Industry-wide studies report of an industrial hygiene survey at the Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio. [Ethylene oxide]
Environmental and breathing zone samples were analyzed for ethylene oxide at Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio in July, 1985. Engineering controls were inspected. Work practices were observed. Seven breathing-zone time-weighted average (TWA) ethylene-oxide concentrations and 6 short-term concentrations were below the analytical limit of detection. Thirteen area TWA samples were also below the limit of detection. One area sample had an ethylene-oxide concentration of 0.5 part per million (ppm). The OSHA TWA standard for ethylene oxide is 1ppm. Short-term (2-minute) samples ranged up to 131ppm. Gloves were not used when transferring sterilized loads. The operator had to lean in toward the interior of the sterilizer to remove sterilized items. The mechanical access room for the sterilizer was under positive pressure. Engineering controls that reduced ethylene-oxide exposure potential included push/pull ventilation systems on each sterilizer, a dedicated building exhaust from the sterilizer area, and a double-valve hookup for the line connecting the ethylene-oxide cylinder and sterilizer. The authors conclude that personal breathing-zone ethylene-oxide exposures did not exceed the OSHA standard. The basic ventilation design is one of the best seen to date. Exposure potential could be reduced further by improving work practices and engineering controls.
- Research Organization:
- National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5043595
- Report Number(s):
- PB-86-223336/XAB; IWS-152.14
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
552000 -- Public Health
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
AIR POLLUTION
BUILDINGS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HOSPITALS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
MATERIALS
MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENTS
MEDICINE
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
POLLUTION
RESPIRATION
SAFETY
STERILIZATION
TOXICITY
VENTILATION