Surgery

The purpose of Heinemann's chemical exposure testing programs is to minimize or control exposure to prevent potential health effects from occupational exposure by:

• Conducting exposure assessments and monitoring
• Establishing safe handling practices and controls to minimize exposure
• Providing health hazard information and training
• Maintaining an employee medical surveillance program

Formaldehyde Monitoring

HEM'S formaldehyde monitoring program addresses:

• Exposure assessments and monitoring
  
  • Monitoring of breathing zones for employee exposure
    
    
• Regulated areas
  
  1. Pathology Grossing, Histology, Morgue, Microbiology, Cytology, OR, OB and Dialysis
     
     
• Hazard communication
  1. Monitor employee work practice and emergency action plans
     
     
• Engineering controls
  • Ventilation system evaluation of inlet and exhaust vents to calculate
    total air exchange rate
    
    
• Protective equipment
  
  
• Employee medical surveillance
  
  
• Emergencies
  • Evaluate emergency action plans
    
    
• Reporting
  • Results include: 8 HR TWA; Evaluation of inlet and exhaust vents to calculate total air exchange rate discrepancies

Ethylene Oxide Monitoring         

HEM'S ethylene oxide monitoring program addresses:

• Exposure assessments and monitoring
  • Monitoring of breathing zones for employee exposure during running of sterilizers and aerators
• Leak detection of sterilizer, aerator and supply lines and tanks
• Hazard communication
  • Monitor employee work practice and emergency action plans
• Engineering controls
  • Ventilation system evaluation of inlet and exhaust vents to calculate total air exchange rate
• Protective equipment
• Employee medical surveillance
• Emergencies
  • Evaluate emergency action plans
• Reporting
  • Results include: 8 HR TWA; 15 MIN STEL

Glutaraldehyde Monitoring

HEM'S glutaraldhyde monitoring program addresses:

• Exposure assessments and monitoring
  • Monitoring breathing zones for employee exposure during peak usage with digital electrochemical sensor for accurate instantaneous results (OSHA-approved method)
    
• Regulated areas
  • OR, CS Endo, Cysto, RT, ER and Anesthesia
• Hazard communication
  • Monitor employee work practice and emergency action plans
• Engineering controls
  • Ventilation system evaluation of inlet and exhaust vents to calculate total air exchange rate using the dilution method
• Protective equipment
• Employee medical surveillance
• Emergencies
  • Evaluate emergency action plans
• Reporting
  • Results include: 8 HR TWA; Evaluation of inlet and exhaust vents to calculate total air exchange rate discrepancies
    

Waste Anesthetic Gas Monitoring

HEM's waste anesthetic gas monitoring program addresses:

• Exposure assessments and monitoring
  • Monitoring breathing zones for employee exposure to N2O and halogenated agents; checking vacuum inlets for pressure and flow
• Leak detection
  • Performed on the anesthesia machines, all connections of supply hoses, and N2O supply manifold
• Regulated areas
  • OR, Delivery, Cysto, Endo and Recovery
• Hazard communication
  • Monitor employee work practice and emergency action plans
• Engineering controls
  • Ventilation system evaluation of inlet and exhaust vents to calculate total air exchange rate using the dilution method
• Protective equipment
• Employee medical surveillance
• Emergencies
  • Evaluate emergency action plans
• Reporting

Anesthesia Vaporizer Testing and Accuracy

HEM's anesthesia vaporizer testing and accuracy program addresses:

• Accuracy verification
  • For calibration of vaporizers within manufacturer's standard of plus or minus 15% tolerance range
• Documentation
  • Of all brand, model, serial number, machine serial number and halogenated agents
• Vaporizer output accuracy and leak testing
• Reporting
  • Results provided on-site at the time of service