Industry-wide studies report: a walk-through survey of American McGaw (American Hospital Supply Corporation), Milledgeville, Georgia. [Ethylene oxide exposures]

Technical Report · Mon Mar 11 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:6108353

Stayner, L; Greife, A

A walk-through survey of American McGaw, a division of American Hospital Supply Corporation, Milledgeville, Georgia, was conducted in January, 1985. The purpose of the survey was to determine the feasibility of including the facility in an industry-wide NIOSH mortality/industrial hygiene study of workers exposed to ethylene oxide. The facility used an ethylene-oxide/freon mixture, 12% ethylene/oxide, from 1962 to 1975 to sterilize intravenous administration sets. The product line, including the sterilization process, was relocated to Puerto Rico in 1975. Although personnel records existed from all current and former employees, job and department titles used were not specific enough to separate exposed from nonexposed workers. No industrial hygiene monitoring for ethylene/oxide was ever conducted by the company. The authors conclude that the facility should not be included in the NIOSH study; it is not possible to reliably determine the extent of exposure.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6108353
• Report Number(s): PB-86-125176/XAB; IWS-67.36
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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