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Industrywide studies report: walk through survey of American Pharmaseal, American Hospital Corporation, Irwindale, California.

Greife A; Stayner L; Ringenburg V

Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, IWS 67-32, 1985 Oct; :1-18

00154843

A walk through survey of American Pharmaseal (SIC-3841), division of American Hospital Corporation, Irwindale, California, was conducted in August, 1984. The purpose of the survey was to determine the feasibility of including the facility in a NIOSH industrywide mortality/industrial hygiene study of ethylene-oxide (75218). The company produced single use medical devices such as diagnostic trays and syringes and had sterilized these with ethylene-oxide since 1962. A review of personnel records showed that the facility could contribute 256 potentially exposed workers and 1,691 person years to the NIOSH study. The company had maintained a respirator program since 1979. Use of respirators in the sterilizer and quarantine areas was required. Company industrial hygiene data indicated that employees working in the sterilizer and quarantine areas had the highest potential ethylene-oxide exposures. Actual employee exposure in these areas was considered to be very low due to the enforced use of respirators. The authors conclude that the facility meets the requirements for being included in the NIOSH study: contributing at least 200 person years, having adequate personnel records to identify potentially exposed workers, and having no confounding exposure to a known leukemogen.

NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Survey; Field-Study; Medical-facilities; Quantitative-analysis; Exposure-limits; Workplace-studies; Hazardous-materials; Exposure-levels; Region-9

75-21-8

19851029

Field Studies; Industry Wide

1986

PB86-191921

A03

IWS-67-32

DSHEFS

3841

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

CA; OH