful thanks to their large sample size and their validity,” says Sabina Ufferheide, international employer branding at Dräger.

According to the “trendence graduate barometer 2009,” Dräger placed 38th in germany among engineering students. by way of comparison, the company ranks 226th in germany in terms of sales (2008: 1.925 billion euros). in another trendence survey about the favorite employers among young professionals, Dräger placed in the top 50.

Dräger also scores well throughout europe. the survey “europe’s 500 top employers” places the company in the top third, although it is not among the 500 largest companies based on sales. Dräger has also been awarded the “Fair Company” seal of approval in germany, which the Handelsblatt gmbH awards for the fair treatment of interns.

Good report card: students grade companies.

06-07_News_S 6 03.09.2009 13:35:51 Uhr

Dräger review 98 | September 2009 7Dräger review 98 | September 2009

A+A 2009: “Occupational Protection Concerns Everyone”it is the leading international trade event for personal protection, occupational safety, and health at work: the A+A 2009. For the 28th time, the trade fair will turn Düsseldorf, germany, into the meeting point for experts from the occupational safety and health management industry. A+A’s credo “Occupational protection concerns everyone” is every bit as relevant today as it was at the trade fair’s premiere in 1954. the last A+A in 2007 featured roughly 1,400 exhibitors and attracted approximately 55,000 trade visitors. As managing Director of messe Düsseldorf gmbH, Joachim Schäfer has seen the classic segment of personal protective equipment come under increasing price pressure from importers outside of europe, “but those who wish to stay out of the price war focus on quality,” he says.

Health and safety at work is also a european goal. the Commission of the european Union wants to reduce the number of work-related accidents within the eU by 25 percent by 2012. worldwide, 270 million work-related accidents and two million work-related deaths occur each year. together with 160 million work-related illnesses, this adds up to an average four percent loss of gross domestic product worldwide. Supplementing the trade fair this year is the “innovation park Hazardous Substances,” which will be focused on reACH, the eU regulation on chemicals. A+A 2009 will be held in Düsseldorf from November 3 to 6. Dräger will be presenting its portfolio in Hall 6/g 06 against a backdrop modeled on the various divisions of an industrial company. Specialists on such topics as occupational pandemic concepts and new requirements for the maintenance of gas detection and alarm equipment will be available in a series of panel discussions by experts.

Spotlight on safety: The industry will gather for four days in Düsseldorf.

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Mobile Radio: Protective Distances Decrease DramaticallyFor a long time it was uncertain whether mobile radio devices could interfere with the electronics of hospital medical equipment. the present safety standard ieC60601-1-2 focuses on more distant transmission sources (radio, television or mobile radio transmission towers) and demands a preventive protective distance of up to 3.30 meters between the medical product and commercial mobile transmitters. this has led to a general ban on mobile telephones in many hospitals, but that could soon change. Dräger has developed a method for testing medical devices for their immunity against very close transmission sources. “Furthermore, our new test method is included in the draft of the planned standard for electromagnetic compatibility,” according to gerd matze and Jan Schommer, who led the effort at the Dräger testCenter to develop the new method (see Dräger review 97.1, p. 7). the new ieC standard is expected to be ratified in 2010 and implemented as national law by 2012.

the Dräger testCenter began testing around 20 current Dräger medical devices according to this new method in spring 2009. “Depending on the mobile radio standard, such as gSm, UmtS, DeCt, wLAN or bluetooth, wireless communication devices can be taken to within seven centimeters (the limit required by the test conditions) of a medical device without any interference occurring. For only one device was this distance 80 centimeters,” said matzke in summarizing the results. that is a substantial reduction of the current limit of 3.30 meters and can open up new perspec-tives for wireless communication in hospitals. the results of the study, which indicate recommended protective distances based on the device and the mobile radio standard, will also be available to customers from fall 2009.

Don’t be afraid to get close: New methods make mobile radio more predictable.

Dräger: A Popular Employer too

How popular is an employer? “trendence,” one of europe’s leading personnel marketing institutes, asked this question in a survey of 200,000 students approaching graduation in 22 countries. “the

trendence studies are very meaningful thanks to their large sample size and their validity,” says Sabina Ufferheide, international employer branding at Dräger.

According to the “trendence graduate barometer 2009,” Dräger placed 38th in germany among engineering students. by way of comparison, the company ranks 226th in germany in terms of sales (2008: 1.925 billion euros). in another trendence survey about the favorite employers among young professionals, Dräger placed in the top 50.

Dräger also scores well throughout europe. the survey “europe’s 500 top employers” places the company in the top third, although it is not among the 500 largest companies based on sales. Dräger has also been awarded the “Fair Company” seal of approval in germany, which the Handelsblatt gmbH awards for the fair treatment of interns.

Good report card: Students grade companies.

06-07_News_S 7 03.09.2009 13:36:05 Uhr


Pandemic — the Looming Peril?Fear is circling the globe faster than the virus itself. pandemic — the word alone evokes a feeling of helplessness. RationaL anaLysis and caRefuL PRePaRation help to minimize risks.

diseases aRe as oLd as man-kind itself. In one of the earliest recorded reports, the Greek historian Thucydides described the outbreak of a plague in the besieged city of Athens. The city’s resi-dents suffered from high fever, excruciat-ing coughing and painful diarrhea. “The dead lay as they had fallen, one upon an-other, while others scarcely alive wal-lowed in the streets and crawled about every fountain craving for water,” wrote Thucydides.

The Athenians turned away from the helpless doctors, who couldn’t even pre-vent themselves from becoming infected, and streamed in droves to the temples. However, when the people’s prayers also failed to help, the city descended into chaos. “Neither the fear of the gods, nor laws of men, awed any man,” recalled Thucydides in horror. It remains unclear to this day what disease ravaged the city in the year 431 B.C.

companions of humanity

From the dawn of time, mankind has been struck repeatedly by epidemics. Fear of disease is deeply ingrained into our collective memory.

In the 14th century, the bubonic plague may have claimed the lives of more than a third of the population of Europe. Nobody had any idea what was going on. The people’s own sins, a cata-strophic constellation of the stars or sim-

around 3000 Bc measles spreads out from the cities of mesopotamia

epidemics and pandemics — a never-ending story

A sneeze can produce roughly 40,000 droplets, at a speed of at least 150 kilometers per hour.

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08-13_Pandemie_S 8 03.09.2009 13:37:09 Uhr

Dräger review 383 | September 2009 9

panDemic Focus

Pandemic — the Looming Peril?Fear is circling the globe faster than the virus itself. pandemic — the word alone evokes a feeling of helplessness. RationaL anaLysis and caReFuL PRePaRation help to minimize risks.

diseases aRe as oLd as man-kind itself. In one of the earliest recorded reports, the Greek historian Thucydides described the outbreak of a plague in the besieged city of Athens. The city’s resi-dents suffered from high fever, excruciat-ing coughing and painful diarrhea. “The dead lay as they had fallen, one upon an-other, while others scarcely alive wal-lowed in the streets and crawled about every fountain craving for water,” wrote Thucydides.

The Athenians turned away from the helpless doctors, who couldn’t even pre-vent themselves from becoming infected, and streamed in droves to the temples. However, when the people’s prayers also failed to help, the city descended into chaos. “Neither the fear of the gods, nor laws of men, awed any man,” recalled Thucydides in horror. It remains unclear to this day what disease ravaged the city in the year 431 B.C.

companions of humanity

From the dawn of time, mankind has been struck repeatedly by epidemics. Fear of disease is deeply ingrained into our collective memory.

In the 14th century, the bubonic plague may have claimed the lives of more than a third of the population of Europe. Nobody had any idea what was going on. The people’s own sins, a cata-strophic constellation of the stars or sim-

ply contagious vapors were sometimes thought to be the causes.

People tried to save themselves by smoking or inhaling the scent of roses. The preferred medication was a mixture of viper flesh, opium, garlic and other ingredients.

It was not until the end of the 19th century that bacteria were identified as the true cause of “Black Death.” Shortly afterward, it became clear that fleas transmitted the disease from rats to humans. When the plague broke out in 1907 following the San Francisco earth-quake, the disease was brought under control by systematically poisoning rats.

Infectious diseases were a mystery for thousands of years. When cholera was sweeping through Europe in the 19th century, people thought that bad

odors, dirt or an immoral lifestyle were the reasons for the illness. Thanks to mo dern science, we now know that a short, comma-shaped bacteria in drink-ing water causes the deadly diarrhea.

Bacterial infections can be cured with the help of antibiotics. Viral diseases such as polio can be prevented with vac-cines. Smallpox has even been eradicated worldwide, thanks to vaccines.

However, some viruses continuously alter their surface structure, posing a serious challenge even for 21st century medicine. That’s why there is still no ef-fective vaccine for HIV, for example.

Another special case is that of the influenza virus. “The influenza virus is currently the only pathogen that we expect to cause epidemics that sweep round the entire world,” says Marlen Suckau, Infection Protection Officer of the city of Berlin.

a sneezing illness

The influenza virus is spread with each sneeze and cough. Both cause invisibly tiny droplets to float through the air, pos-sibly infecting people nearby. Because the virus sticks to people’s hands, it can be passed on when people shake hands or touch door handles, making it almost impossible to totally prevent the disease from spreading.

The illness can be very serious in some cases. The seasonal flu, for exam-

431 Bc “athenian plague” between the bubonic plague and ebola

541–544 ad the plague spreads from egypt to europe

around 3000 Bc measles spreads out from the cities of mesopotamia

epidemics and pandemics — a never-ending story

>>>

Masks provide protection in a crowd.

>

Late 15th century Syphilis spreads through europe

14th–18th century Severe out- breaks of plague in europe

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10

ple, kills an average of 8,000 to 11,000 people in Germany each year (refer to Ar-beitsgemeinschaft Influenza, Season Re-port 2007/2008). Although vaccines can be developed relatively simply and quickly against influenza viruses, new vaccines have to be developed all the time because the virus continuously changes. At irreg-ular intervals, a new virus appears that is not only slightly different, but instead a completely new strain. This has hap-pened four times over the past hundred years. Nobody has natural immunity to

such a virus, which is why many people suddenly fall prey to the disease at the same time. In the case of the “new influ-enza”, the WHO issued its highest alarm level on June 11, 2009, when it declared the disease to be a pandemic.

Tamiflu: A muzzle for viruses

“By the end of the year, one-third of the world’s population will have been in-fected,” forecasts Peter Wutzler, President of the German Association for Combating Viral Diseases (DVV), about the “new in-fluenza,” which is mistakenly also called swine flu.

However, unlike the situation with previous epidemics, the world is prepared this time for the disease. “We were able to study the development of the pandemic as though we were observing it under a mi-croscope,” says Suckau. “We knew what the virus was at a very early stage of the pandemic. At this stage, the Spanish in-fluenza of 1919 had not even attracted any notice.”

Never before have we had such a wide scope of pre-prepared scenarios and emergency plans on how to act in the event of a pandemic. The WHO creates the framework, on the basis of which the individual countries draw up their plans for the pandemic. In Germany, overall re-sponsibility is in the hands of the control center of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). All new cases are reported to the center,

It’s so easy……to protect yourselfu Avoid large gatherings of peopleu Avoid unnecessary travelu Avoid shaking handsu Avoid contact with the eyes, nose,

mouthu Wash your hands thoroughly after

touching other people, using the restroom and before eating

u Thoroughly ventilate closed roomsu (Perhaps) wear a respirator …to protect others:u Stay home if you are sicku Cough or sneeze into a disposable

tissue or your elbowu Wear a respirator

1797 Edward Jenner reports on an ex-perimental inoculation against smallpox

A particle measuring 10 micrometers in size floats in the air for 17 minutes before reaching the ground.

>

16th century Smallpox and measles come to the New World with the Europeans and kill many native Americans

>>>

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Pandemic Focus

11

ple, kills an average of 8,000 to 11,000 people in Germany each year (refer to Ar-beitsgemeinschaft Influenza, Season Re-port 2007/2008). Although vaccines can be developed relatively simply and quickly against influenza viruses, new vaccines have to be developed all the time because the virus continuously changes. At irreg-ular intervals, a new virus appears that is not only slightly different, but instead a completely new strain. This has hap-pened four times over the past hundred years. Nobody has natural immunity to

such a virus, which is why many people suddenly fall prey to the disease at the same time. In the case of the “new influ-enza”, the WHO issued its highest alarm level on June 11, 2009, when it declared the disease to be a pandemic.

Tamiflu: A muzzle for viruses

“By the end of the year, one-third of the world’s population will have been in-fected,” forecasts Peter Wutzler, President of the German Association for Combating Viral Diseases (DVV), about the “new in-fluenza,” which is mistakenly also called swine flu.

However, unlike the situation with previous epidemics, the world is prepared this time for the disease. “We were able to study the development of the pandemic as though we were observing it under a mi-croscope,” says Suckau. “We knew what the virus was at a very early stage of the pandemic. At this stage, the Spanish in-fluenza of 1919 had not even attracted any notice.”

Never before have we had such a wide scope of pre-prepared scenarios and emergency plans on how to act in the event of a pandemic. The WHO creates the framework, on the basis of which the individual countries draw up their plans for the pandemic. In Germany, overall re-sponsibility is in the hands of the control center of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). All new cases are reported to the center,

It’s so easy……to protect yourselfu avoid large gatherings of peopleu avoid unnecessary travelu avoid shaking handsu avoid contact with the eyes, nose,

mouthu Wash your hands thoroughly after

touching other people, using the restroom and before eating

u Thoroughly ventilate closed roomsu (Perhaps) wear a respirator …to protect others:u Stay home if you are sicku cough or sneeze into a disposable

tissue or your elbowu Wear a respirator

1831–1835 First documented polio epidemic on the island of St. Helena

1797 edward Jenner reports on an ex-perimental inoculation against smallpox

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tiful. small though they

are, their rate of reproduc-

tion and their hazard potential

is enormous.

which also makes the decisions regarding specific measures. A key element of the emergency plan involves new kinds of an-tiviral drugs such as Tamiflu.

Viruses consist of little more than ge-netic information that invades the body’s cells and forces them to produce new vi-ruses. The genetic nucleus of the influ-enza virus is surrounded by proteins, whose shape continuously changes. These surface molecules help to camouflage the virus against the body’s immune system and also serve as the “crowbar” that en-ables the virus to penetrate the cells.

The active ingredient in Tamiflu blocks one of these molecules and acts like a muzzle for the flu virus. If the drug is taken early on, the course of the disease becomes less severe and its duration is shortened. Simulations of possible pan-demics have shown that it is sufficient to store antiviral drugs for 20 to 25 per-cent of the population. Many countries have therefore stored a correspondingly large supply.

Much more effective than treatment with antiviral drugs is vaccination, which is why wealthy countries have signed pre-liminary agreements with vaccine manu-facturers as part of their plans for dealing with the pandemic. They have also set pri-orities according to which people are vac-cinated as long as the vaccine is available in limited amounts. Because it takes at least six months to develop a new vaccine,

it is crucial that the infection rate be kept as low as possible during this time.

“Information on how a disease spreads can already save lives,” says Dr. Frank Ensslen, the company physician at Dräger. Suckau agrees with his assess-ment: “It’s best that flu victims stay at home. Everybody should accustom them-selves to sneeze into their sleeves instead of their hands.”

However, experience has shown her that not all precautionary measures are easy to implement. “It’s almost impossi-ble to keep people from shaking hands,” she says. “I even have great difficulty in preventing it from happening in my own agency.”

Face masks provide protection

If a pandemic becomes more danger-ous, further measures have to be taken, such as closing schools or banning pub-lic events.

Face masks provide another means for preventing infections. Although hospi-tals have exact rules on who should wear what kind of mask, there are still no rec-ommendations for the general popu-lation. “At the moment, it would be to-tally exaggerated to wear a mask,” says Suckau. The disease has to date been far less dangerous than expected. “People can buy masks now, but we don’t call on anyone to store up their own supply,” says Suckau. >

1889–1890 Russian Flu is the first precisely docu-mented pandemic >>>

16th century Smallpox and measles come to the new World with the europeans and kill many native americans

1817–1823 The first cholera pandemic spreads from india to europe

08-13_Pandemie_S 11 03.09.2009 13:37:37 Uhr

12

It’s still impossible to tell if the use of face masks might delay the spread of the pan-demic. Studies made during the SARS ep-idemic showed that the masks protect medical staff against infection.

Paper masks are insufficient for this task, however, because viruses expelled by coughing are encapsulated within water droplets. If the droplets are bigger than 10 micrometers, they quickly fall to the ground. But since the cloud of water droplets can quickly evaporate, the drop-lets often leave behind small cores that float for extended periods in the air and can infect people at a distance of three meters. Only tight-fitting face masks that are equipped with special filters can ef-fectively remove the tiny particles from the inhaled air.

Masks filter

The European standard (EN 149) defines three levels of protection. FFP1 masks fil-ter at least 80 percent of the particles out of the air (FFP stands for “filtering facepieces”). FFP2 masks achieve a fil-tering level of at least 94 percent, while FFP3 masks remove at least 99 percent of particles.

The European standard corresponds to the American NIOSH standard: An N95 mask filters at least 95 percent of the particles out of the air. These masks differ from simple face masks or surgi-cal masks in that they typically fit much

more snugly around the mouth and nose. During inhalation, the particles are re-tained in the filter material instead of leaking through and entering the respi-ratory tract.

The New South Wales School of Pub-lic Health and Community Medicine in Sydney, Australia, recently studied 143 families to determine whether the par-ents of children ill with the flu can pro-tect themselves against infection by wearing FFP2 masks.

The analysis shows that the masks do in fact provide substantial protec-tion, but this hardly mattered in prac-tice. A large portion of the parents had stopped wearing the masks after just a short time. This is hardly surprising as long as the general level of concern is low. “Many people find wearing a mask to be uncomfortable because they are not used to it. The masks cause breath-ing resistance and a moist feeling,” says Alexander Grünke, an air purifying res-pirator expert at Dräger. Widespread use would only be conceivable if the flu pan-demic was much more dangerous and there was much more concern.

After the bird flu scare, the indus-trialized nations used the intervening years to refine and increasingly harmo-nize their national pandemic plans. The differences remaining between the Eu-ropean countries lie primarily in the weighting of the measures, such as how

Around 1,940,000 viruses are re-leased with each sneeze; coughing releases around 90,000 viruses.

>

1916–17 The worst polio epidemic in history rages across the U.S.A.

>>> 1961 to present Cholera in Asia, Russia, parts of Southern Europe, Africa, and South America

1918–1919 Spanish Flu is the largest flu pan-demic of all times

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08-13_Pandemie_S 12 03.09.2009 13:37:44 Uhr

13

Pandemic Focus

It’s still impossible to tell if the use of face masks might delay the spread of the pan-demic. Studies made during the SARS ep-idemic showed that the masks protect medical staff against infection.

Paper masks are insufficient for this task, however, because viruses expelled by coughing are encapsulated within water droplets. If the droplets are bigger than 10 micrometers, they quickly fall to the ground. But since the cloud of water droplets can quickly evaporate, the drop-lets often leave behind small cores that float for extended periods in the air and can infect people at a distance of three meters. Only tight-fitting face masks that are equipped with special filters can ef-fectively remove the tiny particles from the inhaled air.

Masks filter

The European standard (EN 149) defines three levels of protection. FFP1 masks fil-ter at least 80 percent of the particles out of the air (FFP stands for “filtering facepieces”). FFP2 masks achieve a fil-tering level of at least 94 percent, while FFP3 masks remove at least 99 percent of particles.

The European standard corresponds to the American NIOSH standard: An N95 mask filters at least 95 percent of the particles out of the air. These masks differ from simple face masks or surgi-cal masks in that they typically fit much

more snugly around the mouth and nose. During inhalation, the particles are re-tained in the filter material instead of leaking through and entering the respi-ratory tract.

The New South Wales School of Pub-lic Health and Community Medicine in Sydney, Australia, recently studied 143 families to determine whether the par-ents of children ill with the flu can pro-tect themselves against infection by wearing FFP2 masks.

The analysis shows that the masks do in fact provide substantial protec-tion, but this hardly mattered in prac-tice. A large portion of the parents had stopped wearing the masks after just a short time. This is hardly surprising as long as the general level of concern is low. “Many people find wearing a mask to be uncomfortable because they are not used to it. The masks cause breath-ing resistance and a moist feeling,” says Alexander Grünke, an air purifying res-pirator expert at Dräger. Widespread use would only be conceivable if the flu pan-demic was much more dangerous and there was much more concern.

After the bird flu scare, the indus-trialized nations used the intervening years to refine and increasingly harmo-nize their national pandemic plans. The differences remaining between the Eu-ropean countries lie primarily in the weighting of the measures, such as how

much money will be invested in antivi-ral medications.

However, it’s a different story when it comes to corporate pandemic plans. What will happen when, if as many sce-narios assume, 20 to 25 percent of the workforce falls ill? According to a sur-vey by the forsa market research insti-tute, just half of the medium to large-size companies in Germany had their own emergency plan in February 2009. Yet most of the companies feared severe economic damage in the event of a pan-demic, and one in five believe that a pan-demic would threaten the continued ex-istence of the company.

Manufacturers are prepared

There are some general recommenda-tions, but they always have to be adapted to the respective company. Dr. Frank Ensslen, the company physician who helped draft the emergency plan for Dräger, experienced the importance of such an approach at first hand: “I ini-tially thought that I could just copy the existing plans.”

Dräger has since stockpiled medica-tions and respirators. A pandemic team will decide on the further course of ac-tion according to a defined procedure should the pandemic become more dangerous. Business travel could be cancelled, for example. Some employ-ees would work from home, while oth-

ers could stay at the site permanently to keep production and operations up and running. After all, as a leading in-ternational manufacturer of medical and safety technology, Dräger has a spe-cial responsibility in the event of a pos-sible crisis.

Whether it ever comes to that re-mains to be seen. Although WHO has an-nounced that the pandemic has since moved into the final phase (Phase 6), the actual measures that have been taken only correspond to Phase 4 because so few people in Germany have gotten sick (as of July 2009). No one can say what further course the disease will take. The Spanish Flu that killed between 25 and 50 million people worldwide, was also mild at first and did not turn deadly un-til a second wave circled the globe. We won’t know whether our precautions are sufficient until after the fact.

One thing is certain, though: There has never before been a virus whose appearance was predicted so far in advance. And never have such detailed preparations been made for a future illness. Foresight, human ingenuity and resolute global cooperation cur-rently has mankind a step ahead of the virus. Dr. Birgit Herden

Further information online, including: checklist for companies

www.draeger.com/98/pandemic

1961 to present cholera in asia, Russia, parts of Southern europe, africa, and South america

1981 First cases of aidS reported in the U.S.a.

1918–1919 Spanish Flu is the largest flu pan-demic of all times

1979 Smallpox is the first disease to be eradicated worldwide

2009 “new Flu” spurs world-wide fear

2006 World-wide, 65 million people are in-fected with HiV

Barrels instead of ampoules: Bar-

rels of the medi-cine oseltamivir

are stored in a secret location.

This warehouse in the German state

of North Rhine-Westphalia gives

an impression of the quantities

required.

08-13_Pandemie_S 13 03.09.2009 14:41:23 Uhr


RepoRt thema


Dust is eveRywheRe. Measur-ing between 0.02 and 0.5 micro meters, the tiny particles float in the air like fog. Human airways and lungs are designed to cope with this natural dust to a cer-tain extent. At many workplaces, how-ever, this physiological cleaning func-tion needs some support: a filter. This keeps the particles — unavoidable in trade crafts, many industries, and mining — at bay. The extent to which this is possible is determined by international specifica-tions as a common denominator, with na-tional regulations also playing a role.

These regulations and specifications are constantly being reviewed and fur-ther improved to protect people. As an ele-ment of “personal protective equipment” (PPE), this sector of respiratory protection

receives the full attention of standards or-ganizations and lawmakers. Users can rely on compliance with the various stan-dards that have been established. A prod-uct may only bear a corresponding label if it has successfully demonstrated its pro-tective function in a specially developed and standardized test.

testing the standard

The overarching binding standard in Eu-rope for particulate respirators (filter-ing facepieces) is EN 149, which was ad-opted in 2001. Its test procedures were recently made more stringent. “The changes primarily affect masks with electrostatic filtering materials,” says Al-exander Grünke, portfolio manager for filtering facepieces at Dräger.

These materials do not retain dust in the same way a coffee filter and its paper pores hold back the grounds — solely by mechanical means. They also contain electrostatically charged fibers. Dust particles, which themselves are elec-trostatically charged due to air friction, “stick” to these fibers like iron shavings to a magnet. Proven over more than 30 years of use, this technology allows the development of particularly thin filter materials with lower breathing resis-tance. This not only makes it easier for the wearer of the mask to breathe but also reduces the heat buildup beneath the mask.

This technology works extremely well with solid particulates, but the presence of oil-based aerosols, for exam-

eN 149: New standard stirs up DustDevelopments in occupational safety have always been a balancing act between the technically possible and the economically sensible. advances in materials and manufacturing in addition to greater safety awareness drive the coNtiNuous RefiNemeNt of the standards — and new test methods for masks are no exception.

ple, can diminish its effectiveness. Ex-perts estimate that this issue applies to roughly 10 percent of all cases (refer to sicher ist sicher — Arbeitsschutz aktu-ell” 01/2007; p. 22 ff.). The test proce-dure has been modified to focus on this particular area of application, ensuring compliance with the European standard for filtering facepieces in these applica-tions as well.

“This refinement of the standards leads to even greater safety under spe-cific conditions,” explains Grünke, who is one of the people responsible for en-suring that Dräger masks passed this more stringent test well before its entry into force.

Getting this far was not exactly easy, as the final formulation of the new re-quirements was not known for quite some time. That stirred up quite a bit of dust at first, but “We gladly accepted the challenge, and in light of the new required test we also handled it master-fully,” recalls Grünke.

safety by design

Although the standard allows for the masks to be designated as either non- reusable (NR) or reusable (R), the latter comes with some additional stipulations. One of them is the requirement that the manufacturer offer a suitable cleaning method. “However, we don’t consider cur-rent cleaning and disinfection methods to be capable of restoring a filtering face-piece to its original condition without damaging the mask,” adds Grünke.

These methods do not remove all of the dangerous substances from the

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Dust is everywhere — and it can be dangerous

in some types of work.

14-15_Halbmasken_S 14 03.09.2009 15:05:45 Uhr


eN 149 RepoRt

These materials do not retain dust in the same way a coffee filter and its paper pores hold back the grounds — solely by mechanical means. They also contain electrostatically charged fibers. Dust particles, which themselves are elec-trostatically charged due to air friction, “stick” to these fibers like iron shavings to a magnet. Proven over more than 30 years of use, this technology allows the development of particularly thin filter materials with lower breathing resis-tance. This not only makes it easier for the wearer of the mask to breathe but also reduces the heat buildup beneath the mask.

This technology works extremely well with solid particulates, but the presence of oil-based aerosols, for exam-

eN 149: New Standard Stirs Up DustDevelopments in occupational safety have always been a balancing act between the technically possible and the economically sensible. Advances in materials and manufacturing in addition to greater safety awareness drive the coNtiNUoUS RefiNemeNt of the standards — and new test methods for masks are no exception.

Standards, tests, and protection classesFiltering facepieces are governed by european standard eN 149. the 1991 version was revised in 2001, when the number of FFp (filtering facepiece) classes was reduced to three and the classes were standardized. An FFp 1 mask must demonstrate a filter performance of at least 80 percent, followed by FFp 2 (> 94 percent) and FFp 3 (> 99 percent). these values are retained without change by the new eN 149:2001 + A1:2009. However, the test procedure behind these figures was made significantly more stringent. the test substances used are 120 milligrams each of table salt dust and paraffin oil. Other parameters for the individual protection classes are total leakage and breathing resistance.

three colors, three protection classes — for greater personal safety.

ple, can diminish its effectiveness. Ex-perts estimate that this issue applies to roughly 10 percent of all cases (refer to sicher ist sicher — Arbeitsschutz aktu-ell” 01/2007; p. 22 ff.). The test proce-dure has been modified to focus on this particular area of application, ensuring compliance with the European standard for filtering facepieces in these applica-tions as well.

“This refinement of the standards leads to even greater safety under spe-cific conditions,” explains Grünke, who is one of the people responsible for en-suring that Dräger masks passed this more stringent test well before its entry into force.

Getting this far was not exactly easy, as the final formulation of the new re-quirements was not known for quite some time. That stirred up quite a bit of dust at first, but “We gladly accepted the challenge, and in light of the new required test we also handled it master-fully,” recalls Grünke.

Safety by design

Although the standard allows for the masks to be designated as either non- reusable (NR) or reusable (R), the latter comes with some additional stipulations. One of them is the requirement that the manufacturer offer a suitable cleaning method. “However, we don’t consider cur-rent cleaning and disinfection methods to be capable of restoring a filtering face-piece to its original condition without damaging the mask,” adds Grünke.

These methods do not remove all of the dangerous substances from the

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mask, nor is the mask completely hy-gienic thereafter. Reuse of the masks after they have been contaminated with pathogens such as viruses is the most powerful example of the associated risks. Classic half-masks in combination with particle filters (such as the Dräger X-plore 2100) are the better choice for applications where a reusable mask is to be used.

Dräger refreshed its range of filter-ing facepieces back in spring 2008, more than a year before the new standard took effect. The first new model was the X-plore 1700 series — folding masks with low breathing resistance, high wearing comfort, and a good seal. In addition, all versions bear the “D” mark, indicating that they have also passed the dolomite clogging test.

The two V versions include the Cool-MAX exhalation valve for greater com-fort. It reduces breathing resistance to just one fourth compared to conventional valves and releases moist and warm ex-

haled air to prevent the buildup of heat beneath the mask. Grünke has observed that “In practice, a mask is generally well received if it can be worn comfort-ably.” And as obvious as it sounds, only a worn mask offers protection, regardless of the standard behind it.

The X-plore 1700 series was followed by the X-plore 1300 series with its classi-cal preformed mask body. It too is avail-able with the new CoolMAX exhalation valve, as well as with a seal pad and a skin-friendly inner liner. Another new feature is a continuous loop harness that makes it easy to put on and take off the mask.

Both series offer variants in all three protection classes: FFP 1, FFP 2 and FFP 3. “Plus,” says Grünke, “we’ve revised the user instructions for all of our masks to ensure even greater safety when they’re being used.” Nils Schiffhauer

Further information online, including: product information

www.draeger.com/98/filter

14-15_Halbmasken_S 15 03.09.2009 15:05:54 Uhr


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RubbeR veRsus steel — this battle is soon over. The tip of the metal shining probe slips under the door seal, which has been dulled by saltwater and weather, and slides into the dark, mys-terious interior of the giant shipping container. The small instrument is in-serted as far as possible into the 40-foot container, whose roof is ablaze with the summer sun in the port of Rotterdam, Netherlands. The metal probe with the fine hole at its tip opens into a cham-ber from which three tubes lead to a gas pump and measuring instruments.

Blinding light outside; deep dark-ness inside the container. A fitting sym-bol for the uncertainty over what, be-sides the actual goods, has made the journey across the ocean inside the con-tainer. Twenty per cent of the import containers — more than 400 million tons of cargo were transferred in Rotterdam alone in 2008 — is contaminated with levels of harmful substances that are higher than permitted. Methyl bromide (bromomethane, CH3Br), 1,2-dichloro-ethane (C2H3CL2), phosphine (PH3), and sulfuryl difluoride (SO2F2) are the sub-stances most frequently found in con-tainers, but formaldehyde (HCHO), eth-ylene oxide (C2H4O), hydrocyonic acid (HCN), and carbon dioxide (CO2) also occur. In most cases these substances have been introduced into the contain-ers intentionally to prevent pest and mold infestation and also to prevent the spread of pathogens. Industrial chemi-cals may also be released by the goods loaded into the containers. Other risks associated with shipping containers

lookalikes on the outside, unique

on the inside.

Danger in big boxesContainers bring goods to europe from all over the world. because DangeRous chemicals often hitch a ride across the ocean with the machines, textiles, furniture or foods, experts are calling for the introduction of uniform criteria for measuring the harmful substances load.

16-19_Rotterdam_S 16 03.09.2009 13:39:16 Uhr

17Dräger review 98 | September 2009

portable gaS Detection RepoRt

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RubbeR veRsus steel — this battle is soon over. The tip of the metal shining probe slips under the door seal, which has been dulled by saltwater and weather, and slides into the dark, mys-terious interior of the giant shipping container. The small instrument is in-serted as far as possible into the 40-foot container, whose roof is ablaze with the summer sun in the port of Rotterdam, Netherlands. The metal probe with the fine hole at its tip opens into a cham-ber from which three tubes lead to a gas pump and measuring instruments.

Blinding light outside; deep dark-ness inside the container. A fitting sym-bol for the uncertainty over what, be-sides the actual goods, has made the journey across the ocean inside the con-tainer. Twenty per cent of the import containers — more than 400 million tons of cargo were transferred in Rotterdam alone in 2008 — is contaminated with levels of harmful substances that are higher than permitted. Methyl bromide (bromomethane, CH3Br), 1,2-dichloro-ethane (C2H3CL2), phosphine (PH3), and sulfuryl difluoride (SO2F2) are the sub-stances most frequently found in con-tainers, but formaldehyde (HCHO), eth-ylene oxide (C2H4O), hydrocyonic acid (HCN), and carbon dioxide (CO2) also occur. In most cases these substances have been introduced into the contain-ers intentionally to prevent pest and mold infestation and also to prevent the spread of pathogens. Industrial chemi-cals may also be released by the goods loaded into the containers. Other risks associated with shipping containers

include critical concentrations of spores and dust, a lack of oxygen, and an explo-sive atmosphere.

Danger, poisonous substances!

Substances with poisonous to very poi-sonous properties pose the greatest health hazard to people handling freight containers contaminated with these sub-stances. “Logistics industry workers, par-ticularly those involved in the transfer of goods at ports and those working in large warehouses for imported goods, are ex-posed to the greatest risks,” says Profes-sor Xaver Bauer. The occupational health specialist is the Director of the Central Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM) and Chair of the De-partment of Occupational Medicine at Hamburg-Eppendorf University Hospital, and has been working with the poisons in import containers for many years now.

In fall 2008, the ZfAM held a work-shop entitled “Safe Handling of Import Containers,” during which current stud-ies of the contamination levels of import containers and the health consequences thereof, in particular neuropsycholog-ical damage and respiratory illnesses, and developments in measurement tech-nology were presented. The next work-shop on November 11, 2009 will focus primarily on different portable measure-ment technologies.

Gas detectives are on the case

Back in Rotterdam, a gas detector pump (Dräger accuro) fitted with Dräger tubes and a gas detector (Dräger X-am 7000) are drawing air samples out of the

40-foot container via a measuring probe and a mixing chamber. The employees of a specialized Dutch company are using this analytical technology to search for a whole series of hazardous substances si-multaneously. With this particular con-tainer, the experts are focused primarily on methyl bromide, 1,2-dichloroethane, ammonia, phosphine, and chloropicrin. They are also monitoring the oxygen con-centration and taking measurements to determine the risk of explosion.

A glance at the methyl bromide 0,2/a Dräger tube confirms the suspicion of the gas detectives. The container, which has been placed in a fenced-off area of the port marked with warning signs, must be ventilated. The concen-tration of the gas is too high. The limit for methyl bromide is set at 0.25 ppm in the Netherlands. With its standard mea-surement ranges of 0.2 to 2 ppm and 2 to 8 ppm depending on the number of strokes and the measurement time, the Dräger tube is the established measur-ing method of the measurement team. Ventilation, in some cases supported by the use of high-performance fans, is the usual method for lowering the gas load in containers. The gas concentration is remeasured one or more times depend-ing on the duration of the process.

Measurements provide certainty

“Our Dräger Fumigation Kit is a tai-lor-made solution for the detection of fumigants in containers and other en-closed spaces,” says Bettina Runge of the Industry Focus Group at Dräger. The classic configuration for use in >

lookalikes on the outside, unique

on the inside.

Danger in big boxescontainers bring goods to europe from all over the world. because DanGeRous cheMicals often hitch a ride across the ocean with the machines, textiles, furniture or foods, experts are calling for the introduction of uniform criteria for measuring the harmful substances load.

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16-19_Rotterdam_S 17 03.09.2009 14:42:23 Uhr


RepoRt portable gaS Detection

container applications comprises the accuro gas detector pump, a container probe, the Simultaneous Test-Set, and the corresponding Dräger tubes. Dräger has developed an expanded fumigation case in response to customer demand at Europe’s largest deep-sea port. “In addition to the tubes and the probe, the case also includes the instruments X-am 2000 or X-am 7000 and the electronic gas detector pump accuro 2000,” says Denis Donkers, a Dutch sales consul-tant at Dräger.

When asked during a site visit to describe the scenario facing the mea-surement team, Donkers, standing be-tween towering cranes and stacks of containers, answered, “Nobody knows what gases are present in what concen-trations.” The atmosphere in a trans-port container arriving from overseas is found to contain other gases and va-pors in addition to the actual fumigants. Typical examples are the solvents and chemicals that are released from vari-ous goods. “Most of the contaminated containers contain a dangerous cocktail of different substances,” said Prof. Baur in summary of the experience gleaned at the North Sea port.

Inadequate protection

The Technical Rule for Hazardous Sub-stances (TRGS) 512, Fumigations, regu-lates the handling of fumigated con-tainers in Germany in details. This document regulates release measure-ments, with strict limits for methyl bro-mide (0.5 ppm), hydrocyanic acid (2.0 ppm), phosphine (0.01 ppm), and sulfu-

ryl di fluoride (1.0 ppm) as well as the la-beling of fumigated containers. A more recent requirement is that most of the chemicals used to fumigate containers must be recovered. At the port of Ham-burg, for example, mobile waste gas scrubbers equipped with activated car-bon filters have been used since 2008 to recover roughly 80 percent of the methyl bromide remaining in the con-tainer after exposure time. The experts at Rotterdam harbor say that such stan-dards either do not exist or are not ap-plied to a sufficient extent in the Asian countries from which most of the con-tainers come.

Detlef Boels, physicist and depart-ment head at the Hamburg Office for Occupational Safety, says that regularly fumigated and appropriately labeled import containers are actually in the minority of the total number of con-tainers arriving at European ports from overseas with higher concentrations of harmful substances. In his article “Gefahren aus Import-Containern” (“Hazards of Import Containers”) pub-lished in the “Zentralblatt für Arbeits-medizin, Arbeitsschutz und Ergonomie” (Central Journal for Occupational Medi-cine, Occupational Safety and Ergonom-ics) in 2009, the physicist describes the wide range of harmful substances found in containers and calls for the regulation of release measurements that go beyond the analysis of the classic fumigants. “We need uniform criteria for the expert eva luation of harmful substance loads and clear mandates to measuring insti-tutes,” writes Boels in his article. Boels,

who points out that around 18 per cent of the containers arriving in Hamburg have higher concentrations of harmful substances, also underlines the risk re-sulting from the release of harmful sub-stances from goods and packaging.

propper risk assessment

This risk affects not only the logistics workers and customs agents at the port, but also the employees at the company receiving the shipment. Dräger there-fore trains employees at Dutch compa-nies how to properly use gas detection technology in import containers. Re-lease measurement training is partic-ularly beneficial to end customers who unload their own containers. The theo-retical part is performed at Dräger; the practical part takes place under realistic conditions at Rotterdam harbor. Partic-ipants have come from a wide range of industries, including the food and bev-erage, textile, and furniture industries. A 2007 accident in Munich in which gases from a container poisoned 32 peo-ple shows just how important such train-ing is. The container contained machine parts from India and had been treated with methyl bromide.

The contamination of imported goods with gases is a new phenomenon that appeared in conjunction with the use of shipping containers. Whereas the holds of classic general cargo ships were usually well ventilated, there is relatively little air exchange in the large metal boxes, which have long become the gold standard in international goods traffic. Mold prevention is therefore

Hamburg: 18 per cent of the containers have higher concentrations of harmful substances

A journey of discovery with the probe: No one can say with certainty what gases are in the sealed container and will be released when the container is opened. Measurements provide certainty.

>

16-19_Rotterdam_S 18 03.09.2009 13:39:29 Uhr

The all-purpose kitThe Dräger “Fumigation Kit” contains everything a layperson needs to perform a reliable test for dangerous gases in the field. The heart of the kit is the set of proven Dräger tubes, which enjoy a decades-long reputation for easy handling and accurate measurement.

In combination with the Dräger accuro hand pump and the Dräger probe, the concentration of the gas in question can be determined by observing the change in color of the corre-sponding tube. In scenarios involving unknown gases, the Dräger “Simultaneous Test Set“ allows the simultaneous detec-tion of five fumigants, including hydrocyanic acid, formaldehyde, and methyl bromide. Other Dräger tubes are available for the detection of ethylene oxide, carbon dioxide, and sulfuryl fluoride. And don’t forget: Even after the container has been flushed with air, check the load again just to be on the safe side!D

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DrägEr rEvIEw 98 | SEpTEmbEr 2009 19DrägEr rEvIEw 98 | SEpTEmbEr 2009

ryl di fluoride (1.0 ppm) as well as the la-beling of fumigated containers. A more recent requirement is that most of the chemicals used to fumigate containers must be recovered. At the port of Ham-burg, for example, mobile waste gas scrubbers equipped with activated car-bon filters have been used since 2008 to recover roughly 80 percent of the methyl bromide remaining in the con-tainer after exposure time. The experts at Rotterdam harbor say that such stan-dards either do not exist or are not ap-plied to a sufficient extent in the Asian countries from which most of the con-tainers come.

Detlef Boels, physicist and depart-ment head at the Hamburg Office for Occupational Safety, says that regularly fumigated and appropriately labeled import containers are actually in the minority of the total number of con-tainers arriving at European ports from overseas with higher concentrations of harmful substances. In his article “Gefahren aus Import-Containern” (“Hazards of Import Containers”) pub-lished in the “Zentralblatt für Arbeits-medizin, Arbeitsschutz und Ergonomie” (Central Journal for Occupational Medi-cine, Occupational Safety and Ergonom-ics) in 2009, the physicist describes the wide range of harmful substances found in containers and calls for the regulation of release measurements that go beyond the analysis of the classic fumigants. “We need uniform criteria for the expert eva luation of harmful substance loads and clear mandates to measuring insti-tutes,” writes Boels in his article. Boels,

who points out that around 18 per cent of the containers arriving in Hamburg have higher concentrations of harmful substances, also underlines the risk re-sulting from the release of harmful sub-stances from goods and packaging.

Propper risk assessment

This risk affects not only the logistics workers and customs agents at the port, but also the employees at the company receiving the shipment. Dräger there-fore trains employees at Dutch compa-nies how to properly use gas detection technology in import containers. Re-lease measurement training is partic-ularly beneficial to end customers who unload their own containers. The theo-retical part is performed at Dräger; the practical part takes place under realistic conditions at Rotterdam harbor. Partic-ipants have come from a wide range of industries, including the food and bev-erage, textile, and furniture industries. A 2007 accident in Munich in which gases from a container poisoned 32 peo-ple shows just how important such train-ing is. The container contained machine parts from India and had been treated with methyl bromide.

The contamination of imported goods with gases is a new phenomenon that appeared in conjunction with the use of shipping containers. Whereas the holds of classic general cargo ships were usually well ventilated, there is relatively little air exchange in the large metal boxes, which have long become the gold standard in international goods traffic. Mold prevention is therefore

one important reason for treating the containers with gas. Another reason is to protect against pests and pathogens that can be brought in with the goods or wooden packaging. To enhance the efficacy of these agents, many contain-ers are also taped up before they are loaded onto ships at the port of export. If freshly manufactured or processed goods then release various industrial chemicals while in these sealed containers, these substances also accumu-late in the atmosphere.

TRGS 512 cites taped or sealed ven-tilation slots and pallets and crates of fresh wood as typical indications of a fu-migated container, even if the container is not labeled as such. Even clearer in-dications of fumigation are the corre-

A journey of discovery with the probe: No one can say with certainty what gases are in the sealed container and will be released when the container is opened. Measurements provide certainty.

sponding carrier media, say the Dutch experts. These could be bags, powders or bars. But the top precept of the ex-perts is to take no risks, whether out of habit or complacency. The Rotterdam “gas detectives” therefore keep their personal protective equipment, includ-ing compressed air breathing appara-tus, at the ready in their vehicle so that they can open contaminated containers. The measurement has told them what substance they are dealing with and in what concentration it is present. Fore-warned and thus forearmed, the danger can now be avoided. Peter Thomas

Further information online, including: Dräger-Tubes & CmS manual

www.draeger.com/98/tubes

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This symbol warns you; gas detectors protect you.

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Flammable liquids pose a sig-nificant hazard, as their energy content relative to their volume is substantially greater than that of the flammable gases. The release of such liquids in, for exam-ple, tank farms, storage facilities and pro-cess plants can result in catastrophic explosions if the liquid ignites — a horri-fying scenario for any fire department.Flammable liquids can spread over a wide area, causing secondary explosions and fires, and in the end totally destroy a large industrial area. Such explosions usually cause injuries and often even deaths, with property damage running into the millions.

To prevent such explosions, lawmak-ers have passed laws and ordinances that impose strict safety requirements on the operators of such plants. Furthermore, property insurance companies and the employers’ liability insurance associ-ations have also issued supplemental safety regulations, technical rules, and codes of conduct to ensure the safe op-eration of these “plants in need of mon-itoring.” Failure to comply with these re-quirements leads to the loss of insurance coverage and can also result in criminal prosecution.

inseparable: liquid and vapor

What exactly are flammable liquids? What properties do they have? How dan-gerous are they, and how can they be de-tected? At standard pressure and below its boiling point (but above its melting point), matter always occurs as a liquid. The force of attraction between the mol-

Timely detection of Flammable liquidswhen flammable liquids ignite, the situation can quickly become catastrophic due to their high energy content and the fact that they spread so quickly. this article describes how professional monitoring can be used to effectively mitigate this risk. Part 1 provides FundamenTal inFormaTion. In the next issue: gas sensors.

20-23_Gaswarnanlagen_S 20 03.09.2009 13:40:50 Uhr

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exPlosIon ProtectIon Background

FlammaBle liquids pose a sig-nificant hazard, as their energy content relative to their volume is substantially greater than that of the flammable gases. The release of such liquids in, for exam-ple, tank farms, storage facilities and pro-cess plants can result in catastrophic explosions if the liquid ignites — a horri-fying scenario for any fire department.Flammable liquids can spread over a wide area, causing secondary explosions and fires, and in the end totally destroy a large industrial area. Such explosions usually cause injuries and often even deaths, with property damage running into the millions.

To prevent such explosions, lawmak-ers have passed laws and ordinances that impose strict safety requirements on the operators of such plants. Furthermore, property insurance companies and the employers’ liability insurance associ-ations have also issued supplemental safety regulations, technical rules, and codes of conduct to ensure the safe op-eration of these “plants in need of mon-itoring.” Failure to comply with these re-quirements leads to the loss of insurance coverage and can also result in criminal prosecution.

inseparable: liquid and vapor

What exactly are flammable liquids? What properties do they have? How dan-gerous are they, and how can they be de-tected? At standard pressure and below its boiling point (but above its melting point), matter always occurs as a liquid. The force of attraction between the mol-

ecules is so weak that the molecules of the liquid can move freely. At the sur-face, the force of attraction is even so weak that the molecules can leave the liquid — and others always move up to take their place. If they are not kept in closed containers, all liquids will eventu-ally evaporate; some faster than others.

Just how rapidly evaporation occurs depends on the temperature. The higher the temperature, the greater the ki-netic energy of the molecules and thus the greater their chance of overcom-ing the force of attraction. As a result, a “vapor” — a certain number of mole-cules that through their kinetic energy exert a pressure — is always located above a liquid.

The pressure of this vapor is maxi-mized in a closed container, and an equi-librium state known as the saturated va-por pressure is established. The value of this pressure is only dependent on the temperature. If the temperature in-

creases, more molecules pass into the vapor phase and the vapor pressure in-creases. If the temperature decreases, the molecules have less kinetic energy and can no longer “resist” the force of attraction between molecules; thus they condense and the vapor pressure decreases.

Liquids are characterized by a two-phase state. And it is exactly this pro-cess of temperature-dependent phase change — of evaporation and condensa-tion — that is of major importance when one is dealing with flammable liquids from the perspective of safety.

a critical safety factor:the flash point

The lower explosive limit (LEL) is the safety-relevant parameter of a flamma-ble substance. It indicates how many molecules — more precisely: how many grams per cubic meter (g/m3) or what percentage by volume (% v/v) — of this

How dangerous are methane and gasoline?energy contents of flammable substances are typically indicated as the heat of combustion in kilojoules per gram (kJ/g). to reach the lower explosive level in a mixture with air requires 4.4 % v/v gaseous methane, but only 0.8 % v/v vaporous gasoline. In a volume of 50 m3, for example, this translates to 2.2 m3 of methane and 0.4 m3 of gasoline vapor, which is released from 2.2 liters of liquid gasoline. the combustion of methane releases 50, the combustion of gasoline 42.7 kJ/g. methane has a density of 671 g/m3, i.e. the combustion of 2.2 m3 of methane releases 73,810 kJ of energy. gasoline releases 71,181 kJ. In other words, the combustion of 2.2 m3 of methane releases roughly the same energy as the combustion of only 2.2 liters of gasoline, making gasoline roughly 1,000 times as dangerous.

Timely detection of Flammable liquidswhen flammable liquids ignite, the situation can quickly become catastrophic due to their high energy content and the fact that they spread so quickly. this article describes how professional monitoring can be used to effectively mitigate this risk. Part 1 provides FundamenTal inFormaTion. In the next issue: gas sensors.


>


Background exploSion protection

substance, at a minimum, have to be in the air for the resulting mixture to con-tinue to burn on its own after ignition. If too few molecules are present, ignition is impossible.

Applying this principle to flamma-ble liquids means that if the tempera-ture is so low that too few molecules are released by evaporation, the vapor above the liquid cannot be ignited. If, however, the temperature is high enough that ig-nition can occur, the so-called “flash point” has been reached. This is the most important safety-relevant parameter of flammable liquids.

This excursion into molecular physics helps clarify things in practice. A flam-mable liquid cannot be ignited if its flash point is higher than the temperature of

Flash point and riskFlammable liquids are classified according to their flash point and their boiling point. Upon entry into force of the european classification, labeling and packaging Directive 1272/2008 in January 2009 (implemented in germany as the gHS regulation), the previous marks, hazard symbols, and r and S phrases from the Dangerous goods and plant Safety regulation were replaced, with the aim of worldwide harmonization. Flammable liquids are now assigned to Hazard class 6 and broken down into three categories:

Previous designation according to the german dangerous goods regulationBoiling point Flash point Designation≤ 35 °C < 0 °C Extremely flammable, F+> 35 °C < 21 °C Easily flammable, F 21 to 55 °C Flammable

new designation according to the new gHS regulationBoiling point Flash point Designation Category≤ 35 °C < 23 °C Extremely flammable 1> 35 °C < 23 °C Highly flammable 2 23 to 60 °C Flammable 3

the gHS regulation is binding for substances effective December 1, 2010; for mixtures (previously: preparations) effective June 1, 2015. An additional two years are provided for the labeling of current stocks. the flash point is determined in a closed cup (c.c.) containing saturated vapor. if the saturated vapor cannot be ignited, no other vapor concentration can be ignited.

Systems of this type are subject to high energy and operating costs. But another solution is also possible. The ventilation system can be operated at its lowest speed and only activated when a hazardous con-centration of vapor is detected. Positioning of the sensors

Flammable vapors are always heavier than air. Consequently, they are usually released only from accumulations of liq-uid on or near the floor. But where? Stud-ies have shown that a leak at a random location within a specified area can be reliably and quickly detected if the sen-sors are positioned near the floor so that each sensor monitors a circular area roughly 10 meters in diameter (approx-imately 75 m²). This led to the develop-ment of the so-called “Rule of Five.”uPositioning of the sensors with their gas inlets only five centimeters above the flooruPositioning of the sensors equidistant from one another with a monitoring ra-dius of approximately five metersu5 percent LEL as the first alarm thresh-old (non-latching) for activation of the ventilation system

As with any safety concept, this con-figuration is a reasonable and empir-ically backed compromise between economics and risk minimization. Plant planners thus are constantly faced with having to walk a very fine line. Fewer sensors would be more eco-nomical, but what effect will that have on safety? Planners know that only a safe plant is also an economical plant. Ex-periments have confirmed that vapors

the liquid or the ambient temperature in the case of liquids in storage. Con-versely, flammable liquids whose flash point is significantly below the ambient temperature are easily flammable and even extremely flammable. This is the case with ether, for example, which has a flash point of -40 °C. Even at this arctic temperature, the concentration of ether vapor in a closed container is sufficient to enable ignition.

Flammable vapors are always heavier than air. Provided that they are not swirled by strong ventilation and thus diluted, flammable vapors released from a pool of liquid flow along the floor and can also collect in depressions or con-dense in colder areas, from where they may evaporate again at a later point in

time. As a result of this behavior, given a sufficiently high concentration, they can ignite in a location far from the site of the leak.

Their solubility in water is also a very important consideration for dam-age control: uLeaks of water-miscible flammable liq-uids such as acetone, ethanol, propan-2-ol or tetrahydrofurane can be rendered harmless using water. The addition of water dilutes them, causing their flash point to rise substantially.uWater-immiscible flammable liquids such as hexane, octane, toluene or hy-drocarbon fuels, in contrast, become even more dangerous with the addition of water, for example as rain or rinse wa-ter. They float on the water, thus increas-ing their surface area, and they may be washed undiluted into unprotected areas where they can then be ignited.

Solvents, paints, and coatings

Strong ventilation dilutes the vapors of flammable liquids so effectively that a non-hazardous state is quickly restored following their release. This is also true for such things as storage facilities for solvents, paints, and coatings, which are often configured as high bay warehouses and represent a substantial risk.

If a container loses its seal and liquid escapes and evaporates, ignition must be reliably prevented. This is typically real-ized by means of a ventilation system act-ing near the floor. Such a system contin-uously dilutes the vapor concentration with fresh air, which may be preheated, and extracts it.


Hazards are often invisible. Only the continuous monitoring of

plants using state-of-the-art detection systems can

provide the required level of safety.


Systems of this type are subject to high energy and operating costs. But another solution is also possible. The ventilation system can be operated at its lowest speed and only activated when a hazardous con-centration of vapor is detected. Positioning of the sensors

Flammable vapors are always heavier than air. Consequently, they are usually released only from accumulations of liq-uid on or near the floor. But where? Stud-ies have shown that a leak at a random location within a specified area can be reliably and quickly detected if the sen-sors are positioned near the floor so that each sensor monitors a circular area roughly 10 meters in diameter (approx-imately 75 m²). This led to the develop-ment of the so-called “Rule of Five.”uPositioning of the sensors with their gas inlets only five centimeters above the flooruPositioning of the sensors equidistant from one another with a monitoring ra-dius of approximately five metersu5 percent LEL as the first alarm thresh-old (non-latching) for activation of the ventilation system

As with any safety concept, this con-figuration is a reasonable and empir-ically backed compromise between economics and risk minimization. Plant planners thus are constantly faced with having to walk a very fine line. Fewer sensors would be more eco-nomical, but what effect will that have on safety? Planners know that only a safe plant is also an economical plant. Ex-periments have confirmed that vapors

flow along at near floor level. At a height of 20 centimeters, only 20 percent of the concentration measured at near floor level was observed. If possible, the sen-sors should be designed so that they can be removed from this posi tion for main-tenance and calibration purposes and provided with protection against ram-ming or impacts if they are not other-wise protected.

The strategy behind the equidistance of this sensor arrangement is different from that behind point monitoring. If a po-tential release source cannot be localiz ed, the only alternative is the more costly and complex area monitoring. In other words, the more accurately a potential release source can be located, the more econom-ically the plant can be laid out.

The alarm threshold of 5 percent LEL activates the ventilation system very early so that the vapor concentra-tion essentially never reaches the sec-ond alarm threshold (e.g. 30 percent LEL). This would usually also result in operational restrictions, since all igni-tion sources would have to be shut down at this point.

The gas detection system must be performance-approved, i.e. must satisfy detection-relevant requirements spec-ified in the standards. After successful performance-approval, an authorized no-tified body confirms compliance with the standard by issuing an EC type approval certificate.

Planning provides safety

The storage area for flammable liquids is classified as a “non-hazardous” area

if a gas detection system is used, other-wise it would be a Zone 2. This is a real cost advantage, since it allows for a stan-dard electrical installation and does not require the use of electrical apparatus certified for Zone 2 (3G marking). This applies in particular to lift trucks and forklifts!

Solvent storage calls for proper plan-ning with respect to the gas detection technology. The process involves going through the list of stored substances and first crossing off all substances whose flash point exceeds the maximum stor-age temperature, which is typically 30 °C, by more than 5 °C for pure liq-uids or 15 °C for mixtures.

At this point it will become clear that the list contains a great many substances that do not have to be considered. If only such liquids are stored, the warehouse could, under certain additional circum-stances, be classified as a non-hazardous area (see “Technical Rules for Flamma-ble Liquids” 20, 8.3.2).

Flammable liquids or solvents are al-most always hydrocarbons that can be detected using both catalytic bead and infrared sensors. These methods of detec-tion have advantages and disadvantages depending on the specific application.

Although solvents can be released anywhere and at any time, they will be reliably detected by a constantly op-erating area monitoring gas detection system. Part 2 of this article, which will appear in the next issue of Dräger Re-view, discusses the selection of suitable sensors and their principles of measure-ment. Dr. Wolfgang Jessel

time. As a result of this behavior, given a sufficiently high concentration, they can ignite in a location far from the site of the leak.

Their solubility in water is also a very important consideration for dam-age control: uLeaks of water-miscible flammable liq-uids such as acetone, ethanol, propan-2-ol or tetrahydrofurane can be rendered harmless using water. The addition of water dilutes them, causing their flash point to rise substantially.uWater-immiscible flammable liquids such as hexane, octane, toluene or hy-drocarbon fuels, in contrast, become even more dangerous with the addition of water, for example as rain or rinse wa-ter. They float on the water, thus increas-ing their surface area, and they may be washed undiluted into unprotected areas where they can then be ignited.

Solvents, paints, and coatings

Strong ventilation dilutes the vapors of flammable liquids so effectively that a non-hazardous state is quickly restored following their release. This is also true for such things as storage facilities for solvents, paints, and coatings, which are often configured as high bay warehouses and represent a substantial risk.

If a container loses its seal and liquid escapes and evaporates, ignition must be reliably prevented. This is typically real-ized by means of a ventilation system act-ing near the floor. Such a system contin-uously dilutes the vapor concentration with fresh air, which may be preheated, and extracts it.

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InsIght reSearch anD Development

Dr. KaI KücK taKes a booK off the shelf and points to the cover image, which depicts what looks like a pattern chart, and asks us what we think it is. It’s a graphic visualization of a railroad schedule. Welcome to the world of the head of Pre-Development at Dräger, where a broad spectrum of innovations are born from the creative and often astonishing ideas of the team members.

About 40 scientists work here, many of them with doctorates. And about the same number are graduate students working on their advanced degrees: “We also place great importance on collabo-rating with renowned universities, insti-tutes, and laboratories worldwide,” says Dr. Kück. But he also stresses that all of his colleagues bring with them their own networks, which they nurture not only by attending scientific congresses.

Pre-Development. It sounds like the kind of ivory tower where everyone pursues their own particular inter-ests. “Freedom is important for creati-vity,” asserts Kück, but he also empha-sizes that this work at Dräger should be as goal-oriented as possible “even though there are instances when two ap-parent dead-end streets combine to form a superhighway.” Failure is part of the innovation process: “One of my jobs is to recognize dead-ends as early as possible and to stop such projects promptly.”

Working at the interface

Concentrating on what is essential gives a sense of direction: “We can’t just de-

commitment for the Long termpre-Development at Dräger is an extensively networked scientific thought factory where neW technoLogIes are DeveLopeD anD evaLuateD, with a keen sense for the needs of future users.

Keep on running: Long-term experiments guarantee reliability in practice — as here in the case of drug testing.

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Dr. Kai KücK taKes a booK off the shelf and points to the cover image, which depicts what looks like a pattern chart, and asks us what we think it is. It’s a graphic visualization of a railroad schedule. Welcome to the world of the head of Pre-Development at Dräger, where a broad spectrum of innovations are born from the creative and often astonishing ideas of the team members.

About 40 scientists work here, many of them with doctorates. And about the same number are graduate students working on their advanced degrees: “We also place great importance on collabo-rating with renowned universities, insti-tutes, and laboratories worldwide,” says Dr. Kück. But he also stresses that all of his colleagues bring with them their own networks, which they nurture not only by attending scientific congresses.

Pre-Development. It sounds like the kind of ivory tower where everyone pursues their own particular inter-ests. “Freedom is important for creati-vity,” asserts Kück, but he also empha-sizes that this work at Dräger should be as goal-oriented as possible “even though there are instances when two ap-parent dead-end streets combine to form a superhighway.” Failure is part of the innovation process: “One of my jobs is to recognize dead-ends as early as possible and to stop such projects promptly.”

Working at the interface

Concentrating on what is essential gives a sense of direction: “We can’t just de-

commitment for the Long termpre-Development at Dräger is an extensively networked scientific thought factory where neW technoLogies are DeveLopeD anD evaLuateD, with a keen sense for the needs of future users.

signs to the concentration of drugs or the determination of gases, but also pres-ents it in a clear way, summarizing it so that it can be used as the basis for deci-sions. These are essential points that to-gether will result in exponential develop-ment. “In that area we’re all just at the beginning.” In this context, the purpose of this development work is no mere en-gineering objective to be attained for its own sake; it is a commitment to freeing safety personnel from routine tasks, and making work processes easier, and more reliable. “In the future, you’ll see less technology,” says Kück, “because many developments are realized at the soft-ware level and disappear, you might say, into the equipment.”

Focusing on what is essential

The task of driving this change across a wide range of user groups can only be accomplished by means of a multidisci-plinary approach. From this perspective, even an apparently simple question has complex consequences. Like: Should a company develop a proprietary system or one that complies with generally ac-cepted standards, including some that still need to be defined? The answer mat-ters all the more because it impacts the future. In Kück’s analogy: “We don’t want to keep improving mechanical type-writers while being unaware that in the real world they were long ago replaced by computers.” Dräger’s “DrugTest 5000” (refer to Dräger Review 96, pp. 10–15) already offers a glimpse into a future in which complex measurements are au-tomatically carried out on the spot and

velop perfect technical concepts — we’ve also got to substantially improve the way our customers can work with technol-ogy.” And the results must be supremely reliable, because Dräger always deals with the most important issue of all — hu-man lives. Thanks to his training, Kück is thoroughly proficient both in practice and in theory. During his degree studies in medical technology, and a subsequent doctorate in the U.S., he has repeatedly seen how perfect interaction between users and technologists is a vital fac-tor when it comes to achieving break-through innovations.

“Most of our activities in this area,” he says, “take place at the interface be-tween actual technology research and product development.” Pre-Development therefore precedes the classic “research and development” department, which is followed by prototypes, production, and market introduction. It’s a process that takes several years on average — some-times more, sometimes less. Few com-panies are still investing in this kind of department. “That’s the advantage of a family-owned business,” says Kück, re-ferring to former fellow college students in positions elsewhere, who often have to plan their research projects in line with the next set of quarterly or half-yearly fig-ures. “Our work is a long-term invest-ment that takes time.”

What timeframes is he talking about, for instance in safety technology? And what will the future look like in ten or 15 years? The influence of information technology is unmistakable. It not only acquires data, from a fireman’s vital Keep on running: Long-term experiments guarantee reliability in practice — as here in the case of drug testing. >

Dr. Kai Kück, head of pre-Development

at Dräger: “our work is a long-term

investment that takes time.”

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with high reliability, in order to ease the work of police officers in drug recogni-tion, for example. And to obtain a fast result. This isn’t merely a technologi-cal challenge. That’s because the new technology must, on the one hand, tie in smoothly with established and proven processes, while also being extremely re-liable and delivering significant prog-ress. That can only be achieved if the equipment is easily or even intuitively usable. This is where the psychologist Maral Haar comes in — a profession one wouldn’t necessarily expect in a com-pany with a strongly technical focus.

Usability: Ask and understand

“I have to understand how others think and work,” is how she describes her in-terest in her specialty — as a discipline as well as in her present work, in which she sees herself as “the users’ advocate.” Her main concern is practical usabil-ity of products and work processes. “To evaluate that, I visit future users at their workplaces and watch them at work.”

That’s how she learns what the job “looks like in the user’s head,” and “not only how users perceive and use their tools in general but also what objectives they pursue.” Haar’s studies encompass, for example, what users really want from a thermal imaging camera, how they handle the equipment, and which func-tions — including intuitive ones — must be provided for use without overloading the unit. This data provides the foun-dation from which arise highly reliable operating concepts and equipment that support users in their work.

How does she deal with different users and varying requirements? “First I try to find a common denominator for differ-ent user groups. That works to a certain point. Ultimately it’s the majority of the users who decide when the possibilities of configuration or alternative user in-terfaces have been exhausted.”

There are many things to consider. Asians for instance have smaller hands than Europeans, which impacts the shape, spacing, and tactile properties of control elements such as keys. Are there gender-specific differences? “Men have generally a higher level of technical af-finity,” says Haar. Which means women, on the other hand, utilize and evaluate technology more pragmatically, accord-ing to its relative usefulness.

Drug testing has potential

Dr. Rainer Polzius likes to combine technical and scientific enthusiasm with pragmatism. The biochemist was a member of the team that developed the DrugTest 5000 — a unit whose mod-est exterior belies the fact that it can carry out highly sophisticated reactions fully automatically. “We detect a range of drugs of abuse in saliva with high re-liability,” says Polzius, who is pleased that the latest research in this area has boosted the sensitivity of cannabis (THC) detection by a factor of five while retain-ing the same high reliability of the dis-played and documented measurement results. “What’s more,” he adds, “we are currently working on ways to also inte-grate methadone detection in the test kit of the DrugTest 5000.”

The unit is a somewhat rare example of Pre-Development taking a develop-ment all the way to readiness for mar-ket. The reason for this unusual process is that there are not many experts capa-ble of transferring the biochemical pro-cesses into the rough-and-tumble of ev-eryday use. After all, this requires that the knowledge of every element in the process chain under development be available in one place.

The experts also have expertise in fields such as monoclonal antibodies, which react with specific drugs with both high sensitivity and selectivity. And they are also experienced in transfer-ring these reactions from the labora-tory scale to the real world. What they also check, as Polzius says, is “that the new and more sensitive THC detection functions every bit as reliably as the pre-vious solution. To do this, we arranged tests on two groups of 100 ravers.” The new test strips passed the test with fly-ing colors. The operating principle of the test strips in the DrugTest 5000 can, of course, be transferred to anything that can be detected using monoclonal anti-bodies. “We’ve got a few exciting ideas in this area,” says Polzius.

Another example is a newly devel-oped temperature sensor that reliably measures the core temperature of adults by skin contact alone — in other words non-invasively. In February this tech-nology travelled into space for research purposes, and more tests are planned on the International Space Station (ISS) this fall, including for possible applica-tions in a future Mars mission (refer to

Dräger Review 97, p. 7). Originally de-veloped for purely medical applications, it could also find application in fire de-partments in a few years. The principle of the sensor is that one side, which is affixed to the skin, is separated from an-other external sensor by a thermally in-sulating layer. “We can use this device to measure skin temperature and ambi-ent temperature simultaneously,” says Dr. Jochim Koch, who is a codeveloper of the sensor. Short-term effects due to ambient temperature can be corrected using software. This kind of tempera-ture measurement, however, is not only

>

Systematic sensitivity: Dr. Rainer Polzius combines high detection sensitivity to drugs with tough operating conditions.

Finding a technology’s lifecycle maximum slope (left) is more fun than “the uphill slope” in a test of a core temperature sensor (right).

Understanding how others work — that’s usability



reSearch anD Development InsIght

The unit is a somewhat rare example of Pre-Development taking a develop-ment all the way to readiness for mar-ket. The reason for this unusual process is that there are not many experts capa-ble of transferring the biochemical pro-cesses into the rough-and-tumble of ev-eryday use. After all, this requires that the knowledge of every element in the process chain under development be available in one place.

The experts also have expertise in fields such as monoclonal antibodies, which react with specific drugs with both high sensitivity and selectivity. And they are also experienced in transfer-ring these reactions from the labora-tory scale to the real world. What they also check, as Polzius says, is “that the new and more sensitive THC detection functions every bit as reliably as the pre-vious solution. To do this, we arranged tests on two groups of 100 ravers.” The new test strips passed the test with fly-ing colors. The operating principle of the test strips in the DrugTest 5000 can, of course, be transferred to anything that can be detected using monoclonal anti-bodies. “We’ve got a few exciting ideas in this area,” says Polzius.

Another example is a newly devel-oped temperature sensor that reliably measures the core temperature of adults by skin contact alone — in other words non-invasively. In February this tech-nology travelled into space for research purposes, and more tests are planned on the International Space Station (ISS) this fall, including for possible appli-cations in a future Mars mission (see

Dräger Review 97, p. 7). Originally de-veloped for purely medical applications, it could also find application in fire de-partments in a few years. The principle of the sensor is that one side, which is affixed to the skin, is separated from an-other external sensor by a thermally in-sulating layer. “We can use this device to measure skin temperature and ambi-ent temperature simultaneously,” says Dr. Jochim Koch, who is a codeveloper of the sensor. Short-term effects due to ambient temperature can be corrected using software. This kind of tempera-ture measurement, however, is not only

important for patients undergoing sur-gery, astronauts, and babies in incuba-tors — but also for emergency services personnel. Koch and his team are cur-rently researching exactly this possible application, which presents completely different challenges — such as providing an effective way of mounting the sensor under a protective helmet, without im-pairing functionality.

Unlimited potential

“Our strategic long-term work will shape the future of safety technology, and in my view it will continue to pro-

vide inno vation potential that’s not likely to be exhausted in the next de-cade or two,” Kück concludes. That also means the working environment will be changing once again — for the safety personnel and for their “customers,” as well as on the cost side. “That’s a cor-relation we never ignore in any innova-tion,” he adds. “And we stay on the look-out for whatever else may be coming up. So we’ll always be able to continue sup-plying technology in the future that’s as advanced as it is reliable — and that of-fers even better reliability and ease of opera tion.” nils schiffhauer

systematic sensitivity: Dr. Rainer Polzius combines high detection sensitivity to drugs with tough operating conditions.

Finding a technology’s lifecycle maximum slope (left) is more fun than “the uphill slope” in a test of a core temperature sensor (right).

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They musT be very special suits, if engineers, chemists, anthropologists, and firefighters are involved in their development. Experts in these and other professions are working together on the next generation of chemical protective suits (CPS) from Dräger. One of the many focal points in this process is collaborative research with realworld users.

“In 2009 alone, more than 70 volunteer testers from a variety of countries participated in this ‘Customer Process Monitoring’ program for future CPS developments,” says Dräger portfolio manager Gunnar Brors, who adds, “We look at the users with all of their personal protective equipment on and also at their typical deployment conditions.”

Potential for changes can be found in the material, cut, and components of the suits, as well as in the basic concept, which differentiates fundamentally between chemical protective suits designed for multiple uses over an extended period of time and suits designed for just onetime use or for being used only a very few times.

The level of protection and other parameters of the suits are defined in various international standards, ranging from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1991–2005 in the U.S. to Europe’s EN 9431:2002 (industrial applications), EN 9432:2002 (emergency teams), and German Fire Protection Association (GFPA) Guideline 08/1:200211, as well as EN 10732 (radioactive particles), EN 14126 (infective agents), and ATEX (electrostatic charging).

The second skinchemical proTecTive suiTs (CpS) are essential when working with hazardous chemicals. innovative properties meet the increasingly stringent requirements of industrial users and first responders. Dräger therefore conducts its research into the future generations of CpS in collaboration with customers and scientists from a variety of disciplines.

crossing the border: before entering a world where chemical hazards lie in wait, you need to be well-protected.

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perSonal protection OutlOOk

they must be very special suits, if engineers, chemists, anthropologists, and firefighters are involved in their development. Experts in these and other professions are working together on the next generation of chemical protective suits (CPS) from Dräger. One of the many focal points in this process is collaborative research with realworld users.

“In 2009 alone, more than 70 volunteer testers from a variety of countries participated in this ‘Customer Process Monitoring’ program for future CPS developments,” says Dräger portfolio manager Gunnar Brors, who adds, “We look at the users with all of their personal protective equipment on and also at their typical deployment conditions.”

Potential for changes can be found in the material, cut, and components of the suits, as well as in the basic concept, which differentiates fundamentally between chemical protective suits designed for multiple uses over an extended period of time and suits designed for just onetime use or for being used only a very few times.

The level of protection and other parameters of the suits are defined in various international standards, ranging from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1991–2005 in the U.S. to Europe’s EN 9431:2002 (industrial applications), EN 9432:2002 (emergency teams), and German Fire Protection Association (GFPA) Guideline 08/1:200211, as well as EN 10732 (radioactive particles), EN 14126 (infective agents), and ATEX (electrostatic charging).

With a suit certified according to one of these standards, the user can expect to don the chemical protective suit, seal it, and then have up to 30 minutes of liquid or gastight protection while working. Besides the protection provided against various substances, other important factors involved in the selection of a chemical protective suit are ease of maintenance and above all ergonomics, because the conditions under which CPS users work are extremely demanding.

every innovation counts

That’s something that anyone can understand — anyone, at least, who’s ever slipped into a gastight chemical protective suit with a heavy compressed air breathing apparatus on their back and then tried to pick up and assemble the small parts for a difficult repair despite the thick protective gloves. Freedom of motion, vision, and fine motor skills are severely restricted. On top of that, the microclimate inside the suit is characterized by rapidly increasing humidity and heat.

A study by the Technical University of Munich published in the German Journal of Sports Medicine (Volume 58, No. 5, pp. 132 ff., 2007), which addresses the effect of reduced heat exchange in firefighter protective equipment on dynamic physical performance, demonstrated that this leads to substantially greater stress on the body. Every innovation that makes it easier for the users to perform their work counts.

“The manufacturers have accomplished quite a lot since the first mod

ern chemical protective suits appeared nearly 60 years ago,” reflects Robert Betzinger, a Dräger portfolio manager who is responsible for industrial CPS applications. The materials such as neoprene and Viton/butyl used back then have been replaced by modern materials like HIMEX, the multilayered elastomer from Dräger used to make the proET line of chemical protective suits. Such materials have a sandwichlike structure of different materials with complementary properties.

Because chemical protective suits are often needed when working under difficult conditions — in industrial sectors ranging from petrochemicals and chemicals to oil and gas supply and even waste disposal — mechanical strength is one of the most important properties besides chemical resistance. One example cited by Betzinger is maintenance and repair work carried out under conditions of confined space entry, such as cleaning tanks with their narrow entryways.

an easy choice

One advantage that industrial customers have over firefighters when it comes to working in chemical protective suits is that they generally know exactly what substances the employees must be protected against. There are specialty chemical protective suits like the WorkMaster UMEX, which can protect personnel handling cryogenic hazardous substances at temperatures down to 80° Celsius. The large range makes it easier to choose the right chemical protective suit for each work step. The customers

the second skinchemical prOtective suits (cpS) are essential when working with hazardous chemicals. innovative properties meet the increasingly stringent requirements of industrial users and first responders. Dräger therefore conducts its research into the future generations of cpS in collaboration with customers and scientists from a variety of disciplines.

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OutlOOk perSonal protection

highly value not only the protective properties, but also ease of maintenance. While observing a large German chemical company involved in the development of the next generation of Dräger CPS, Betzinger noticed that their goal is to ensure that the shortest possible time elapses between the decontamination, cleaning, and testing of the used chemical protective suit and when the suit is ready to be worn again.

There are also alternatives to a gastight CPS under certain conditions: The extremely lightweight and liquidtight, limiteduse Dräger SPC 3800 chemical protective suit made of Tychem® F, for example, is ideal for performing work with low mechanical loads in contact with liquid chemicals. Compared to a gastight CPS with a heavy breathing apparatus, these CEcertified coveralls made of fiber layers with welded seams offer the user greater freedom of movement.

Limiting such suits to a specific use also makes storage, decontamination, cleaning, and maintenance easier. Eric Metzner, a sales engineer at Dräger, can

confirm the demand for maintenancefriendly and easytouse suits. Hygiene is also an important factor here, as maintenance of multipleuse suits is often problematic, particularly in tropical countries with a hot, humid climate.

learning from practice

Unlike industrial users, public fire departments face such a wide range of possible hazardous substances and goods when deployed that they depend on their chemical protective suits to provide the greatest protection possible. This applies equally to volunteer fire departments, professional fire departments, and fire departments at industrial plants, which are often even more specifically equipped. All wearers agree that the suits need to be more ergonomic, however. This applies to the fit in general, and in particular to donning the personal protective equipment and working with tools and equipment while wearing the CPS.

Henry Kratina, an emergency planning specialist at the Dresden Fire Department, also cites weight and ventilation as key factors, in addition to aspects such as the legibility of the pressure indicator on the compressed air breather apparatus while in the suit. The Dresden Fire Department is one of the Dräger customers involved in the development of new chemical protective suits.

Innovations are important to improve the wearerfriendliness of fully encapsulating CPS, confirms Michael Kämpfer, head of the Training Department at the Rüsselsheim Fire Depart

ment. Thirtyfive professional firefighters and 221 volunteers (175 of whom are certified to use breathing apparatuses) protect Rüsselsheim from fire. All of the professional firefighters and 63 of the volunteer firefighters are certified to use breathing apparatuses and have been instructed in the use of CPS. Not all fire departments are this wellpositioned, however. Kämpfer and Reinhard Döll, head of the Technology Department at the Rüsselsheim Fire Department, agree that the easier it is to don the chemical protective suit and the less problematic it is to work in it, the more people will be certified to wear them.

Increasingly rapid innovation

Dräger has been developing and producing chemical protective suits for more than 50 years. “The innovation cycles for the second skin with very special properties have become shorter and shorter during that time,” say the portfolio managers Betzinger and Brors. And the same applies to the pace at which the development engineers present new properties and solutions — from innovative materials to more comfortable fits and optimized visors to better connections between suit, boots, and gloves, or innovations for a suit closure system comprising a zipper with a seal system. Among the places where Dräger will be showcasing its CPS portfolio is the A+A (Düsseldorf, November 2009). Peter thomas

Innovation cycles for the second skin with special properties are getting shorter and shorter

these are people, not robots. Protective suits must be fine-tuned to the protection and requirements of hard-working bodies.

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Further information online, including: product information

www.draeger.com/98/cps

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reSpiratory protection and portable gaS detection equipment SaleS by location

nortH Albert-Schweitzer-Ring 22 22045 Hamburg Tel. +49 40 668 67 0 Fax +49 40 668 67 150

eaSt An der Harth 10 b 04416 Markkleeberg Tel. +49 341 35 0 31 173 Fax +49 341 35 0 31 172

SoutH Vor dem Lauch 9 70567 Stuttgart Tel. +49 711 721 99 0 Fax +49 711 721 99 50

WeSt Kimplerstraße 284 47807 Krefeld Tel. +49 2151 37 35 0 Fax +49 2151 37 35 50

SubSidiarieS: auStria Dräger Safety Austria Ges.m.b.H Wallackgasse 8 1230 Wien Tel. +43 1 609 36 02 Fax +43 1 699 62 42

SWitZerland Dräger Safety Schweiz AG Aegertweg 7 8305 Dietlikon Tel. +41 44 805 82 82 Fax +41 44 805 82 80

regionS

europe nortH / central Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA Revalstraße 1 23560 Lübeck, Germany Tel. +49 451 882 0 Fax +49 451 882 2080

europe SoutH Dräger Safety France S.A.S. 3c, Route de la Fédération 67025 Strasbourg Cedex, France Tel. +33 3 88 40 76 76 Fax +33 3 88 40 76 67

nortH america Draeger Safety, Inc. 101 Technology Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15275, USA Tel. +1 412 787 8383 Fax +1 412 787 2207

aSia / paciFic Draeger Safety Asia Pte Ltd 67 Ayer Rajah Crescent # 06-03 Singapore 139950 Tel. +65 68 72 92 88 Fax +65 65 12 19 08

HeadquarterS: dräger Safety ag & co. Kgaa revalstraße 1 23560 lübeck, germany tel. +49 451 882 0 Fax +49 451 882 2080 www.draeger.com

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IMPRINTpublisher: Drägerwerk Ag & Co. KgaA, Corporate Communications editorial address: moislinger Allee 53–55, 23542 Lübeck / [email protected], www.draeger.com editor in chief: björn wölke, tel.: +49 451 882-2009, Fax: +49 451 882-3197 publishing House: tellus pUbLiSHiNg gmbH editorial consultant: Nils Schiffhauer (responsible according to press law) art direction, design, and picture editing: redaktion 4 gmbH translation: transForm gmbH printing: Dräger + wullenwever print+media

the articles in Dräger review provide information on products and their possible applications in general. they do not constitute any guarantee that a product has specific properties or of its suitability for any specific purpose. All specialist personnel are required to make use exclusively of the skills they have acquired through their education and training and through practical experience. the views, opinions, and statements expressed by the persons named in the texts as well as by the external authors of the articles do not necessarily correspond to those of Drägerwerk Ag & Co. KgaA. Such views, opinions, and statements are solely the opinions of the respective person. Not all of the products named in this magazine are available worldwide. equipment packages can vary from country to country. we reserve the right to make changes to products. the current information is available from your Dräger representative. © Drägerwerk Ag & Co. KgaA, 2009. All rights reserved. this publication may not be reproduced, stored in a data system, or transmitted in any form or using any method whether electronic or mechanical, by means of photocopying, recording, or any other technique in whole or in part without the prior permission of Drägerwerk Ag & Co. KgaA.

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A Nose That Works Like an Eye

CLOSE-UP GAS DETECTION TECHNOLOGY

Gas detectors detect specific gases quickly and reliably. Equipped with a Dual IR Sensor 1 , the Dräger X-am 5600 2 gas detector can even detect carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons simultaneously. This sensor can be combined in the instrument with an entire series of sensors for toxic gases to enable the simultaneous detection of up to six different gases.

The ambient air reaches the sensor through a water and dust filter. Tiny, gold-plated diaphragms in the shape of a heart 3 cover its open-ing. The diaphragm openings are offset from one another so that the measuring cuvette gives the impression of being closed. However, the air actually diffuses past the opening and enters the detection chamber, which contains a long-life, high-power infrared lamp 4 . Mirrored sur-faces on the side walls of the measuring cuvette ensure that the light is reflected multiple times so that the downstream gas detectors 5 can detect even lowest concentrations.

Each gas absorbs the infrared light in very specific wavelength, pro-ducing a characteristic absorption spectrum. The gas detectors essen-tially measure how effectively the light emitted by the infrared lamp is attenuated by the multiple passes through the gas. Interference filters are arranged upstream of each detector. These “color filters” allow light within only a very narrow frequency band to pass through. One of these bands is matched to the specific absorption frequency of the gas to be detected. The other is selected to provide a reference wavelength. A microprocessor-controlled comparison of the two measurements ensures a reliable measurement result that is also largely independent of any aging processes.

Simply stated, this artificial nose essentially works more like an eye. Heating the mirror largely prevents it from fogging over with condensation.

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Concepts to counter the panic - Draeger · ext: Silke Umbach Danny Sacco, Safety ... Dr. Bettina...

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Transcript of Concepts to counter the panic - Draeger · ext: Silke Umbach Danny Sacco, Safety ... Dr. Bettina...