THE REGULATIONS :
In the technical room of the funeral or mortuary room, most of the stations are no longer up to standard. They do not allow to respect the Occupational Exposure Limit to formaldehyde (https://www.inrs.fr/risques/formaldehyde/reglementation.html). Formaldehyde as TP 22 is classified as a category 1B carcinogen since June 5, 2014. Formaldehyde is likely to be banned by the end of 2022. Directive (EU) 2019/983 sets the OELV (Occupational Exposure Limit Value) for formaldehyde at less than 0.3 ppm. It also sets the 8h OELV, at less than 0.6 ppm, or 0.74 mg/m3 (15 min OELV). These provisions are applied in France since July 11, 2021. A transitional period is established until July 11, 2024.) During this period, the 8h VLEP of 0.5 ppm is specifically maintained in the health care and thanatopraxy sectors.
THE ISOFROID® SOLUTION:
The Isocart® tabletop cart reduces the user’s exposure to the lowest possible level (below that set by the regulations). This solution is the most economical and the most flexible possible (in particular for the current technical rooms). There are indeed other solutions available on the market, but these solutions are not as flexible and economical as the Isofroid solution. There is the extraction system with ventilated walls: the investment is very high especially for existing laboratories. It is necessary to foresee a budget of about 30 K€. You can also use a ventilated lifting autopsy table, but here again the budget is high, plan at least 20 K€. For these 3 solutions you have the possibility to set up an aid file with the CRAM prevention (according to eligibility criteria to be seen case by case).
ITS ADVANTAGES :
The Isocart® table cart allows the capture of harmful vapors at the source. It captures the formaldehyde during the conservation care. It allows a safety of use for the thanatopractor. It allows you to have the conformity with the directive (EU) 2019/983. Our solution has been validated since November 2020 by the Labor Inspection and the CRAM Ile de France.
It is also particularly adapted to limit musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), thanks to
1°/ its variable height (to facilitate the work of the embalmer),
2°/ its slope (to facilitate the handling of the body and the washing),
3°/ and the integration of the stretcher in the tank to avoid the transfer of the body from the forklift to the treatment table.
This is a real benefit for the user compared to the solutions proposed by colleagues.