Industrywide Studies Report of Walk-Through Survey at Johnson and Johnson (Ethicon), Somerville, New Jersey

摘要

A walk through industrial hygiene survey was conducted at the Ethicon, Incorporated wound closure device production facility (SIC-3841) in Somerville, New Jersey. Industrial hygiene records, production processes, personnel records, ethylene-oxide (75218) (ETO) exposures, and possible confounding exposures were evaluated to determine the suitability of the facility for inclusion in the NIOSH ETO study. It was estimated that an average 11,640 pounds/year ETO were used from 1978 to mid 1984. Ethicon had a comprehensive industrial hygiene program. Review of industrial hygiene data indicated that in 1977 the highest ETO exposure group were primary sterilizer operators with a mean exposure of 6.4 parts/million (ppm) and a maximum of 16.50 ppm. Installation of improved sterilizers and major engineering changes reduced ETO exposures over the period examined. Reports were not maintained on sterilizer leaks or accidents which could have caused potential ETO employee exposure until 1981. Employees were exposed to radiation, cumol (98828), formaldehyde (50000), and benzene (71432), as well as ETO. Personnel records for workers terminated since 1974 and payroll changes notices were available for constructing individual work histories. A report prepared in 1981 listed all workers believed to have potential ETO exposures, a total of 612 employees. The authors conclude that this facility meets all eligibility requirements for inclusion in the NIOSH ETO exposure study.