How to monitor toxic gases within a laboratory environment

If you’re a laboratory worker, you’re probably aware of the risks that toxic gases can pose to you and your colleagues. In any environment where experiments or research is carried out, toxic gas is likely to be present. Common gases associated with this line of work include ethanol, isopropanol and formaldehyde, which all originate from aldehydes or alcohols.

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Your laboratory requires constant monitoring to ensure the air quality isn’t posing a threat to those working within the environment. We can help you with that here at Gas Alarm Systems – we specialise in providing fixed gas detectors, as well as portable gas detectors that can be programmed to suit a range of different sectors, including laboratories. So, here’s how we can help you monitor the level of toxic gases within your work environment.

What are the main gas threats within a laboratory environment?

The main threats that you’ll face in regard to toxic gases in a laboratory setting come in the form of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). These are most commonly found within hospitals, cleanrooms and laboratories. VOC gases can have a serious effect on the health of workers, as well as an equally negative impact on the work and tests being conducted within your lab.

A good example of this would be Assisted Conception Unit (ACU) laboratories. These labs conduct a range of medical procedures, which are carried out to address infertility issues such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injections (ICSI). VOCs released into this environment can have a detrimental effect on any embryos present in the area, and the overall success rate of IVF treatment.

How to monitor VOCs

VOCs are a range of naturally and synthetically occurring chemicals which are found almost everywhere in everyday life. You probably come across them on a daily basis in the form of plastics, rubbers, glues, paints and so on. As useful as these materials are, the production of them can be toxic.

By adding laboratory safety technology to your premises, you enable a higher level of safety and cleanliness when manufacturing pharmaceuticals and products that have a VOC based chemical structure. It’s pivotal that any environment where small particles or gases in the air can be detrimental to the process, that sufficient gas detection systems are put in place to help manage the threat of VOCs.

That’s where we step in – our fixed gas detection systems are installed in a permanent location, which helps to ensure the ongoing safety of your working environment. The device helps to monitor the release of toxic gases, oxygen deficiency or enrichment, as well as the presence of flammable gases and vapours. If triggered, it will alert any nearby staff members through a loud alarm system, allowing them to quickly initiate any shutdown procedures you already have in place.

VOCs and natural gases alike can pose a significant risk to your health and your work, so it’s vital that you get some form of gas detection system in place as soon as possible.

Here at Gas Alarm Systems, our extensive in-house experts have ensured that our clients have received the best in natural gas and carbon monoxide detection equipment for over 25 years. Feel free to browse our range of fixed gas detection systems and portable gas detection monitors, or if you have any questions or need any advice, by all means call us on 01423 862240, and we’ll be happy to see how we can help.