Reduction of Ethylene Oxide Exposures

1
Reduction of Ethylene Oxide Exposures

• Project Manager
• Andreas Wagner, CIH, ROH
• Project Team
• Louise Chayer-Ayers, CIH, ROH, Rona Hamilton,
  CIH, CRSP
• Judy Middlemiss, RN, B.N.
• Terry Neale

2
Project Development

• The requirements to reduce the Exposures to
  Ethylene Oxide was based on a Risk Assessment
  which identified the following
• Management Concerns
• Employee complaints/grievances resulting in
  decreased morale and satisfaction
• OSHA inspections and fines
• Preliminary IH assessments
• WCB Claims submitted / Sick Leave cases

3
Project Development cont.

• Rising consumption / costs of Ethylene Oxide.
• Recent concerns from the Public on the levels of
  Ethylene Oxide in the plants air emissions.
  Resulting in a poor corporate image in the
  community.

4
Objectives

• To decrease employee exposure to Ethylene Oxide
  by 50 over the next year.
• To improve the process efficiency of packaging
  sterilization to reduce amount of Ethylene Oxide.
• To develop cost effective alternatives and
  alternate process.

5
EHS Strategy Map
Reduce employee exposure to Ethylene Oxide by 50
(with in 12 months)
StakeholderInvolvement
Employee, Packaging Supervisors, Facilities
Management, Process Engineer

• Consult (IH/ Eng. assessment)
• Review Engineering Options

Implement Controls
Implement IH / Medical Monitoring Program
Awareness / Respirator Training, all line
employees
EO Controls / Process Training, Supervisors /
Facilities Mgt.
6
Project Benefits

• Reduced WCB Costs
• Meeting Compliance
• Reduced Absenteeism
• Reduced Product consumption / costs
• Reduced complaints/grievances
• Improved Production levels.
• Reduced Liabilities

• Improved Morale/Job Satisfaction
• Improved Corporate Image
• Improved LR
• Improved Competitive Edge

7
Estimated Project Costs
8
Estimated Savings
9
Financial Analysis
10
Conclusions and Recommendations

• The benefits of this objective far out way the
  alternative of not taking any action.
• As a publicly owned company we owe a level of
  responsibility to the public and to our
  employees.
• Your immediate consideration to approve and
  support this objective is required.