Disinfection Agents, Sanitizers and Industrial Chemicals:

GoatThroat Pumps Highlights Important Safety and Money-Saving Reasons to Switch Out Old Pumps and Outdated Pumping Protocols

ABC REPORTS:  March 17, 2020  — GoatThroat Pumps recently focused attention on spill hazards, promoting its proprietary, innovative pumping design as the one-stop solution for liquid-chemicals pumping hazards, with special focus on production and dispensing of critical, high demand disinfection liquids.

An in-depth article and accompanying videos explore various safety hazards in the workplace, underscoring the biggest reasons why GoatThroat Pumps is rapidly dominating the pumping industry: increased safety, assured compliance with regulatory agencies, increased employee productivity, and money-saving sustainability.

Best Practices for Using and Manufacturing Sanitizers, Disinfection Agents, and Industrial Chemicals

“Safety has always been a major reason why our pumps do so well in a wide variety of workplaces, and why our pumps are now being used in Europe,” said Nancy Westcott, President of GoatThroat Pumps. “Protecting employees and businesses from serious accidents and spills is what keeps our engineers working so hard to create the best, user-friendly pumps in the business. Tip-and-pour is probably one of the biggest culprits for spills. We want to see the end of this dangerous practice in every single industry that continues to use it. Our signature pumps have made the practice obsolete. Recent demand for increased production of disinfection liquids and sanitizers has made safety a priority. And we have the perfect pumps to make the combination of safety and economy a reality.”

GoatThroat Pumps:
Prevent Spills in the Workplace

Workplace spills are the bane of production environments, testing facilities, and other workplaces that utilize liquid chemicals. Spills are to blame for injuries, lost productivity, fires, property damage, costly and dangerous contaminations, increased insurance rates and a host of other problems. The threat of spills is one of the main reasons that both OSHA and EPA regulate liquid chemical use so strictly.

Spills are generally classified into two categories: minor and major. But the simplest way to avoid spills altogether is to understand how they most commonly occur. The four main causes of spills are:

• Equipment Failure
• Improper Storage
• Failure to Follow Safety Procedures
• Improper Training

The only way to avoid the frequency of spills is to use a safe, dependable way to access and transfer liquids. GoatThroat pumps delivers a one-pump dispensing system that is predictable, allows complete control of fluids dispensed, and works within a sealed system that is virtually error proof. Many users compare working with GoatThroat pumps to the ease and comfortability of working a common beer pump.

GoatThroat Pumps:
For Use With Flammable Liquids

Eliminating spills in the workplace becomes an even more serious topic when one begins to consider the variety of flammable liquids and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that see industrial use. Acetone, alcohols and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) are three such liquids commonly used, and it is not difficult to see how a tip-and-pour method of liquid transference is dangerous when dealing with these substances. But what is less commonly understood are the dangers related to the vapors these chemicals emit – flammable vapors that are present even when large, professional industrial system pumps are used.

With GoatThroat’s sealed system, point-of-use pumps, there is absolutely no chance for vapors and VOCs to escape containers and drums as they are being pumped, thus greatly reducing the chance for dangerous ignition events. Moreover, OSHA requires the use of inert gas pressure to dispense such liquids, and GoatThroat currently offers the SCP pump to meet this requirement. Within the sealed system of a GoatThroat SCP pump, the components that actually come in contact with liquids are all conductive plastics which meet and exceed the NFPA77, Paragraph 6.4.1.3 recommendations. SCP pumps are also complete with attached grounding and bonding wires; for safe use, SCP pumps must be used with the appropriate O-ring seal, must be securely attached to the liquid storage vessel, and the pump’s ground wire must be grounded.

Test results from the Safety Testing Laboratory of Ciba Geigy have already concluded that the SCP series from GoatThroat has a negligible internal pressure, making vapor concentrations of volatile liquids too lean to ignite within the containers. The same study also concluded that the SCP sealed-system pumps are much safer than conventional pumps, which are usually attached to containers and are open to the environment. The study specifically mentions the dangers of using typical rotary and piston pumps for volatile liquids, which have open ports, stating that the, “gap around the bung … may allow a weak explosion occurring at a temperature near the flash point (LFL) to vent in the form of a flame jet exiting near the bung at high velocity and high temperature … This jet could injure personnel working in close proximity to the container.” Sealed system pumps are the only solution to prevent these types of accidents from occurring.

GoatThroat pumps are safe for use with more than 2,000 liquids, including the most aggressive acids, flammables and solvents currently used in manufacturing. GoatThroat pumps have engineering controls that prevent most of the commonly occurring fluid hazards at the point-of-use. The pumps are also crafted to last 10 years or more, ensuring that they will always serve as a long-term solution. The company offers a series of free best practice videos and articles to illustrate some of the hazards of antiquated pumping modalities.

About GoatThroat Pumps

Based in Milford, Conn., GoatThroat Pumps develops and manufactures high-quality chemical transfer equipment, with a focus on improving worker safety and global environmental compliance. GoatThroat’s fluid friendly pumps are the safest, most reliable, and easiest way to accurately transfer any liquid. Off the shelf and custom configured pumps, fitting and accessories are fluid specific, meet compatibility requirements and are designed as turnkey solutions to fit transfer applications. Equipment categories include Chemical and Food Applications, Flammable Liquids, Agriculture, TRI Reporting and Pneumatic Systems.

Learn more at: www.GoatThroat.com.

Media Contact:
Nancy Westcott
212-255-6964

Putting Solvents in their Place

Manufacturer Makes Huge Improvements to Chemical Storage Practices Thanks to GoatThroat

Old ways of doing business are acceptable today if they comply with regulations and get the job done efficiently. A Florida-based manufacturer was unable to meet both of those goals in its production process for precision wire and ultra-fine wire used in microelectronic and semiconductor applications. “This company’s initial challenge was to protect the workers and limit the downside risks of damages, hefty fines and litigation fees, and public relations disasters – and save money,” said Nancy Westcott of Westcott Distribution Inc. The production process uses numerous solvents and coatings that must be transferred from 55-gallon drums to transfer containers.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act compliance

Workers tapped and tipped the drums and then dispensed the chemicals from leaky spigots into open transfer containers, with additional handling required to transfer the fluids to their point of use. The gravity-fed process involved threading a brass fixture into the small bung in the top of the drum, threading a vent into the large bung, placing the drum on a roll-down drum fixture, and tipping the drum into the horizontal position to dispense the chemicals. Once the drums were tapped, workers still had to deal with the inherent difficulties that gravity-fed spigot systems presented.  Extracting fluid was labor intensive and awkward. Spigots clogged easily and were difficult to remove. It was difficult to control the flow rate, and the spigots leaked, contributing to spills and fugitive inventory loss. The spigot system did not allow complete removal of all fluid from the drum, so additional labor and handling were required for Resource Conservation and Recovery Act compliance.

Frequently, the workers just left 2 – 5 gallons in the drums. Some of the coatings cost $75 per gallon, resulting in a significant waste of inventory and money. According to the facility manager, “A chemical disaster was always just a slip-of-hand away. Moving a 500-pound drum into a horizontal position was complicated for employees and took up a lot of space in the chemical room. There was always a chance that a mistake could hurt the staff or, if the spigot came off during the laying down process, there would be a huge spill. Our staff also had to contend with dripping valves of solvents and the VOCs in the chemical room. ”  A few close calls prompted a production staff member to seek out a new fluid-handling solution.

Taking cues from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s information on Process Hazard Analysis,

he found a systematic way to identify and analyze the significance of potential hazards associated with the processing or handling of highly hazardous chemicals. Working with his safety manager, the staff member reviewed the shop’s equipment and the manufacturing processes and found that both needed improvement. He located a pressure action pump from GoatThroat Pumps that seemed to meet all of the goals – including efficiency.

“We understand the challenges that dispensing and mixing chemicals present to worker safety and environmental compliance, and we spend a lot of time in our pump lab working on how we can help our customers address them,” said Westcott. In the wire manufacturing facility, the pressure action pumps work by adding less than 6 PSI of pressure to the vessel to push fluid out of the drum. A spring-activated control on the tap allows precise control of the amount of fluid being dispensed, a rate of 4 gallons per minute, depending on viscosity. There is no need for tipping the drums. According to the plant manager, “these pumps helped us improve our overall efficiency. By dispensing our chemicals from vertical drums, it has helped us clean up our dispensing area by eliminating drips and leaks. Another advantage is the ability to pump most of our drums almost completely empty. This alone saves us several thousands of dollars per month in disposal costs and chemical purchases. The company has been safely and more efficiently pumping chemicals without incident since 2004.

Cosmetics Manufacturer Improves Processes Thanks to GoatThroat Pumps

For the passed fifteen years, Florida-based Earth Supplied Products has its hand in the beauty formulas of a wide variety of cosmetics giants like Estee Lauder, Avon and Revlon just to name a few. Catering primarily to companies based on the East Coast, Earth Supplied Products specializes in providing natural, hand-mixed cosmetic additives and ingredients to the personal care and cosmetic industries. Earth Supplied Products uses oils from natural sources like Black Walnuts, Brazil Nuts, Cotton Seeds, Pecans and even Pumpkins.

These oils, purchased in 55-gallon drums, are normally dispensed from a traditional spigot style tap. The problem for company owner Peter Boncelet was the process of tapping them, which required each cumbersome 500-pound, 55-gallon drum to first be tipped onto its side. The act of tipping the large heavy cylinders was complicated and potentially dangerous. In addition, having the drums lying down on their sides took up a considerable amount of space.

Wanting to improve worker safety, Boncelet conducted an Internet search that lead to his discovery of GoatThroat™ Pumps. He purchased one. Living up to its claim, the pump worked perfectly when inserted atop the upright drum. In addition to eliminating the tipping problem, the pump performed excellently at volumes up to four gallons per minute, with oils of all types and weights. Because it pressurized the drums, the pump made drawing fluid and emptying drums much easier than with the gravity-fed spigot. Providing improved volume control and increased accuracy, the pump eliminated waste and reduced costs. “The pumps have turned out to be a safe and smart solution for us”, says Boncelet.

“Not only are they more convenient, they are really cost effective. They have a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years. They eliminate the potential safety risk. And they can be easily cleaned, sanitized and re-used.” GoatThroat Pumps are made of chemical grade polypropylene, and all components meet U.S. FDA requirements under CFR Title 21, sections 170-199. The pumps can be used to dispense over 700 different fluids in any industry application that requires easy, safe and cost effective fluid transfer/decanting. With a unique range of adapters for just about any opening, GoattThroa Pumps can pressurize any container from 5 to 55-gallons in seconds. And with an optional remote tap system, a pump can easily deliver fluids up to a distance of ten feet from the drum.

“When your products’ manufacturing processes involve mixing chemicals, your workers’ safety and EPA compliance are always at the forefront of the business,” said Brad Dagy owner of Ridgway Industries. Dagy’s Pennsylvania based company manufactures cleaners and detergents for both home and industrial use. A few close calls with chemical spills made Dagy realize that a manufacturing process that involved tipping and taping heavy 55-gallon drums of chemicals, leaky spigots and transfer containers meant that injury and chemical disaster were always one slip-of-hand away. Spills threaten worker and environmental safety as much as they did the bottom line in costly liquid inventory waste and lost production time.

Taking cues from the EPA’s information on Process Hazard Analysis, Dagy’s safety manager searched the Internet, finding a cost-effective solution from Westcott Industries in their award-winning GT Multi-Pump Dispensing System. The System enabled Ridgway to dispense multiple chemicals at a rate of 4gpm from their individual upright drums, using just a single air line set at 4psi. The system allows fluids to be transferred directly to their point-of-use and dispensed with accuracy from a spring-activated nozzle.

The pumping equipment, made of polypropylene, is one of the most chemically resistant plastics, so they are compatible with Ridgway’s chemical list, as well as more than 1700 chemicals and fluids. The added bonuses, the pumps empty drums to eliminate waste and comply with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act guidelines for disposal. Pumps typically last for years and replacement parts are available.

For Ridgway, GoatThroat Pumps provided a single solution to process safety and productivity. They have been pumping chemicals without incident since 2006.