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November,
2001 - FDA Advisory Issued
The
US Food and Drug Administration has issued A Public Health Advisory
to remind users of medical gases of certain safeguards to take prior
to installing compressed gas cylinders to medical gas systems. The
advisory can be obtained by calling 888-INFO-FDA or visiting the
FDA's webpage at:
http://www.nwsa.com/Showlink.cfm?RequestedUrl=safetymedgasdir.htm
Key
points in the Advisory are, as quoted:
- Gases
for medical use are prescription drugs that must be carefully
regulated and handled.
- Adaptors
should never be used and fittings never changed on medical gas
containers. If a connection doesn't fit, it isn't supposed to
fit.
- Contact
the suppler immediately.
- Store
medical grade products separately from industrial grade products
in well-defined areas.
- Educate
and train personnel who are directly responsible for handling
medical gas to:
- recognize
medical gas labels
- examine
all labels carefully before hooking containers to the system.
- Skilled
and knowledgeable personnel should always check the container
and connection prior to introducing the gas into the system.
Important:
This
information is offered by the National Welding Supply Association
and your local distributor as general guidance only and may
not explain all relevant safety precautions or hazards
Mike
Lopez, NWSA Safety
Consultant
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