In-depth survey report: control technology for ethylene oxide sterilization in hospitals at Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children, Burns Institute - Cincinnati Unit, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Kercher SL
• Description:
  An in depth survey of control technology for reducing exposure during ethylene-oxide (75218) sterilization occurred at Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children/Burns Institute (SIC-8062), Cincinnati, Ohio, in March, 1985. Short and long term concentrations of ethylene-oxide were determined. Ventilation measurements were made. Engineering controls consisted of isolating the sterilizer in a ventilated recess room, a ventilated air gap in the drain line, an exhaust slot hood over the sterilizer door, in/chamber aeration, and work practices. Long term personal ethylene-oxide exposures averaged 0.03 part per million (ppm). All long term area concentrations were less than 0.09ppm. Short term personal exposures averaged 4.12ppm during load removal operations. Short term area exposures averaged 1.42ppm. General and local exhaust ventilation rates exceeded those of the supply air. The author notes that under certain climatic and wind conditions, exhaust air from the recess room might be entrained in the supply air plenum. She concludes that the engineering controls work very well in limiting exposures and maintaining low ethylene-oxide concentrations in the workroom air. Recommendations include establishing a monitoring program and constructing an exhaust duct for the recess room to prevent entrainment of ethylene-oxide in the supply air intake.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Education Occupational Health Radiation Radiation Protection Safety Ultraviolet Rays
• Keywords:
  Analytical-models Exposure-levels Field-study Industrial-hazards Industrial-hygiene Medical-facilities NIOSH-Author NIOSH-Survey Quantitative-analysis Region-5 Ventilation

  More +
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHECTB14618b
• 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:
  1-36
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00152298
• 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 146-18b, 1985 Jul; :1-36
• 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-512:5fd3d2dcc95a05eec481a0bd19094d672a513e854be98e3865103ac90ab0c5ae3ce9bb7bea443726963ba31e9f98f4711b45e4ab35212959be735f31671dc5b2
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/179763/cdc_179763_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 753.66 KB ]