The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published guidance on the safe use of industrial autoclaves, which can be used to treat waste.

The guidance ‘Safety requirements for autoclaves’, addresses the risks associated with the safeguarding, training and maintenance of the equipment. It is aimed at all employers, supervisors and managers responsible for its safe operation and maintenance.

This is high risk equipment. Explaining the risks associated with the technology, the guidance states: “The most serious risks come from the uncontrolled release of stored energy, which happens when safety critical parts fail. This can cause violent ejection of: components/pieces of equipment; the pressurising medium; the vessel contents.” Burns are also commonly encountered injuries but as reporting is infrequent this additional hazard rarely appears on the regulatory radar. 

The HSE’s guidance offers operators a practical step-by-step guide on how to best control and minimise the risks associated with autoclaves, across all industrial applications.
It offers guidance on various scenarios, including:

• The difference in control between automated and manual systems;
• Inadvertent pressurisation with a person inside the autoclave;
• The door/ lid opening violently under pressure; and,
• Inadvertent pressurisation of blowdown, drain and transfer lines.

It also offers advice on the instruction and training that should be given to those working with autoclaves. In addition, it looks at the need for maintenance and inspection of the equipment and what this should involve.