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Page last reviewed: 05/19/2008
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Highlights |
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- Hospital. OSHA
eTool.
Focuses on the hazards and controls found in a hospital setting, and describes standard requirements as well as recommended
safe work practices for employee safety and health.
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Waste Anesthetic Gases
The anesthetic gases and vapors that leak into the
surrounding room during medical procedures are considered waste anesthetic gases.
It is estimated that more than 250,000 health care professionals who work in hospitals, operating rooms,
dental offices and veterinary clinics, are potentially exposed to waste anesthetic gases
and are at risk of occupational illness. The waste anesthetic gases and vapors of concern
are nitrous oxide and halogenated agents (vapors) such as halothane, enflurane,
isoflurane, and desflurane. Some potential effects of
exposure to waste anesthetic gases are nausea, dizziness, headaches, fatigue,
and irritability, as well as sterility, miscarriages, birth defects, cancer,
and liver and kidney disease, among operating room staff or their spouses (in
the case of miscarriages and birth defects). Employers and employees should be
aware of the potential effects and be advised to take
appropriate precautions.
OSHA standards do not specifically address waste
anesthetic gases.
Standards
This section highlights OSHA standard interpretations (official letters of interpretation of the standards),
and national consensus standards related to waste anesthetic gases.
OSHA
Note:
Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have
OSHA-approved
State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are
identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement
policies.
Standard Interpretations
National Consensus
Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However,
they do provide guidance from their originating organizations
related to worker protection.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
- Z79.11-1982, Anesthetic
Equipment-Scavenging Systems for Excess Anesthetic Gases
Hazard Recognition
Many health care workers are unaware of the potential
health hazards associated with waste anesthetic gases in
their work environment. This makes them more vulnerable to illness. The following
references provide information and guidance about anesthetic gases and workplace
exposures. Sampling and analytical methods are also covered.
- Controlling Exposures to Nitrous Oxide During Anesthetic Administration. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 94-100, (1994). Presents control measures for preventing or greatly reducing exposure to nitrous oxide (N2O) during the administration of anesthetic gas.
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Nitrous Oxide. National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH) Workplace Safety and Health Topic.
Sampling and Analysis
- Index
of Sampling and Analytical Methods. OSHA. Provides an alphabetical
listing of chemicals that have either a validated or partially
validated OSHA method. Some of the chemicals relevant to anesthetics
are listed below:
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Chemical Sampling Information. OSHA. Presents, in concise
form, data on a large number of chemical substances that may be
encountered in industrial hygiene investigations.
Possible Solutions
Exposure to waste anesthetic gases can cause serious
injury and permanent damage. Workers that may be exposed to these gases need
to be aware of the hazards and possible solutions for their work environment.
The following references aid in controlling waste anesthetic gas hazards in
the workplace.
- Anesthetic
Gases: Guidelines for Workplace Exposures. OSHA, (2000, May
18). Provides guidelines and controls to help reduce occupational
exposure to waste anesthetic gases.
- OSHA
Technical Manual (OTM). OSHA Directive TED 01-00-015 [TED 1-0.15A],
(1999, January 20). Compliance Safety and Health Officers
(CSHO's) use the OTM as a reference for technical information on occupational
safety and health issues.
- Criteria
for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Waste Anesthetic
Gases and Vapors. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS),
National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 77-140, (1977, March). Describes biological effects,
standard recommendations, and exposure limit recommendations for waste
anesthetic gases as well as work practice and control procedures to limit
exposure.
- Control
of Nitrous Oxide in Dental Operatories. US Department of Health and
Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH), Publication No. 96-107, (1996). Identifies hazards of nitrous oxide exposure and outlines control
methods to decrease exposure through system maintenance, ventilation,
and work practices.
- Controlling
Exposures to Nitrous Oxide During Anesthetic Administration. US
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 94-100, (1994).
Presents control measures for preventing or greatly reducing exposure to
nitrous oxide (N2O) during the administration
of anesthetic gas.
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NIOSH
Warns: Nitrous Oxide Continues to Threaten Health Care Workers. US
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication
No. 94-118, (1994, June 14). Provides an update warning health
professionals that scavenging systems need to be continuously monitored
and maintained to effectively reduce exposure to nitrous oxide.
Additional Information
Related Safety and Health Topics Pages
Other Resources
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