At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a batch of 400,000 gowns flown into the UK from Turkey were rejected after failing to meet National Health Service (NHS) standards. This high-profile recall highlighted the pitfalls of manufacturing personal protective equipment (PPE) that doesn't comply with regulatory frameworks. Here Stephane Gobron, engineering consultant and freelance medical writer at Kolabtree, the freelance platform for scientists, explores three ways freelancers can help manufacturers bring their PPE up to standard.
PPE has many uses to protect both the wearer, for example in hospital applications, but also to maintain a clean environment. In cleanrooms for example, staff use gowns and gloves to protect themselves from strong detergents, certain particulates, infectious agents and other chemicals. The category of PPE will vary with the hazard that cleanroom staff is exposed to. Wearing PPE can also protect the environment from contamination, because humans typically generate around 80-90% of impurities present in a cleanroom.
Complying with new regulations means regularly testing and the method will depend on application and setting
Selling your PPE product on the open market means complying with relevant product safety legislation. For example, manufacturers wanting to sell their equipment in Europe, products such as surgical masks and gowns should all comply with the European Union (EU) Directive 2016/425. These regulations also apply to British manufacturers during the Brexit transition period. If your products fail to meet these regulations, they will either be rejected by a notified body.
If your company lacks the in-house skills needed to get your PPE up to standard, you can consult with a freelance specialist to help. For instance, an expert can interpret the relevant legislation or test your equipment against the relevant guidelines.
The right material
Sourcing materials is one of the biggest challenges when manufacturing PPE. This became a bigger issue during the COVID-19 pandemic due to high demand for face masks, gowns and other equipment.
Choosing the right material is also an important aspect of manufacturing this equipment. Nonwoven materials are commonly used to manufacture coveralls and aprons because polyethylene contains non-absorbent properties. This means the material will not absorb liquids and will create a barrier between people to prevent exposure or spread of germs. Manufacturers are increasingly innovating and developing equipment using alternative materials. For instance, UK plastics manufacturer ICL Tech recently joined a consortium of businesses to design and manufacture the TechPPE ─ a reusable face shield. The visor features optically clear and thin plastic that provides full face protection and an adjustable headband to ensure that it fits well and is comfortable for the wearer.
Nonwoven and laminates have different levels of resistance to penetration and degradation caused by hazardous substances, so manufacturers should be careful to choose the correct material grade. If your customer requires only a basic level of protection and is working with a smaller budget, flash spun polyethylene fabrics will be sufficient. Many standard gowns use a layered spunbond meltblown spunbond (SMS) fabrics and these are available in various thicknesses to provide different levels of protection. A freelance specialist can recommend the correct materials to use for your PPE product.
Understanding the regulations
As previously mentioned, selling your PPE on the European market means complying with the EU Regulation 2016/425. This replaced the old PPE Directive 89/686/EEC in April 2018 and the new framework brings various changes for manufacturers. These include supplying an EU declaration of conformity in the language of the customer and the reclassification of some category II products, such as gloves and some face shields. The regulations cover any equipment designed to be worn, interchangeable components like filters and systems that connect equipment to external devices. When selling in the US, you should check products against the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements.
Nonwoven and laminates have different levels of resistance
A product's intended use may also determine whether to classify a product as PPE or a medical device - that will then determine which regulations are relevant. For instance, surgical gloves designed for examination are medical devices, however protective gloves used in a laboratory will be classified as PPE. If your product is actually a medical device, you will need to comply with either the incoming EU MDR 2017/745 or the existing Medical Devices Directive (MDD) 93/42/EEC.
If you hire a freelance COVID-19 expert, they can help classify your product and cross-examine your manufacturing process with the regulatory framework. By ensuring compliance, this will increase the chances of product approval from the notified body.
Testing the product
Under the new EU Regulation 2016/425, manufacturers must carry out ongoing product risk assessments. This involves sample testing of PPE products currently available on the market, keeping a register of any complaints and notifying any potential risks to relevant authorities. The results of sample testing also allows notified bodies to evaluate your product when determining whether the product retains its CE mark.
Complying with the new regulations means regularly testing your PPE and the method you use will depend on the application and environmental setting. For instance, you may need to conduct antimicrobial and antibacterial testing to assess biological resistance of any wearable PPE. You can also evaluate chemical penetration by carrying out innocuousness tests against using different pH values and checking resistance to Nickel, Chromium VI and other substances. When manufacturing full body clothing, you may also want to test for chemical or liquid splash resistance to ensure the user's safety.
Although companies may have experts to design and manufacture their products, not everyone will have the extensive research and development (R&D) teams needed to carry out these tests in house. By hiring a freelance specialist, you can recruit this expertise for specific projects and prepare your product for assessment.
Need help getting your protective equipment up to specification? If you hire an external scientific expert from Kolabtree, you can avoid the same fate of the Turkish manufacturer and have a product that meets the necessary regulations and is safe to use.