Safety First – Formasafe

Formasafe brand offers supporting safety products to the use of 10% Neutral Buffered Formalin (NBF). Formasafe is designed to neutralise NBF (4% Formaldehyde) for safe disposal, eliminating fumes and vapours and preventing technicians from long exposure to Formaldehyde. Formasafe is available in multiple easy-to-use forms, including powder, granules or absorption pads that help clean up any spillages safely.

Formasafe Spill Granules and Formasafe Pads can be applied to any spillages of 10% Formalin and rapidly absorb and neutralise the Formalin, eliminating fumes and vapours. The Pads can absorb up to 250ml of Formalin per pad and neutralise within the pad.

Alternatively, Formasafe Neutraliser is available in a tub or sachet that can be added to 10% Formalin (4% Formaldehyde) for safe disposal. Neutralisation occurs overnight and a solution colour-changing indicator will inform you when neutralisation has taken place and it’s safe to pour away.

 

Why is Formasafe important?

Formaldehyde is a highly toxic substance for people in proximity of it as well as harmful to the environment. Inhalation of Formaldehyde fumes can irritate the nose and throat, in addition to irritating eyes and skin when within close distance of it.

Formasafe eliminates the risk of human or environmental exposure to Formaldehyde by neutralising any dangerous gases, ensuring that it remains in a stable, non-volatile form when it comes to disposing of it.

In addition, Formasafe can help meet regulatory standards or guidelines of specific requirements for formaldehyde levels, maintaining a constant safe working environment.

 

How to dispose of Formalin correctly?

 

  1. Formasafe Pads: – Place the pad with the blue side down over the 4% formaldehyde spill until completely absorbed. If the liquid is still visible or if the pad is dripping use an additional pad. Leave to neutralise for 10 minutes before disposing of the pad in an approved manner. Absorbed formalin will continue to be neutralised by the pad, this may take up to 30 minutes depending on the volume absorbed by the pad.

 

  1. Granules: – Pour the excess granules over the 4% formaldehyde spill, until it is completely absorbed. Leave to stand for 2 minutes before disposing of the neutralised spillage in an approved manner. 500g measurement of Formasafe granules will absorb a maximum of 150ml 4% formaldehyde (10% formalin).

 

  1. Formasafe Neutraliser: – Pour the content of the Formasafe from the sachet into a container. Fill the container with up to 10 litres of 4% formaldehyde waste. Shake well and leave to stand overnight at room temperature until the formalin neutraliser has dissolved. This will indicate that neutralisation is complete.

 

Testing neutralisation: – To test for complete neutralisation of the formaldehyde waste; remove 5 drops of the waste product and add 10ml of Schiffs Reagent. Leave this to stand for 2 minutes and the solution should remain clear to indicate neutralisation.

Once neutralised, the solution is safe to dispose of down the drain. If the solution turns dark pink within 2 minutes, then neutralisation is not complete and the product should be left to stand for a further 24 hours. A retest will then be required.

Should the test continue to indicate incomplete neutralisation, then the Formasafe Neutralise is overloaded with formaldehyde and the product should be decanted into a fresh container of Formasafe to repeat the procedure.