Significance of Working Environment Improvement Based on Determination of Source of Harmful Substance －Example of an Endoscope Syringe Room Using Glutaraldehyde－

TASHIRO Hiraku, ODA Susumu, MORI Koji

doi:10.7888/juoeh.26.99

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作業環境改善に必要な注意点について－グルタルアルデヒドを用いた内視鏡洗浄室の改修事例－
サギョウカンキョウカイゼンニヒツヨウナチュウイテンニツイテグルタルアルデヒドオモチイタナイシキョウセンジョウシツノカイシュウジレイ

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Abstract

Because a worker complained of irritated eyes and throat due to glutaraldehyde (GA) in an endoscope syringe room, the automated endoscope washers and GA liquid stored in reserve were isolated in a separate room. A ventilation system was installed in this room, and the packing of the automated endoscope washers was changed. However, since the obnoxious smell of GA still remained in the endoscope syringe room, we had to determine the source of the smell. A plastic bucket with a cap was found to be filled with GA for disinfection of the endoscope apparatus. GA had evaporated when dispersed around the bucket, resulting in the obnoxious smell. The plastic bucket was replaced with a different type of container. Moreover, GA from the separate room did not affect the concentration of GA in the working area because the separate room for the automated endoscope washers had twice the ventilation volume proposed by the guidelines of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates of the USA and the Healthcare Engineering Association of Japan. <br>Consequently, we reconfirmed the significance of working environment improvement after clarifying the source of the harmful substance.

Journal

Journal of UOEH

Journal of UOEH 26 (1), 99-109, 2004

The University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

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