Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 Hazard: CHEMICAL

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: (a) Veterinary Technicians and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine were exposed to an airborne concentration of nitrous oxide in excess of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) 8 - hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) of 50 ppm for nitrous oxide and/or U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 8 - hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) of 25 ppm for nitrous oxide: (1) On June 10, 1993 a Veterinary Technician was exposed to nitrous oxide at an 8 - hour TWA of 101.10 ppm, approximately 2.02 times the ACGIH limit of 50 ppm TWA and 4.04 times the NIOSH limit of 25 ppm TWA. The exposure level is derived from one sample taken over a 337 minute period. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 143 minutes. (2) On June 10, 1993 a Veterinary Technician was exposed to nitrous oxide at an 8 - hour TWA of 104.40 ppm, approximately 2.08 times the ACGIH limit of 50 ppm TWA and 4.17 times the NIOSH limit of 25 ppm TWA. The exposure level is derived from one sample taken over a 374 minute period. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 106 minutes. (3) On June 10, 1993 a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine was exposed to nitrous oxide at an 8 - hour TWA of 29.38 ppm, approximately 1.17 times the NIOSH limit of 25 ppm TWA. The exposure level is derived from one sample taken over a 328 minute period. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 152 minutes. (4) On June 10, 1993 a Veterinary Technician was exposed to nitrous oxide at an 8 - hour TWA of 53.20 ppm, approximately 1.06 times the ACGIH limit of 50 ppm TWA and 2.12 times the NIOSH limit of 25 ppm TWA. The exposure level is derived from one sample taken over a 336 minute period. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 144 minutes. (b) Veterinary Technicians and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine were exposed to an airborne concentration of halothane in excess of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) the 60 minute Ceiling Limit of 2 ppm for halothane: (1) On June 10, 1993 a Veterinary Technician was exposed to halothane at 5.14 ppm, approximately 2.57 times the NIOSH limit of 2 ppm Ceiling Limit. The exposure level is derived from one sample taken over a 68 minute period. (2) On June 10, 1993 a Veterinary Technician was exposed to halothane at 3.10 ppm, approximately 1.55 times the NIOSH limit of 2 ppm Ceiling Limit. The exposure level is derived from one sample taken over a 61 minute period. (3) On June 10, 1993 a Veterinary Technician was exposed to halothane at a 60 - minute TWA of 7.67 ppm, approximately 3.83 times the NIOSH limit of 2 ppm Ceiling Limit. The exposure level is derived from one sample taken over a 58 minute period. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 2 minutes. (4) On June 10, 1993 a Veterinary Technician was exposed to halothane at 5.81 ppm, approximately 2.90 times the NIOSH limit of 2 ppm Ceiling Limit. The exposure level is derived from one sample taken over a 84 minute period. (5) On June 10, 1993 a Veterinary Technician was exposed to halothane at 3.77 ppm, approximately 1.88 times the NIOSH limit of 2 ppm Ceiling Limit. The exposure level is derived from one sample taken over a 91 minute period. (6) On June 10, 1993 a Veterinary Technician was exposed to halothane at 3.31 ppm, approximately 1.65 times the NIOSH limit of 2 ppm Ceiling Limit. The exposure level is derived from one sample taken over a 69 minute period. (7) On June 10, 1993 a Veterinary Technician was exposed to halothane at 10.25 ppm, approximately 5.12 times the NIOSH limit of 2 ppm Ceiling Limit. The exposure level is derived from one sample taken over a 66 minute period. (8) On June 10, 1993 a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine was exposed to halothane at 3.34 ppm, approximately 1.67 times the NIOSH limit of 2 ppm Ceiling Limit. The exposure level is derived from one sample taken over a 81 minute period. (9) On June 10, 1993 a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine was exposed to halothane at 3.33 ppm, approximately 1.66 times the NIOSH limit of 2 ppm Ceiling Limit. The exposure level is derived from one sample taken over a 82 minute period. (10) On June 10, 1993 a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine was exposed to halothane at 4.38 ppm, approximately 2.19 times the NIOSH limit of 2 ppm Ceiling Limit. The exposure level is derived from one sample taken over a 186 minute period. Exposure to nitrous oxide and halothane may cause reproductive system effects, liver and kidney disease and decreased audiovisual performance. Feasible abatement methods for reducing this hazard, include but are not limited to: (1) Development and implementation of written standard operating procedures to include but not be limited to the work practices, maintenance of anesthesia equipment and engineering controls to reduce employee exposure to nitrous oxide and halothane. (2) Utilization of scavenging system for nitrous oxide. (3) Utilization of effective local and/or general exhaust ventilation to reduce employee exposure to nitrous oxide and halothane. 4) Implementation of effective work practices to reduce employee exposure to nitrous oxide and halothane. Abatement Schedule Step 1 - Submit to the Area Director a written, detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee exposure to hazardous substances as referenced in this citation. This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the abatement dates required by this citation: (1) Evaluation of engineering/administrative control options; (2) Selection of optimum control methods and completion of design; (3) Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures; and (4) Testing and acceptance of modification/redesign of controls. Note: All proposed control measures shall be approved for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. Ninety (90) day progress reports are required during the abatement period. (The 90-day requirement for the submission of progress reports may be shortened or lengthened by the Area Director depending on the specific circumstances.) Step 2 - Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving