Preliminary survey report: control technology for ethylene oxide sterilization in hospitals, Selby General Hospital, Marietta, Ohio.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Kercher SL
• Description:
  A survey of control technology for reducing exposure during ethylene- oxide (75218) sterilization was conducted at Selby General Hospital (SIC-8062), Marietta, Ohio on August 30, 1984. The Central Services Department performed ethylene-oxide sterilization for obstetrics, neonatal care, respiratory therapy, cytology, isolation cases, and surgery. Engineering controls consisted of isolation of the sterilizer and aerators, local exhaust ventilation, a continuous fresh air purge on the sterilization cycle, in chamber aeration of the sterilizers, and general exhaust ventilation of the Central Services Department and the sterilizer room. Ethylene-oxide monitoring and preventive maintenance were provided by outside contractors. Monitoring data indicated exposures of less than 1 part per million. Work practices for ethylene-oxide handling and sterilizer operations were specified in a procedure/policy manual. The author concludes that the Central Services Department has instituted control technology that minimizes employee exposure to ethylene-oxide. The hospital should be considered a candidate for an in depth survey in a NIOSH study of control technology for ethylene-oxide sterilization in hospitals.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Air Pollutants, Occupational Air Pollution, Indoor Hazardous Substances Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Air-monitoring Allergic-disorders Analytical-instruments Control-technology Exposure-levels Field-Study Medical-services NIOSH-Author NIOSH-Survey Region-5 Respiration Ventilation Workers

  More +
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHECTB14616a
• 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:
  1-14
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00152219
• 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 146-16a, 1985 Aug; :1-14
• 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-512:2a9c0858fe71d5bf80de008bc1c95464731d79003547365e18acfb05d85eae55d845798f84e22bd2712644d6e78861af69486f1c4011f658ea471a2cf85f283c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/179757/cdc_179757_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 572.72 KB ]