Thursday, July 31, 2008

Petroleum based lubricants on patients using oxygen

Here’s a little piece of information I requested from Greg Day in response to a question I got from my Respiratory Department. The question was,” What reg do I show nursing to get them to stop using ?”. I just thought someone else might be able to use this someday.

1 comment:

Maine Healthcare Engineers said...

Here is some code information in NFPA 99, Standard for Health Care Facilities2005 Edition.



This is Annex B – Nature of Hazards.



B.6.1.2 Inhalation gases or vapors introduce fire, chemical, mechanical, and electrical hazards that are all interrelated. Any mixture of inhalation gases will support combustion. In an oxygen-enriched atmosphere, materials that are flammable and combustible in air ignite more easily and burn more vigorously. The materials that could be found on or near patients include hair oils, oil-based lubricants, skin lotions, clothing, linens, paper, rubber, alcohols, acetone, and some plastics.



B.6.1.3 A hazard exists if any of the components of an oxygen or nitrous oxide supply system become contaminated with oil or grease.



B.6.1.9 Combustible materials that could be found near patients who are to receive respiratory therapy include hair oils, oil-based lubricants, skin lotions, facial tissues, clothing, bed linen, tent canopies, rubber and plastic articles, gas-supply and suction tubing, ether, alcohols, and acetone.



B.6.1.10 A particular hazard exists when oxygen equipment becomes contaminated with oil, grease, or other combustible materials. Such contaminants will ignite readily and burn more rapidly in the presence of high oxygen concentrations and make it easier to ignite less combustible materials with which they come in contact.



Gregory Day, CFI - II

Maine Fire Marshal Office

1 Darcie Drive, Suite 205

Houlton, Maine 04730

207-532-5407