Solutions for Food, Beverage, or Pharmaceutical Applications
In the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries, maintaining safety and efficiency during bulk loading operations is paramount. SafeRack offers comprehensive solutions designed to enhance operational productivity while ensuring the highest safety standards. Not only are we North America’s #1 distributor of OPW and Emco Wheaton Loading Arms, but we’ve supplied safety solutions that support everything from liquid chocolate, to dairy facilities, and water bottling plants.
Key benefits include:
- Enhanced Safety: Implementing advanced fall protection systems to safeguard workers during loading and unloading processes.
- Operational Efficiency: Utilizing modular platforms and loading arms that streamline operations and reduce downtime.
- Regulatory Compliance: Providing equipment that meets or exceeds industry regulations, ensuring your operations remain compliant.
Pharmaceutical
Safety & Compliance Expert
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From fall protection at loading docks to crossovers inside processing plants, we have the safety systems you need to keep your food and beverage business running smoothly. Not only are we North America’s #1 distributor of OPW and Emco Wheaton Loading Arms, but we’ve supplied safety solutions that support everything from liquid chocolate, to dairy facilities, and water bottling plants.
Recent events have led to consumer behavior changes, and with them come opportunities to serve new markets, or serve existing markets in a better way. For instance, beverage manufacturers, specifically alcohol, have been in a booming market that is anticipated to have incredible staying power. The Ready to Drink (RTD) category might be one of the biggest booms in the market generally. Once traditionally focused on a younger audience, the RTD market has been increasing market share like a rocket. From hard seltzers (including new products that are emerging featuring both very low and very high ABV offerings) to craft spirit-branded products, to answer Alan Shepard’s “light this candle”, the candle has been lit and this segment is taking off.
It isn’t just beverages that have seen massive growth. Look at some of the major food corporations who are being asked to produce more and more products not just for our consumption, but whose products are feedstock for an emerging market where the supply simply can’t meet the demand. Soybean oil, for instance, is not going to be able to keep up to demand once renewable diesel becomes more mainstream.
The best way to make sure that you can keep operating during these growth times is to make sure that you keep your greatest asset safe. Safety equals security equals productivity. Give your employees the best equipment to make sure they can give you their best efforts.
Take 10 minutes and learn tips that will help you maximize the safety of your food and beverage manufacturing operations.
Safe food and beverage manufacturing practices are crucial not only to your organization’s bottom line but also to the people who consume your products and the workers who produce them.
Products
Solutions
Below are some of the loading and unloading solutions for illustrative purposes only. Our experts will work with you and your team for a custom solution to suit your needs.
Loading Gangways
Since rail cars have off-set crash boxes SafeRack recommends a wider telescoping access gangway (48″-60″ is preferable) as it helps improve access and egress to and from the railcar. In addition, a wider gangway will reduce the risk of the operator’s PPE getting caught, torn or damaged, and will improve productivity and safety. Powered gangway solutions are also an option, with both hydraulic and pneumatic solutions being commonly used.
Each gangway will be fitted with a two-rail safety cage for the railcar crash box. This will be a centered 7’6”x 6’ safety cage to sit directly over the cashbox; and will provide a safe, secure work environment for your operator when accessing hatches on railcars.
For tank truck applications (loading or unloading) SafeRack’s standard 24” wide Self-Adjusting (SAS) gangway with a deeper 4’x6’x4-rail safety cage would be the preferred solution.
Loading Arms
Product can be splash loaded into railcars and tank trucks via loading arms or chemical hoses. The current best loading practice is to use a 3″ carbon steel or stainless steel arm for tank trucks with PTFE or ChemRaz seals. Vapor recovery is optional and is used in conjunction with a splash plate, vapor cone, or inflatable hatch seal.
Railcar loading will use a similar setup as trucks but with a 4” arm as higher flow rates must be obtained to load the higher capacity vehicles at an acceptable rate.
The loading arms layout will ensure that it is self-draining after use as to completely evacuate product when the arm is stored to reduce product leakage which could injure passer-bys and corrode platform, support, and process piping located on the rack. Safety options such as high-level sensors/probes can be added to the arm to switch off loading should the level hit a predetermined height in the vehicles.
Example of gravity fed top loading arm:
Example of gravity fed top loading arm
These are generally 4”, carbon steel, ANSI 150Lb rated loading arms, that will be fitted with quick-couplings and an emergency break-away unit. The arm itself will be fitted to a support standpost, and will be self-draining in design.
We would also recommend that the arm be fitted with a parking latch and parking sensor to ensure that the arm is stored in a safe place when not in operation.
Eye Wash/Drench Showers
ANSI guidelines state that an Eye Wash/Drench Showers need to be located 10 seconds or 55′ (16.8m) from contaminants or hazardous materials. Eyewash stations need to be on the same horizontal plane with no obstructions.
Therefore, we would propose the installation of a standard combination Drench Shower/Eyewash Unit, which will save limited space and fit easily into any work environment.
This is a fundamental safety requirement for any loading or unloading station.
Spill Containment
Spill containment pans will be provided at the point of loading operations and is an essential piece of equipment in overall site safety and environmental protection. SafeRack recommends a minimum 20’ long galvanized, polyethylene or composite track pan to mitigate spills.
Piperacks
Because wastewater treatment plants have pipe runs throughout the facility, ErectaRack pipe racks are pre-fabricated for a variety of pipe dimensions and applications. Because they’re pre-engineered, ErectaRack skips the long engineering and fabrication process, saving weeks, if not months in the installation process.
Grounding
Many food or pharma products are not flammable, industry best practice includes the grounding of all vessels before starting the (un)loading process.
Explosion-proof enclosures — meet or exceed UL, CSA, and Ex requirements
Vehicle grounding and bonding — ensure true grounding before product flow is permitted
Safety Gates, Stairs, Ladders, & Platforms
Safety Gates will be installed at the top of stairs and any other openings to ensure operator safety.
SafeRack’s line of industrial safety gates is the most flexible product on the market with the ability to span openings between 16” and 36” and is field adjustable with nothing more than a wrench. We also have guardrails, metal handrails, and full-fledged fall protection solutions with customizable options to fit your needs.
Loading Platform Options
Lighting – General exterior and task lighting to illuminate work and walk areas.
Platform & Canopies – Full platform canopies reduce exposure to the elements and improve the safe and productive loading operation from the operator’s perspective.
Operator Shelter—Depending on your site requirements, consider the requirement of an operator or guard building to keep personnel out of the elements. This can be customized to meet specific site requirements.
Wheel Chocks – SPCC options to allow for safe access and storage of water treatment chemicals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, all AeroStep platforms meet or exceed OSHA safety standards, ensuring compliance for aircraft maintenance and ground support operations. Features such as enclosed handrails, slip-resistant surfaces, and adjustable height options enhance worker safety.
Projects
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Custom metal stair installation at a pharmaceutical facility
This ErectaStep installation at a large pharmaceutical company replaces an access ladder and uses mostly in-stock components with some customized…
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Winery Chooses Aesthetically Pleasing and Affordable Barrel Access System
A new winery needed safe, stylish access to fermentation tanks. ErectaStep delivered custom aluminum platforms that matched the facility’s sleek…