SOP Title: Fumigation Procedure
- Objective:
To define the procedure for fumigation in different areas in the site.
- Scope:
This SOP is applicable to the critical areas in Production Department.
- Responsibility:
Production Department: Responsible for proper implementation of fumigation procedure in production areas.
QA Department: Responsible for ensuring compliance of procedure for all Production areas.
- Accountability:
Head QA/Production Department.
- Procedure:
5.1 Definitions:
Fumigation: Fumigation is a method of pest and microbial control that completely fills an area with gaseous fumigant to suffocate or poison the pests and microbes.
5.2 Procedure:
| 5.2.1 | Requirements | |
| 5.2.1.1 | Evaporation Pan; Potassium Permanganate; Formaldehyde Solution, hand gloves, nose mask, and safety goggles. | |
| Note :- Alternatively, Fogger machine can be used with fumigation solution. | ||
| 5.2.2 | Precautions | |
| 5.2.2.1 | Contact with skin and inhalation of Formaldehyde should be avoided. | |
| 5.2.2.2 | Personnel must leave the area being fumigated as soon as possible after placing the pans of formaldehyde in fumigation area. |
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| 5.2.3 | The area fumigated must be sealed off and all entrances to the area must be locked. No one shall enter the fumigated area at least 8 – 10hrs or until the fumigation is completed. | |
| 5.2.4 | Once the fumigation is over i.e. after 8-10hrs, at least two personnel shall enter the area to switch ON the AC & exhaust in the surrounding area till the fumes are evacuated from the room. | |
| 5.2.5 | Fumigation shall be supervised by Head of Department and shall be in constant visual contact with the operators to assist them to avoid any accident. | |
| 5.2.6 | All the persons coming in contact with formaldehyde solution fumes shall wash their hands and face thoroughly with soap and water before eating and / drinking. | |
| 5.2.7 | The areas being fumigated shall be completely shut off from other area of the department during fumigation. | |
| 5.2.8 | At the end of the fumigation period, the area shall be ventilated aseptically, in such a way that vapours of formaldehyde are completely exhausted to the atmosphere and are not carried into other area of the plant. | |
| 5.2.9 | No one should enter fumigated area until the concentration of formaldehyde vapours is reduced i.e. not before 8 hrs. | |
| 5.2.10 | All the materials, products and equipment shall be removed / covered. | |
| 5.2.11 | The room and remaining equipment shall be cleaned and disinfected as per the current approved SOP. | |
| 5.2.12 | Then the AHU shall be put off and following steps shall be taken for fumigation process: |
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| 5.2.13 | Place a sheet of paper on the floor and place about 20 gm of Potassium permanganate in the evaporation pan. | |
| 5.2.14 | Add to it about 100 ml of formaldehyde solution 37% and immediately make an exit from the area. | |
| 5.2.15 | Entrance should carry the sign board “FUMIGATION IN PROGRESS – DO NOT ENTER” | |
| 5.2.16 | Remove the evaporating pans at the end of fumigation period. | |
| 5.2.17 | Dissolve the residue from the evaporating pans in about 500ml of water & transfer the contents in the vessel labelled as chemical waste. | |
| 5.2.18 | The room and remaining equipment should be cleaned and disinfected as per the current approved SOP. | |
| 5.2.19 | Frequency | |
| 5.2.19.1 | Fumigate the areas at the end of shift on last working day of the week. | |
| 5.2.20 | Records: Update the fumigation records of individual area as specified in Annexure. | |
- Abbreviation:
| Abbreviation | Expansion |
| SOP | Standard Operating Procedure |
| AHU | Air Handling Unit |
| AC | Air Conditioning |
*Note – Ready to use SOP available in “DOWNLOAD” Section.