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EPA ISSUES A "STOP USE" ORDER ON EMS RELATED DISINFECTING SYSTEM
Saturday, January 8, 2011 A few weeks ago we covered a story (link below) related to EMS personnel in NJ getting sick due to a cleansing product and or system. UPDATE: Now, the United States EPA has issued a stop use and sale of the micro-misting disinfecting technology sold by Zimek Technologies ( www.zimek.com ) , according to the IAFF.
EPA Region 2 has ordered a New Jersey EMS provider, Monmouth-Ocean Hospital Service Corporation (MONOC) to immediately stop the use of the toxic micro-misting of their ambulances with disinfectants acquired from Zimek Technologies and the Zimek Micro-Misting System. This device is used by MONOC to deliver disinfectants to the interior of ambulances as micron or submicron sized particles. EPA’s enforcement action came as a result of a formal complaint to the EPA by IAFF Local 4610, the Professional Emergency Services Association of New Jersey, on behalf of its exposed brothers and sisters.
The IAFF has contacted EPA and has confirmed that this action applies to ALL uses of the Zimek Micro-Misting Systems, whether they are used in ambulances, fire apparatus, fire stations or other vehicles and facilities.
The order states that the disinfectants that have been used in the MONOC ambulances are likely to cause harm to humans when applied using the Zimek system. The order also states that EPA has reason to believe that individuals working in MONOC ambulances in which disinfectants were applied have become ill and treated for pesticide poisoning.
Disinfectants used for decontaminating equipment must be EPA-registered hospital disinfectant chemical germicides that have been documented as effective against the infectious agent and MUST be used as they were approved by EPA.
Saturday, January 8, 2011 A few weeks ago we covered a story (link below) related to EMS personnel in NJ getting sick due to a cleansing product and or system. UPDATE: Now, the United States EPA has issued a stop use and sale of the micro-misting disinfecting technology sold by Zimek Technologies ( www.zimek.com ) , according to the IAFF.
EPA Region 2 has ordered a New Jersey EMS provider, Monmouth-Ocean Hospital Service Corporation (MONOC) to immediately stop the use of the toxic micro-misting of their ambulances with disinfectants acquired from Zimek Technologies and the Zimek Micro-Misting System. This device is used by MONOC to deliver disinfectants to the interior of ambulances as micron or submicron sized particles. EPA’s enforcement action came as a result of a formal complaint to the EPA by IAFF Local 4610, the Professional Emergency Services Association of New Jersey, on behalf of its exposed brothers and sisters.
The IAFF has contacted EPA and has confirmed that this action applies to ALL uses of the Zimek Micro-Misting Systems, whether they are used in ambulances, fire apparatus, fire stations or other vehicles and facilities.
The order states that the disinfectants that have been used in the MONOC ambulances are likely to cause harm to humans when applied using the Zimek system. The order also states that EPA has reason to believe that individuals working in MONOC ambulances in which disinfectants were applied have become ill and treated for pesticide poisoning.
Disinfectants used for decontaminating equipment must be EPA-registered hospital disinfectant chemical germicides that have been documented as effective against the infectious agent and MUST be used as they were approved by EPA.
