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Effectiveness of Downdraft
Ventilation in Morgues
An assessment of ventilation in morgues was conducted by the Occupational Hygiene Unit
of the Manitoba Labour and Immigration Workplace Safety and Health Division. The results have
been published by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.
The study, titled "Effectiveness of Downdraft Ventilation Tables in Morgues"
is published in the January 1996 issue of Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene.
Downdraft ventilation is considered the preferred method of ventilation in morgues.
Three downdraft ventilation tables have been installed recently at a major general
hospital in Winnipeg and the effectiveness of these tables was assessed. Two types of
tests were conducted: a theoretical air flow analysis and monitoring for airborne
formaldehyde during an autopsy embalming procedure.
Personal formaldehyde exposures ranged from 0.15 to 0.16 ppm, which is
below the current international standard of 0.3 ppm. Downdraft ventilation was found to be
effective in reducing worker exposure.
To obtain a copy of this study please contact Dr. Rita Korczynski,
Occupational Hygiene Unit, Workplace Safety & Health, 200 - 401 York
Avenue Winnipeg R3C0P8 or phone 204-945-3614.
E-mail: rkorczynsk@gov.mb.ca
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