OSHA Hazard Information Bulletins
December 28, 1988
| MEMORANDUM FOR: |
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS |
| THROUGH: |
LEO CAREY
Director
Office of Field Programs |
| FROM: |
EDWARD J. BAIER
Director
Directorate of Technical Support |
| SUBJECT: |
Safety Hazard Information Bulletin on Steam Sterilizers
Note: This bulletin does not apply to ethylene oxide and
small self-contained tabletop steam sterilizers. |
The American Sterilizer Company has brought to our attention a potential
hazard associated with the use of all of its hospital and medical equipment
steam sterilizers including the Eagle 2000 and Medallion series. The
sterilizers are commonly used in hospitals, clinics, medical research
facilities, laboratories, and also in industrial applications. If a
sterilizer steam supply should fail, the sterilizer chamber can fill with
scalding water. Any employee who would then open the sterilizer door could
be subject to serious burning.
American Sterilizer states to its customers in its attached Safety
Notification that all sterilizer steam boilers require routine preventative
maintenance to avoid possible steam supply malfunctions. The company urges
its customers to either contract with American Sterilizer to perform the
maintenance or to assume responsibility for the maintenance and strictly
follow the attached maintenance schedule. Also attached are warning decals
for sterilizer operators meant to be placed on prominent sterilizer locations
such as door covers. An auxiliary retrofit audible and visual alarm is
currently undergoing development and evaluation. Please note that steam
sterilizers are also manufactured by a number of other companies and that the
same precautions should be observed for these devices.
Please distribute this bulletin to Area Offices, State Plan States and
Consultation Projects.
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