Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance Report No. TA 79-16: Johnson Memorial Hospital: Stafford Springs, Connecticut

Details

• Personal Author:
  Moseley, Clifford L.
• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  Levels of airborne substances in concentrations sufficient to cause symptoms of discomfort were investigated in the Administration and Central Sterile System areas on February 15, 16, and March 29, 1979, at Johnson Memorial Hospital (SIC-8062), Stafford Springs, Connecticut. The evaluation was requested by the hospital administrator. Analysis of ambient air samples did not reveal the presence of fibrous-glass (14808607). Analysis of bulk samples subjected to thermal decomposition analysis at 302 degrees-F showed small amounts of methylene-chloride (75092), carbon-disulfide (75150), furan (110009), furfural (98011), and methyl-furfural (620020), and lesser amounts of acetone (67641), methyl-ethyl-ketone (78933), pentanone (27154672), and furfuryl-methyl-ketone (6975606). At 100 degrees-F, no volatile compounds were identified. It is concluded that concentrations of chemicals and airborne fibers were well within OSHA limits, and that reported symptoms of irritation were due to high temperatures, cigarette smoke, and poor air flow. Recommendations resulting from the evaluation include increasing air handling capability, improving ventilation systems, reducing the amount of solar radiation in administrative areas, increasing humidity, scrutinizing work safety practices to prevent ethylene- oxide (75218) exposure during sterilizer operations, modifying the handling and storage of formaldehyde (50000), and prohibiting smoking. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Environmental Monitoring Formaldehyde Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Radiation Safety Skin Smokers Ventilation
• Keywords:
  Air-sampling Hazard-Unconfirmed Hospitals NIOSH-Author NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report Occupational-exposure OSHA Region 1 TA-79-16
• Series:
  Health Hazard Evaluation Reports (HHE)
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Study
• Place as Subject:
  Connecticut ; Stafford Springs (CT) ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  16 pdf pages
• Contributor:
  Flesch, Jerome P. ; Manning, Diane
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00091569
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB80-148133
• Citation:
  Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, TA 79-16, 1979 Jul ; :1-13
• CAS Registry Number:
  Silica, Crystalline (CAS RN 14808-60-7) ; Methylene chloride (CAS RN 75-09-2) ; Carbon disulfide (CAS RN 75-15-0) ; Furan (CAS RN 110-00-9) ; Furfural (CAS RN 98-01-1) ; 5-Methylfurfural (CAS RN 620-02-0) ; Acetone (CAS RN 67-64-1) ; Methyl ethyl ketone (CAS RN 78-93-3) ; Pentanone (CAS RN 27154-67-2) ; Furfuryl methyl ketone (CAS RN 6975-60-6) ; Ethylene oxide (CAS RN 75-21-8) ; Formaldehyde (CAS RN 50-00-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1979
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  8062 - General medical & surgical hospitals - (SIC)
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:18ea64d42411156a07f2a24ff8035522e3f22a337ca75647ec2bd37d63e96f8cd96fd866b46f20b8853c7a6da63f3cd5b4840eb7b60a8ccb3a2644f19fb34551
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/173764/cdc_173764_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 621.65 KB ]