Does anyone know of units that use ozone getting cited (by medicare or OSHA or JACCHO) for not complying to regulations for using ozone for disinfecting? Do surveyors know what to look for with ozone system?

We recently had a survey where she focused on Ozone. She wanted to know who was performing the procedure, who was checking for residual, how we check for residual, rinse times, dwell times, etc. She checked all the logs, compared them to the policy, and interviewed staff. She watched us calibrate the Hach meter, but did not watch us actually perform the disinfection procedure. She did however ask for a 'walkthrough' of the procedure where we explained the procedure and showed her which valves we turned, where we tested, etc.

We ended up coming out OK but as a side note, one week after the survey the generator quit and we're back to bleaching until we get it back!

I really want to know if they check ambiant air testing, how you're killing ozone that escapes into the air etc.. as far as your generator not working, we've had one over 10 years now and all we do is clean the corona tubes and replace them and the venturi every couple years or so. Haven't had a transformer go out.

Shaun....We were actually surprised that she didn't ask for any air testing results. She didn't even ask if we do them, how we do them, etc. Our ozone generator is from GE, who gets them from another company, and they don't allow any field repairs to be made. We had to send it back to the 3rd party for repairs.

It just seems to me like it's so unregulated and you can do what you want. I've seen ozone use in different units and I just think OSHA would be more concerned about all of us complying with the health hazards.

Can you guys give a little more detail on your setups ? For instance, which systems do you disinfect with ozone ? Also, if you are using this on your Bicarb storage tank, is the top of your tank basically open, or sealed and vented through a filter like with the water storage tank.
Reason I ask is: awhile ago I had suggested placing a floating seal in our bicarb tank ( just a circular piece of AAMI compliant bouyant plastic (poypropelene ?) that would float on top of the fluid in the tank and therefore automatically adjust to the height of the fluid in the tank. This could theoretically leave a very small gap around the inside edge of the tank and seal the fluid surface from atmosphere everywhere else. I figured this would allow less oxone to vent to atmosphere while disinfection was occurring, perhaps by a factor of thousands. We don't use ozone presently, because of some of the ambiguities you all have mentioned, especially dangers due to improper venting, but it would be nice if it would work due to the possibilities for automatic ( and thus more frequent ), hands-free disinfects it implies. Has anyone tried my idea or seen it done ? Did it work ?

We're currently using ozone only on the Bicarb Delivery System. We're filling the mix tank with water and injecting Ozone into the tank during the mix cycle. We then send it to the Head Tank and recirc through the Bicarb Loop. We then have the loop return directed back to the mix tank, and it recircs by itself all night. We drain, refill, rinse, and test for residual the next morning. If most of you haven't guessed, we're using the GE SDS.

During the disinfection, it's important that you do not open the mix tank. The tank vent is a special vent filter with activated carbon. The entire system is closed. When we rinse each individual station, we use a length of hard plastic tubing that attaches directly to the bicarb port and we hold it over the valve box drain. This would be the only spot where we could be exposed, but it's pretty much the only option with this valve box setup.

I know you're suppose to have an ozone destruction method using carbon or heat. You're also supposed to rinse even after the ozone has dissapated. If you have ultra filters, you can't leave ozone on them too long or they break down. If you use carbon, you can't use it too long. we used a monitor and tested it, it lasted 3 weeks. we ozone weekly. they say you can use them for 6 months. We have never had growth or biofilm using ozone but I want more safety measures. We use it on our water system loop.

Thanks for the extra details. A couple of quick questions, though. Traveler Tech, what kind of bicarb tank do you have (Brand, Model, Manufacturer, etc.) I ask because we may get some new tanks soon and I have been thinking it would be great to have the bicarb tanks be nearly as well sealed as the water loop tank for ozone purposes ( and really for general purposes ).

Shaun B., I had been told by our water loop company that we couldn't use ozone on our pyrogen filters or we would ruin them in muniutes. You mention ultrafilters, but do you mean ultra or pyrogen filters ? What kind of filters do you have ?

Thanks for any data. I am trying to explore ozone disinfection methods in hopes that we will someday implement them, but right now there seem to be a lot of ambiguities to be resolved. Hard data helps a lot

We're using the SDS from GE Osmonics which includes the Bicarb Mixer and Head Tank Assembly to gravity feed to the bicarb loop.

How bad is the Ozone smell to your health???

Check OSHA for guidelines for exposure limits. If you have asthma stay away from it. Like anything, if its used properly its great but follow all the precautions for its use. Google Ozone and you will likely find plenty of info on it.

RD52 says "When ozone disinfection systems are used, ambient air should be monitored for ozone as required by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)." It also says "An ozone-in-ambient-air test should be conducted on a periodic basis, as recommended by the manufacturer, to ensure compliance with the OSHA permissible exposure limit of 0.1 ppm."

The room should be well ventilated to keep the ozone below 0.1 ppm and to keep the ozone smell down.