|
Ethylene oxide |
|
A management plan
describes actions in the event of an accidental release
of ethylene oxide. |
|
Ethylene oxide sterilizer
has valid operating permit if required. |
|
Emission controls
for ethylene oxide sterilizers are in place and well
maintained. |
|
Wherever
employee exposure to ethylene oxide may exceed 1 ppm
(8 hour time weighted average) or 5 ppm (15 minute
average), exposure levels must be monitored periodically,
or testing must indicate exposure is consistently below
those levels.
|
|
Ethylene oxide is replaced with safer alternative sterile
processing technology such as hydrogen peroxide plasma
or ozone. |
|
Formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde |
|
Employee
exposure to formaldehyde is monitored in all appropriate
areas, or statistically representative tests establish
that employee exposure is consistently below 0.5 ppm,
time weighted average.
|
|
Formalin use is
minimized to the extent possible. |
|
Formalin is recycled. |
|
|
|
Glutaraldehyde is
replaced with a less hazardous high-level disinfectant
such as ortho-pthalaldehyde (e.g.
Cidex OPA) |
|
Xylene and other solvents |
|
Xylene use is limited
to the extent possible and/or terpene-based clearing
agents are used. |
|
Solvents are recycled. |
|
Other air contaminants |
|
Use of aerosols,
e.g. room deodorizers, cleaners, hand sanitizers is reduced
or eliminated. (Rationale: aerosols add hazardous
chemicals to breathing zone potentially diminishing patient
safety. Waste aerosols may be considered hazardous
waste increasing management and disposal costs.) |
|
- A
list of exposure limits for a wide
range of toxic and hazardous substances can be found
in 29
CFR 1910.1000.
|