OSHA Offers Tips on Safety with Dry Ice

Super-cold blocks of carbon dioxide keep temperamental vaccines at the right temperature


As doses of the COVID-19 vaccines roll out across the nation, maintenance and engineering workers in hospitals and other healthcare facilities face a potential risk in storing and handling the medications due to the use of dry ice. These super-cold blocks of carbon dioxide are necessary for keeping the temperamental vaccines at the right temperature. The Pfizer vaccine, for example, must be stored at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit.

To protect workers, OSHA offers tips for staying safe when using dry ice to store and transport COVID-19 vaccines. Among the recommendations:

•  Use cryogenic gloves, which are designed specifically for working in freezers below -80 degrees Celsius and for handling containers or vials stored in freezers.

• Cryogenic gloves need to be loose-fitting so that they can be readily removed if liquid nitrogen splashes into them or a piece of dry ice falls into them.

• Always use appropriate eye protection.

• Do not use or store dry ice or liquid nitrogen in confined areas, walk-in refrigerators, environmental chambers or rooms without ventilation. A leak in such an area could cause an oxygen-deficient atmosphere. 

Click here to read the OSHA fact sheet.



January 13, 2021


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

Designing for Access: Addressing Pharmacy Deserts with Flexible Solutions

Design is an increasingly important consideration for closing the gap in pharmaceutical access.


Baylor Scott & White Health Set to Open New Texas Medical CenterĀ 

The new 40-acre campus will offer communal green spaces, more than two miles of trails, health and wellness events and activities for everyone to enjoy.


The Future of Backup Power Systems in Healthcare Facilities

Manufacturers discuss what trends are shaping the future of backup power systems in healthcare.


Infection Control is Key to Ongoing Measles Outbreak

Infection control is essential to protecting both patients and staff from contracting measles.


Kaiser Permanente to Open New Parker Medical Offices

It also announced it's in the early stages of planning a rebuild and expansion of its Westminster Medical Offices.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.