POLICY NUMBER: S-001 TITLE: WASTE ANESTHESIA GASES AND VAPORS EXPOSURE CONTROL POLICY 1.0 PURPOSE Waste inhalation anesthetic gases and vapors are those that are released into rooms used for surgical and other procedures utilizing volatile anesthetics. The waste anesthetic gases and vapors of concern are nitrous oxide and halogenated agents (vapors) such as isoflurane. Employees working in these surgical areas may be subject to environmental exposure associated with the administration of the anesthetic gases. This document outlines the policies and procedures to be utilized by the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS) Animal Research Program to control and monitor employee exposure to Waste Anesthetic Gases (WAG) and vapors. 2.0 Revision History R&D Committee Revision Change Reference Effective Date Approval Date # Section(s) November 27, 2018 3.0 Expand user information; remove Section 3.0; November 30, 2018 information on trace gas testing; Sections 4.0, 6.1 reword section and add table; and 6.5; changed sampling badge requirements for halogenated Section 5.0 agents November 14, 2017 2.6 Addition of Occupational Health Section 4.0; Section November 17, 2017 responsibilities; rewording of 5.0; Sections 6.3 policy; remove title of policy; and 6.5; Section 7.0 update references August 23, 2016 2.5 Update department responsibilities; Section 4.0; August 26, 2016 revised description of exposure Section 5.0; limits; update program information; Section 6.4; confirm references Section 7.0 September 22, 2015 2.4 Rewording of scope; change Section 3.0; September 25, 2015 Research Service to R&D Sections 4.0 and Department; clarification of 6.0; wording Section 6.0 August 12, 2014 2.3 Employee Health changed to All Sections August 15, 2014 Occupational Health; confirmation of references October 23, 2012 2.2 Revised to reflect changes in All Sections November 1, 2012 procedure December 7, 2010 2.1 Revised to reflect changes in Sections 4.0, 6.1, December 8, 2010 procedure and 6.5 July 14, 2009 2.0 Updated policy Standardized July 15, 2009 formatting; all sections updated
POLICY NUMBER: S-001 TITLE: WASTE ANESTHESIA GASES AND VAPORS EXPOSURE CONTROL POLICY 1.0 PURPOSE Waste inhalation anesthetic gases and vapors are those that are released into rooms used for surgical and other procedures utilizing volatile anesthetics. The waste anesthetic gases and vapors of concern are nitrous oxide and halogenated agents (vapors) such as isoflurane. Employees working in these surgical areas may be subject to environmental exposure associated with the administration of the anesthetic gases. This document outlines the policies and procedures to be utilized by the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS) Animal Research Program to control and monitor employee exposure to Waste Anesthetic Gases (WAG) and vapors. 2.0 Revision History R&D Committee Approval Date Revision # Change Reference Section(s) Effective Date November 27, 2018 3.0 Expand user information; remove information on trace gas testing; reword section and add table; changed sampling badge requirements for halogenated agents Section 3.0; Sections 4.0, 6.1 and 6.5; Section 5.0 November 30, 2018 November 14, 2017 2.6 Addition of Occupational Health responsibilities; rewording of policy; remove title of policy; update references Section 4.0; Section 5.0; Sections 6.3 and 6.5; Section 7.0 November 17, 2017 August 23, 2016 2.5 Update department responsibilities; revised description of exposure limits; update program information; confirm references Section 4.0; Section 5.0; Section 6.4; Section 7.0 August 26, 2016 September 22, 2015 2.4 Rewording of scope; change Research Service to R&D Department; clarification of wording Section 3.0; Sections 4.0 and 6.0; Section 6.0 September 25, 2015 August 12, 2014 2.3 Employee Health changed to Occupational Health; confirmation of references All Sections August 15, 2014 October 23, 2012 2.2 Revised to reflect changes in procedure All Sections November 1, 2012 December 7, 2010 2.1 Revised to reflect changes in procedure Sections 4.0, 6.1, and 6.5 December 8, 2010 July 14, 2009 2.0 Updated policy Standardized formatting; all sections updated July 15, 2009
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