Steam Sterilizers.
- INFORMATION DATE : 19881228
- RECORD TYPE : Hazard Information Bulletin
- SUBJECT : Steam Sterilizers.
DEC 28, 1988
MEMORANDUM FOR: REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS
THRU: 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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