Preliminary survey report, control technology for ethylene oxide sterilization in hospitals at Wooster Community Hospital, Wooster, Ohio.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Kercher SL
• Description:
  A preliminary survey of control technology for reducing ethylene- oxide (75218) exposures during ethylene-oxide sterilization operations at Wooster Community Hospital (SIC-8062), Wooster, Ohio was conducted in August, 1984. The purpose of the survey was to determine if the hospital should be included in a NIOSH ethylene- oxide control technology assessment survey. Sterilization operations were conducted by the Central Services Department. Engineering controls consisted of isolating the sterilizer operation, in chamber aeration, and local exhaust ventilation. The sterilizer contained a flow indicator to alert the operators if the local exhaust fan was not working; however, there was no audible alarm. The sterilizer cycle included a fresh air purge at the end of the cycle. Proper work practices for the employees were outlined in a procedure and policy manual. Environmental air monitoring was performed every 6 months by an outside contractor. The most recent results indicated ethylene-oxide exposures below 1 part per million. No personal ethylene-oxide monitoring was ever done. The author concludes that the facility seems to have an effective program for reducing ethylene-oxide exposures. Recommendations include personal monitoring for ethylene-oxide. The facility should be made part of the NIOSH survey.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Occupational Health Petroleum Poisoning Safety Toxicology
• Keywords:
  Control-technology Field-Study Fumigants Industrial-hygiene Medical-facilities NIOSH-Author NIOSH-Survey Protective-clothing Region-5 Safety-clothing Toxic-vapors Ventilation-systems

  More +
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHECTB14615a
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Studies ; Control Technology
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DPSE - Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-16
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00145167
• Citation:
  Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, ECTB 146-15a, 1985 Jan; :1-16
• CAS Registry Number:
  Ethylene oxide (CAS RN 75-21-8)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1985
• 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:ed5ffe1ac26e0a51650ed2457a1704e50fb20843b908e5d10937a43a4de0a662f609f03baab321ade602132aa807168a40871d77d01b415de9de998b4249619d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/179714/cdc_179714_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 627.21 KB ]