Ethylene oxide (EtO): understanding OSHA's exposure monitoring requirements: making the right decisions---how to comply with the EtO standard

Original publisher: Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, [2007] OCLC Number: (OCoLC)122260418 Subject: Ethylene oxide. Excerpt: ... leaks and spills ( Lamontagne et al., 2004; Lamontagne and Kelsey 1998 ). Therefore, it is important to carefully consider the types of activities for which 15-minute monitoring are most useful. The following examples should provide some guidance: • A common situation in which accidental exposures to EtO might occur involves changing EtO supply cylinders. Consider collecting 15-minute personal samples while the employees being sampled are replacing EtO cylinders. • Employees who work directly with, or in close proximity to, EtO sterilizers or similar equipment should be monitored frequently for short-term ( i.e., 15-minute ) exposures to EtO at the times when they are most likely to experience exposure ( such as when the employee opens the door at the end of the cycle, or while EtO is being pumped in or out of the equipment ). Periodic Monitoring�Do I need to repeat the EtO personal monitoring and, if so, what is the monitoring schedule? The answer depends on the results of initial personal monitoring for EtO. Under certain situations, a long-term schedule for personal monitoring for EtO must be established. Tables 1 and 2 provide the " periodic monitoring " schedule required by the EtO standard. The personal monitoring results might also trigger other requirements that are listed in Tables 3 and 4, which appear later in this guidance document. Table 1 - Schedule for OSHA Exposure Monitoring If your initial employee monitoring results ... Then ... ... show that employee exposure is Discontinue monitoring for only those below the 8-hour action level, employees whose exposures are represented by the initial monitoring. 13