105,313Records 71,083Employers 85,290Hospitalizations 27,770Amputations 2015-01-01 2025-10-31
Safety Incidents OSHA Severe Injury Reports · 2015–2025

OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14379820

RESPIRATORY,ETHYLENE OXIDE,INHALATION,HIGH PRESSURE,CHEMICAL

Event
RESPIRATORY,ETHYLENE OXIDE,INHALATION,HIGH PRESSURE,CHEMICAL
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
14379820
Report ID
522000

Event description

EIGHT EMPLOYEES EXPOSED TO ETHYLENE OXIDE

Investigation abstract

ON APRIL 8,1987, SEVERAL EMPLOYEES WERE CLEANING, STERILIZING AND PACKING MEDICA PRESENCE OF ETO AT 10 PPM, AND DID PROVIDE SUCH INDICATION AT THE TIME OF THE L EAK. EIGHT EMPLOYEES WERE SENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITA L OVERNIGHT FOR OBSERVATION. SOME TESTS WERE RUN. ALL EIGHT EMPLOYEES WERE RELEA SED THE NEXT DAY. THEY SUFFERED NO HARMFUL EFFECTS FROM THE EXPOSURE. L INSTRUMENTS AT THE CENTRAL PROCESSING AREA. ONE OF TWO GAS STERILIZATION UNITS , MODEL 2025, MANUFACTURED BY AMSCO, WAS BEING RUN BY EMPLOYEE #3. THE OTHER UNI T WAS NOT BEING USED. THE STERILIZER USES A GAS MIXTURE OF 12% ETHYLENE OXIDE AN D 88% FREON. AT ABOUT 9 PM THAT DAY THE STERILIZER BECAME OVERPRESSURED AND RELE ASED AN UNKNOWN QUANTITY OF STERILIZER GAS VIA A RELIEF VALVE. THE AREA WAS EVAC UATED 5 TO 15 MINUTES LATER. INVESTIGATING EMPLOYEES #1,#5, AND #8, PLUS A MAINT ENANCE EMPLOYEE DID NOT USE ANY RESPIRATORY PROTECTION DURING THEIR INVESTIGATIO N. EXPOSURE WAS CONFIRMED THROUGH THE USE OF A LEAK DETECTOR WHICH INDICATES THE

Victims (8)

  1. #1 Hospitalized Age 30 M

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1190
    Task assigned
    1

  2. #2 Hospitalized Age 30 F

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1190
    Task assigned
    1

  3. #3 Hospitalized Age 25 F

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1190
    Task assigned
    1

  4. #4 Hospitalized Age 25 F

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1190
    Task assigned
    1

  5. #5 Hospitalized Age 26 F

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1190
    Task assigned
    1

  6. #6 Hospitalized Age 40 F

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1190
    Task assigned
    1

  7. #7 Hospitalized Age 37 F

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1190
    Task assigned
    1

  8. #8 Hospitalized Age 45 F

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1190
    Task assigned
    1

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