OSHA Inspection: BECTON DICKINSON MICROBIOLOGY SYSTEMS

Issued

Nov 27, 2001

Abate by

Dec 3, 2001

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

Issued

Nov 27, 2001

Abate by

Dec 3, 2001

Issued

Nov 27, 2001

Abate by

Dec 3, 2001

Issued

Nov 27, 2001

Abate by

Dec 3, 2001

Issued

Nov 16, 2001

Abate by

Dec 4, 2001

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from
recognized hazards that
were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to:
On or about August 19, 2001, in the Processing Area by Autoclave #4 -
Employees were exposed to conditions that were contrary to the Safety
Precautions of the Eagle
3300 Isothermal/Vacamatic Sterilizer (Autoclave).  This manual was in the
possession of Becton
Dickinson at Madison, WI.  The manual states the following:
When sterilizing liquids, to prevent personal injury or property damage
resulting from bursting
bottles and hot liquid, you must observe the following procedure:
a) Use LIQUIDS cycle only. No other cycle is safe for processing liquids.
b) Use only vented closures -- do not use screw caps or rubber stoppers
with crimped
seal.
c) Avoid sudden full opening of door at end of cycle.  Open sterilizer
door no more than
one inch and wait at least 10 minutes before unloading sterilizer.
d) Do not allow hot bottles to be jolted.  This can cause hot-bottle
explosions.  Do not
move bottles if any boiling or bubbling is present.
e) Allow bottles to cool to touch before attempting to move them from the
sterilizer shelf
to the storage area.
On August 19, 2001, a GRAVITY cycle was used to process a liquid.  Tightly
capped bottles
with screw caps were used to maintain sterility of the liquid being
processed.  The sterilizer door
was opened completely before 10 minutes had elapsed.  And after
sterilizing procedures in the
past, employees have handled tightly capped bottles containing bubbling
liquids
that were hot
to the touch.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT
METHODS TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD ARE:
Following the Summary of Safety Precautions on page 1 of the Eagle 3300
Isothermal/Vacamatic
Sterilizer.
Following the abatement measures implemented by Becton Dickinson after the
accident on
August 19, 2001. This includes:
1. Having all liquid cycles require a minimum of 10 minutes with the
autoclave door
cracked.
2. Not opening the autoclave door if bottles are known to have broken.
3. Not moving the rack/trolley if bottles are bubbling.

Issued

Nov 16, 2001

Abate by

Dec 4, 2001

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000