Ardèche: former employees of Tetra Médical intoxicated in the laboratory?

Factory Tetra Medical, to Annonay (Ardeche)to which Catherine Gironnet dedicated 34 years of his life, closed a year ago. A relief, for the former worker. At 54, she suffered two cancers, and at least one was caused by the toxic gas, ethylene oxide, to which she was exposed every day. A certificate from occupational medicine recognizes an occupational disease.

Ethylene oxide levels ten times higher than the limit value

“If our employer had put the means to protect us, I would surely not have developed cancers“, confides Catherine Gironnet. Tetra Medical manufactured medical utensils. To sterilize them, the laboratory used ethylene oxide, a carcinogenic gas to be used only with great care. A report written by occupational physicians in 2019 notes levels of ethylene oxide in the air ten times higher than there limit value and points out the dangers to which the employees were exposed. “Employees do not seem to be equipped with equipment (…) specific against the penetration of ethylene oxide”specifies in particular the report. Several hundred people could be among the victims. An investigation has just been opened by the labor inspectorate, and 61 cases have been filed with the industrial tribunal.