Industry-wide studies report of an industrial-hygiene survey at the Childrens' Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
An industrial hygiene survey was conducted at Children's Hospital Medical Center Facility in Cincinnati, Ohio, as part of an industry-wide study to evaluate occupational exposure to ethylene oxide (EtO) in hospital workers and to evaluate engineering controls. Eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA) EtO exposure test results indicated that two surgery and one respiratory-therapy personal samples were below the revised OSHA permissible exposure limit, but above the NIOSH level of less than 0.1 parts per million (ppm). Findings from nondetectable to 2.61 ppm were found in 16 surgery-area EtO TWA samples. The authors recommend the following measures to reduce EtO exposure potential at this facility: use of appropriate gloves while changing EtO cylinders and while unloading EtO sterilizers; installation of a double-valve connection system to minimize leakage during cylinder change; installation of a local-exhaust ventilation hood over the sterilizer safety relief valve and coupling point; waiting 15 minutes to unload the EtO sterilizer; restricting access to sterilizer areas; periodic retraining of workers in proper procedures.
- Research Organization:
- National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA). Industrial Hygiene Section
- OSTI ID:
- 6358176
- Report Number(s):
- PB-87-162863/XAB; IWS-152.19
- 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
DISINFECTANTS
GERMICIDES
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HOSPITALS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
MATERIALS
MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENTS
MEDICINE
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
POLLUTION
SAFETY
SURFACTANTS
TOXICITY