The Directorate of Factories, Government of Telangana, in May 08, 2026, issued a Safety Alert on the safe operation of Vacuum Tray Driers (VTDs) applicable to all industrial establishments, particularly those in the pharmaceutical, bulk drug, and chemical sectors, to address safety risks associated with drying operations involving solvents, intermediates, and finished products.
The following has been stated:
The alert highlights major hazards associated with VTD operations, including fire and explosion risks from flammable solvent vapours, vacuum failure and implosion, thermal hazards, toxic exposure, and mechanical failures. It identifies root causes such as the absence of door-vacuum interlocks, inadequate nitrogen purging, lack of explosion-proof electrical systems, improper earthing, non-calibrated instruments, unsafe manual interventions, and poor maintenance practices. The advisory mandates engineering controls, including nitrogen purging systems, vacuum breakers with interlocks, flameproof electrical fittings, pressure and vacuum relief devices, temperature and vacuum alarms, and door interlocking mechanisms. It also requires continuous monitoring of temperature, vacuum, and oxygen levels, implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs), periodic inspections and calibration of equipment, static electricity control measures, emergency preparedness systems, operator training, and competency assessments. Additionally, the alert strictly prohibits opening VTD doors under vacuum conditions, operating without nitrogen purging when handling flammable solvents, bypassing safety interlocks, using non-flameproof electrical equipment in hazardous areas, and operating with defective components.
Please refer to the document attached below for more details.
[Alert No.: DOF/TS/SA/7/VTD/2026]
