Speaker
Description
Wet decontamination is a critical safety process when dealing with hazardous materials, such as asbestos and beryllium, and includes the use of water and a surfactant to wash away contaminants during and after high-risk works. Wet decontamination is one of the preferred processes when dealing with dangerous materials as it is the only method with the ability to remove ground in materials and decontaminate all areas easily, getting into all hard to reach areas including creases and folds.
Wet decontamination is a commonly used process in many industries, and has been a legally required feature in the UK asbestos removal industry after the introduction of the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983. Since 1994, SMH Products has supplied the asbestos removal industry and been leading manufacturers of decontamination equipment, including industrial shower units which utilise wet decontamination methods for personnel working in hazardous environments.
Throughout the years, SMH Products has grown beyond the asbestos removal industry and has experience developing decontamination solutions for both the chemical and nuclear industries. This experience led to SMH Products working with CERN to develop a modular decontamination system that could be located inside CERN’s new beryllium facility.
With an in-house team of design engineers, SMH worked closely with Isabel Bejar Alonso, Senior Project Manager at CERN, to develop a bespoke modular decontamination system. The system was not too dissimilar from the systems already manufactured within the UK, but included some notable design features to make it fit-for-purpose for CERN.
The modular decontamination system allows personnel working in the beryllium facility to shower and decontaminate at the end of each working day, preventing the spread of hazardous particles and protecting the team at CERN.