EtO operators

EtO operators work in chemical manufacturing plants, medical device sterilization facilities, pharmaceutical operations, and fumigation sites. Their core duties include operating and monitoring EtO production or sterilization systems, conducting equipment inspections, troubleshooting operational problems, managing chemical inventories, and performing loading and unloading tasks for tanks and transport vessels. Operators also train new workers, keep detailed safety records, and respond to emergencies such as leaks or system breakdowns.

Due to the nature of this work, ethylene oxide gas is constantly present. Even in highly automated facilities with enclosed systems, operators must perform maintenance tasks, inspect equipment, handle treated items, and respond to emergencies: all situations that increase direct contact with EtO. According to the EPA, workers who apply EtO over an entire career face a shocking cancer risk of one in every 17 workers developing cancer from occupational exposure.

The EPA and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) both classify ethylene oxide as a human carcinogen. The primary exposure method is inhalation since EtO is a gas under normal conditions. There is also the possibility of dermal contact with liquid EtO or contaminated surfaces, which can cause severe burns or blisters when it penetrates protective clothing. When operators walk through contaminated areas or handle equipment, even those who spend most of their time in control rooms are at risk for developing cancer.

In your role as an EtO operator, you may have been exposed to ethylene oxide by:

• Operating and monitoring EtO reactors or sterilization chambers
• Loading and unloading items for sterilization or processing
• Performing maintenance, cleaning, or calibration of EtO equipment
• Responding to equipment alarms, leaks, or emergency situations
• Handling EtO gases, treated items, or contaminated surfaces
• Working in areas with inadequate ventilation or residual EtO gas

Relevant job titles

• Ethylene Oxide Production Operator
• Chemical Process Operator – EtO Unit
• EO/EG Plant Operator (Ethylene Oxide/Ethylene Glycol)
• Distillation Operator – Oxide Derivatives
• Batch Operator – Sterilant Blends