In-depth survey report: control technology for ethylene oxide sterilization in hospitals at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Kercher SL ; Mortimer, Vincent D. Jr.
• Description:
  A visit was made to Bronson Methodist Hospital (SIC-8062), Kalamazoo, Michigan to evaluate methods used to protect workers from exposures to ethylene-oxide (75218) (EtO). Possible drain exposure was controlled by isolating all of the sterilizer unit except for the front panel, into a ventilated recess room. Charcoal tube measurements indicated the facility had achieved excellent control of the full shift exposures with all values obtained being less than operators were low, it would be possible to reduce them even more by removing some of the impediments to the load transfer process. Rehinging the doors of the aerator to the other side would enable a smoother transfer to be made. Levels in the recess room were 100ppm near the drain, and this room must be avoided during purging and for some time following purging. However, no warnings were posted and the authors recommend that this hazardous situation be corrected. The drain exhaust should be added to the auxiliary exhaust system. A differential pressure sensor should be installed on the auxiliary ventilation system and an emergency evacuation and response plan be developed and rehearsed. Face shields and gloves should be required to protect the maintenance worker who changes the supply canisters of EtO.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Colorimetry Occupational Health Safety Staff Development
• Keywords:
  Control-technology Field-Study Health-care-personnel Hospital-equipment Laboratory-workers Maintenance-workers NIOSH-Author NIOSH-Survey Region-5 Toxic-gases
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHECTB14613b
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Studies ; Control Technology
• Place as Subject:
  Michigan ; 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:
  1-34
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00183720
• 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 146-13b, 1985 Nov; :1-34
• CAS Registry Number:
  Ethylene oxide (CAS RN 75-21-8)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1986
• NORA Priority Area:
  Control-technology
• 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-512:9b8f8830722739bb439cdc86682331f5e2abf8f647e5b9511a7d67b1dde403136f8e1a6aee0e19ef8b93b09476989c9c13cc43841ab6d33e57a084f3fe45c478
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/180159/cdc_180159_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 777.83 KB ]