Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: EXPLOSION

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.