Transcript Slide 1

Nitrous Oxide
Providing a Safe
Workplace for Your
Staff
By John Townsend
Contents
 What
is nitrous oxide (N20).
 Common Uses for N20.
 Health Effects.
 Staff Exposure.
 Exposure Standards.
 Minimising Exposure.
 Is Your Workplace Compliant.
What is Nitrous Oxide

Synonyms: laughing gas,
factitious air, nitrogen
oxide, dinitrogen
monoxide.
 Chemical formula: N2O
 Chemical Abstracts
Service Registry Number
(CAS): 10024-97-2
 Clear, colorless gas at
room temperature
 Slightly sweet odor and
taste.
Where is N20 Used
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Anaesthetic agent in
medical, dental, and
veterinary facilities
Food processing
propellant
Component of certain
rocket fuels
Oxidant for organic
compounds
Nitrating agent for alkali
metals
What are the Health Effects
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Acute dizziness
Slurred speech
Headache
Nausea
Fatigue
Irritability
Shortness of breath
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Increased risk of
spontaneous abortion
in pregnant females
 Renal & kidney
disease
 Neurological
disorders
 Hypoxia
Routes of Exposure
 Exposure
to nitrous oxide occurs primarily
through inhalation.
 Skin exposure to liquefied gas may occur
when handling compressed gas cylinders.
This is a result of the rapid evaporation of
the liquefied gas.
Minimising Exposure
 EDUCATION
 EQUIPMENT
 SAFETY
MAINTENANCE
EQUIPMENT
 EFFECTIVE
MONITORING
EDUCATION
 Staff
should be made aware of the risks
associated with N20.
 A proper risk assessment should be
conducted of the work area. Staff should
be informed of the results.
 Procedures should be put in place and
staff should be trained to minimize
exposure.
EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE
 Analgesic
delivery equipment should be
tested on a regular basis in accordance
with relevant Australian Standards and
manufacturers recommendations.
Midogas Analgesic System

The Original
Equipment
Manufacturer (OEM)
recommends 6
monthly testing.
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Midogas units need to
be overhauled every
3 years.
Equinox II

System should be
function and pressure
tested 6-monthly.
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The Regulator should
be overhauled every
3 years.
SAFTEY EQUIPMENT
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All N20 delivery equipment should be
connected to an effective scavenge
system.
With properly maintained equipment and
effective scavenging devices the
concentrations of nitrous oxide in
hospital wards and operating theatres
should be kept below 25ppm.
Effective air conditioning systems will
also help remove some N20 from the
work area.
Safety gloves should be provided to staff
handling and connecting N20 bottles
MONITORING
A
regular monitoring program for at risk
work environments should be
implemented.
 Nitrous oxide monitors are available that
test time weighted averages.
 There are companies available that offer a
testing service.
How Often?

Initial monitoring.
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Annual monitoring.

Periodic monitoring
when initial results
are above the TWA or
there is a change in
the procedure.
What Are The Exposure Standards
 Occupational
Health and Safety
Regulation 2001
 Adopted
National Exposure Standards For
Atmospheric Contaminants In The
Occupational Environment
[NOHSC:1003(1995)]
Occupational Health and Safety
Regulation 2001
 Occupational
Health and Safety
Regulation 2001 states “An employer must
ensure that no person at a place of work is
exposed to an airborne concentration of
an atmospheric contaminant that exceeds
or breaches [NOHSC:1003 (1995)].
[NOHSC:1003(1995)]
 Adopted
National Exposure Standards For
Atmospheric Contaminants In The
Occupational Environment
[NOHSC:1003(1995)], states that the
maximum exposure standards allowable
for N20 is a time weighted average of
25ppm (45 mg/m3)
NOHSC:1003(1995)
DOES YOUR
WORKPLACE
COMPLY?
Contact Details
PH: (02) 9618 2577
Fax: (02) 9618 2588
[email protected]
www.addtech.com.au