In pathology labs, airborne chemical exposure—especially from formaldehyde—is a persistent safety threat. Despite widespread use of fume mitigation units, many labs continue to struggle with compliance under OSHA’s strict formaldehyde exposure limits.
But according to Aaron Prince, a bioenvironmental engineer and founder of Health and Safety Compliance, the Rankin Can-Filter Fume Filtration System is setting a new standard.
“[The Rankin Can-Filter Fume System] is absolutely better than what is out there right now,” Prince told our team during a recent review. “It’s powerful—and more importantly, it works.”
A Common Problem Across U.S. Labs
Prince oversees health and safety compliance for over 100 healthcare facilities, with a focus on airborne chemical monitoring in pathology departments. His team routinely measures formaldehyde, xylene, ethanol, and other VOCs to ensure labs stay within legal exposure limits.
The problem? Many labs fail—despite using small, well-marketed fume filtration units.
“They look sleek, but they don’t work,” said Prince. “I've seen facilities install multiple units in a single room and still exceed OSHA’s action level.”
Can-Filter’s Measurable Impact
In multiple facilities monitored by Health and Safety Compliance, pathology workers were consistently testing above OSHA’s 0.5 ppm action level—and occasionally even above the 0.75 ppm permissible exposure limit for formaldehyde.
After installing the Can-Filter system, those same facilities saw test results drop dramatically:
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From ~0.60 ppm to as low as 0.013 ppm within days.
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With no changes to lab technique, specimen volume, or workflow
“You’re talking about a tenfold reduction in formaldehyde exposure, purely from the addition of the Can-Filter system,” Prince confirmed.
What Makes It Different?
The Can-Filter system moves air—fast. With over 1,000 CFM airflow and adjustable settings, it exchanges the full volume of a room twice per minute, actively pulling fumes through a high-capacity carbon filtration core.
“You know when it’s running—and that’s what you want. These labs aren't dealing with mild odors; they’re battling aldehydes like formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde, which have some of the lowest exposure limits in industry” said Prince.
While some competing units prioritize compact design or low cost, the Can-Filter prioritizes what matters most: measurable air purification.
Real-World Feedback, Real-World Results
Prince also provided constructive feedback that we're already working on. But he made one thing clear:
“You’ve got something to really work with here. Most departments could benefit from a system that changes the air twice a minute.”
And this isn’t theoretical. Health and Safety Compliance has already tracked long-term problem labs seeing significant, sustained improvements with the Can-Filter in place.
The Bigger Picture
His firm helps hospital systems nationwide comply with OSHA’s airborne chemical standards—and his message is simple:
“You shouldn’t go to work and get sick. This isn’t the 1920s coal mines—we can do better than that.”
Want to Know If the Can-Filter is Right for Your Lab?
We’re currently helping labs calculate unit needs based on room volume and desired air change frequency. If your team is facing compliance issues—or simply wants to improve air quality—our team is ready to help.
