Safety Features of Ethylene Oxide Sterilizers

Abstract

A: Several features, including door interlocks, gas detector alarms, and monitors, are present in EtO-type sterilizers to insure the users’ safety. Areas around the sterilizer that could become polluted need to have alarms with visual and audible capability. The alarms need to be situated in various positions that provide for coverage of the entire sterilizer room. Most facilities group these types of sterilizers into one room, which helps contain the gas and also allows for the alarms to be situated in a “perimeter” around the sterilizer. Washer/sterilizers have door interlocks to prevent the user from opening the door during a load and being burned by hot water or steam. Most people are familiar with such door interlocks from the older washer/sterilizers. Door interlocks should be checked during the preventative maintenance (PM) process to ensure they are working properly. Other considerations that enhance safety are thermal burners and scrubbers and ventilation. There needs to be some way to minimize the release of EtO into the environment. Therefore thermal burners and scrubbers in line with the exhaust are recommended to remove the EtO. Most sterilizer companies have their own recommendations for the amount of ventilation in an EtO room. Users need to be aware that there is a ventilation system in place, and that it is physically working daily. Ventilation helps remove toxic gases from the operators work area. Two types of ventilation systems should be considered to limit gas exposure: local exhaust ventilation (for example, exhaust hoods) and dilution ventilation (for example, systems that cause air to flow away from work area). Local exhaust systems are designed to remove toxic fumes from the operators’ breathing zone. While dilution ventilation systems are implemented to remove exposure at the operators work area, neither local or dilution system alone can remove potential operator exposure because EtO is not eliminated at the source. Dilution systems designed to work with local exhaust systems are the most reliable systems in removing the potential exposure to gas toxins. Local exhaust systems should be installed as close to the sterilizer door as possible, as well as close to the exhaust drain. If there is any question about your facility’s ventilation, consult with the manufacturer of your sterilizer. n