Transcript H” IS FOR HAZARDS AT HOSPITALS

IS FOR HAZARDS
AT HOSPITALS
Prepared by
CHEMICAL HAZARDS IN HOSPITALS
STERILANT GASES
 Ethylene oxide
ANESTHETIC GASES
 Enflurane
 Halotane
 Isoflurane
 Nitrous oxide
SOLVENTS AND
DISINFECTANTS
 Glutaraldehyde
 Formaldehyde
HAZARDOUS DRUGS
 Chemotherapy agents
and more
AIR SAMPLING OPTION
ETHYLENE OXIDE

Passive samplers containing
Anasorb 747 sorbent coated with
hydrobromic acid can be used to
assess TWA or STEL exposures.

This is the same sorbent specified
in OSHA Method 1010 using SKC
sorbent tubes (Cat. No. 226-178).
SKC Cat. No. 575-005
AIR SAMPLING OPTION
ANESTHETIC GASES

Enflurane, halothane,
and isoflurane can be
sampled using sorbent
tubes containing Anasorb
747 sorbent to assess
short-term (15-minute) or
long-term (2-hour)
exposures by OSHA
Method 103.
SKC Cat. No. 226-81A
AIR SAMPLING OPTION
ANESTHETIC GASES


SKC Cat. No. 575-002
passive samplers can
also be used to screen
for anesthetic gases.
These samplers have
calculated sampling
rates for the specific
gases and are not
experimentally validated.
SKC Cat. No. 575-002
AIR SAMPLING OPTION
NITROUS OXIDE


SKC Cat. No. 590-300
A passive sampler
containing specially
cleaned molecular sieve
sorbent has been fully
validated for sampling
reliability by SKC.
Purchase this sampler
with or without analysis by
SKC.
AIR SAMPLING OPTION
GLUTARALDEHYDE

Cassettes containing
2 glass fiber filters treated
with 2,4-DNPH and
phosphoric acid can be
used at flow rates up to
2 L/min to assess
short-term (5-15 minute) or
long-term (4-hour)
exposures by OSHA
Method 64.
SKC Cat. No. 225-9003
AIR SAMPLING OPTION
FORMALDEHYDE


SKC Cat. No. 500-100
A passive sampler
containing a chemically
coated tape has been
fully validated by OSHA
Method 1007.
Suitable for 15-minute
STELs or 8-hour TWA
compliance sampling
HAZARDOUS DRUGS


At this time, there are no NIOSH/OSHA air sampling
methods for hazardous drugs.
Consult the MSDS and/or contact the drug
manufacturer for assistance in evaluating airborne
concentrations.
HAZARDOUS DRUGS
NIOSH GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS

Antineoplastic Agents-Occupational
Hazards in Hospitals
www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-102/

Preventing Occupational Exposures to
Hazardous Drugs
www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-165/
BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS IN HOSPITALS
INCLUDES KNOWN
STRAINS OF
 Bacteria
 Viruses
 Fungi
 Other microorganisms
ALSO INCLUDES NEW
PATHOGENS FOR
 SARs
 MRSA
 Bird Flu
AIR SAMPLING OPTION
VIABLE BACTERIA AND FUNGI


Viable cascade impactors
including the SKC
BioStage® can be used to
collect and culture viable
samples following NIOSH
Methods 0800 and 0801.
Growth medium (agar) is
supplied by the lab in
standard culture plates for
use with this sampler
SKC Cat. No. 225-9611
AIR SAMPLING OPTION
VIABLE BACTERIA AND FUNGI


SKC Cat. No. 228-9530K
The SKC BioStage can
be attached directly to
the SKC QuickTake® 30
pump using the
mounting bracket.
Flow rates of 28.3 L/min
for sample times of
5 minutes or less are
typically used.
AIR SAMPLING
VIRUSES


ACGIH reports that air
sampling for viruses is
not routinely done for
indoor air studies.
Viruses do not remain
long in the environment
and do not multiply
alone on organic
substrates.


Research and public
health agencies may do
air sampling to research
transmission of airborne
viral diseases.
This technique is used by
NIOSH during SARs
response.
AIR SAMPLING OPTIONS
VIRUSES

The evaluation method
chosen to collect viral
samples depends on
the virus itself, the
environmental
conditions, and the
analysis techniques
available.
SAMPLING FOR MRSA


Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus Aureus
(MRSA) is normally
found as a surface
contaminant.
Sterile swabs are
typically used for
sampling and followed
by a growth culture.
SKC Cat. No. 225-2402
FOR MORE INFORMATION

SKC has an Industry
Guide with more details
on sampling equipment
in the Health Care
industry under our
TRAINING hot button.
See http://www.skcinc.com/
instructions/1755.pdf

U.S. OSHA provides
valuable information for
this industry in their
ETools.
See http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/
etools/hospital/index.html