CDC STACKS serves as an archival repository of CDC-published products including scientific findings, journal articles, guidelines, recommendations, or other public health information authored or co-authored by CDC or funded partners.
As a repository, CDC STACKS retains documents in their original published format to ensure public access to scientific information.
i
Health Hazard Evaluation Report: HETA-92-124-2289: Middletown Regional Hospital; Middletown, Ohio
-
1993/02/01
[PDF-210.48 KB]
Details:
-
Personal Author:
-
Corporate Authors:
-
Description:In response to a request from employees at the Middletown Regional Hospital (SIC-8062), Middletown, Ohio, an investigation was made into reported eye irritation in pharmacy workers. Eye irritation may have been related to exposure to ethylene-oxide (75218) (EtO), which was used in the adjacent Central Supply Department. Personal breathing zone and general area air monitoring were conducted to detect any hazardous gases present in the work area. The pharmacy occupied a 3,000 square foot area and employed 11 workers including pharmacists and technicians. Only low concentrations of EtO were found, ranging up to 0.02 parts per million (ppm). The relative humidity levels were 28 to 33%. Raising the humidity levels eased the dry, itching and burning of the eyes of the workers, but proved to be only a temporary solution. The authors conclude that EtO did not appear to be responsible for the health complaints; the cause of the health complaints was not determined. The authors recommend that deficiencies in the ventilation system and comfort levels of the environmental climate in the pharmacy area be corrected. Employees should use eye protection when mixing pharmaceuticals in the horizontal flow hood. Increased communication between management and employees should be established about concerns in the workplace.
-
Subjects:
-
Keywords:
-
Series:
-
Subseries:
-
DOI:
-
Publisher:
-
Document Type:
-
Genre:
-
Place as Subject:
-
CIO:
-
Division:
-
Topic:
-
Location:
-
Pages in Document:17 pdf pages
-
NIOSHTIC Number:00213714
-
NTIS Accession Number:PB93-214179
-
Citation:Cincinnati, Ohio: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HETA 92-124-2289, 1993 Feb; :1-17
-
CAS Registry Number:
-
Editor(s):
-
Federal Fiscal Year:1993
-
Peer Reviewed:False
-
NAICS and SIC Codes:
-
Resource Number:HETA-92-124-2289
-
Collection(s):
-
Main Document Checksum:
-
Download URL:
-
File Type:
