Parata responds to claim that dispensing system produces by-products which may harm pharmacists
EDITOR’S NOTE: In response to a story that appeared on Drugstorenews.com, Oct. 16, regarding a study that found that certain robotic dispensing systems emitted pill dust particles into the air, Parata Systems has issued the following statement:
“On Oct. 16, 2008 Alburty Labs issued a press release promoting the results of a misleading study it first published more than a year ago; a study funded by ScriptPro.
Alburty Lab’s contention that the use of Parata RDS in retail pharmacies negatively affects air quality is patently untrue. Testing under OSHA standards (set by NIOSH1) demonstrated Parata RDS to be 120 times better than the regulated worker exposure limit set by OSHA. Further, Parata has nearly 2,000 Parata RDS units in the field, and has not had a single reported air-quality incident.
Two OSHA-compliant tests were conducted in 2008 as part of the company’s commitment to ensuring the health and safety of its employees.
Results of the first test found worker exposure from Parata RDS to be 120 times lower than the OSHA requirement.
Independent testing conducted by a certified industrial hygienist (CIH) involved a “worst-case” scenario methodology that created more extreme conditions than would be expected for Parata employees, and even more extreme than what would be expected in a retail pharmacy environment. Even under these conditions, Parata RDS was 75 times lower the OSHA requirement.
Parata’s Position
The Alburty Labs study—funded by Parata’s competitor—employs a methodology that does not comply with the NIOSH testing specifications required by OSHA.
Rather, the study is based on EPA standards for outside ambient air, which must be measured against data accumulated for at least three years, not merely 24 hours. Even the authors acknowledge that these standards do not apply to the operation of Parata RDS. As a result, the findings are misleading.”
1 NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) which created testing specifications s required by OSHA.
