Ethylene oxide emergency alerts near sterilizers

December 11, 1998

Mr. Darrel Giraud
Florida Area Manager
Kem Medical Products Corp.
[Recipient address omitted]

Dear Mr. Giraud:

This is in response to your letter of September 1, addressed to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) Directorate of Compliance Programs. In your letter you requested clarification as to whether 29 CFR 1910.1047(h)(2) of the Ethylene Oxide Standard promulgated by OSHA requires that an ethylene oxide alarm system with sensors be located in front of an ethylene oxide sterilizer, in the sterilizer maintenance room, and in all areas where the employer stores tanks or cartridges of ethylene oxide.

Title 29 CFR 1910.1047(h)(2) states:

> "Alerting employees." Where there is the possibility of employee exposure to EtO due to an emergency, means shall be developed to alert potentially affected employees of such occurrences promptly. Affected employees shall be immediately evacuated from the area in the event that an emergency occurs.

Note that the provision does not specify that an ethylene oxide alarm system with sensors must be used for alerting employees about an exposure hazard posed by an ethylene oxide emergency. It simply requires that a means be used that alerts them promptly. As stated in the preamble to the ethylene oxide standard, the performance language of 29 CFR 1910.1047(h)(2) gives employers the flexibility to choose any effective method of alerting employees, including communications systems, voice communication, or a bell or other alarm. (See Federal Register / Vol. 49, No. 122 / June 22, 1984, page 25783.)

The only situation that could require the use of an ethylene oxide alarm system with sensors would be one where it were established that this was the only means of promptly alerting employees about an ethylene oxide emergency.

We appreciate the opportunity to clarify this matter for you. If you have further questions, you may contact [the Office of Health Enforcement at (202) 693-1860].

Sincerely,

Richard E. Fairfax
Director
Directorate of Compliance Programs

[Corrected 12/6/2024]