Section 325.51160. Methods of compliance; engineering controls and work practices.

(1) An employer shall institute engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposures to EtO to or below the permissible exposure limits, except to the extent that such  controls  are not feasible.

(2)    If the engineering and work practice controls that can be instituted are not sufficient  to   reduce  employee  exposures  to   or  below  the permissible exposure limits, an employer shall nonetheless use them to reduce exposures to the lowest levels achievable by these controls and shall supplement the controls by the use of respiratory protection which complies with the requirements of R 325.51162.

(3)   Engineering controls are  generally infeasible for the following operations:

(a)   Collection of quality assurance sampling from sterilized  materials.

(b)   Removal of biological indicators from sterilized materials.

(c)   Loading and unloading of tank cars.

(d)  Changing of ethylene oxide tanks on sterilizers.

(e)   Vessel cleaning.

(4)   Engineering controls are required for operations in subrule (3) of this rule where the director demonstrates that such controls are feasible.

(5)    Employee job rotation shall not be used as a means of compliance with the permissible exposure limits.

History: 1988 AACS.