OSHA Inspection: ST. PATRICK HOSPITAL

Issued

Jun 7, 1990

Abate by

Oct 5, 1990

Penalty

Initial $420 · Current $420

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were
free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death
or serious physical harm to employees in that:
a) On or about 3/7/90 and at times prior thereto, employees performing
instrument decontamination, sterilization, picking carts, folding
laundry, and handling materials in Central Processing were exposed to
the hazard of upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders (UECTD).
These injuries may be caused by high finger or grip forces, frequent
repetitions, and awkward body postures, such as flexed and extended
wrists, frequent reaches at excessive distances, and frequent lifting
pushing and shoving of weighted objects.
Feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazard, among
other methods are:
1) Establish a comprehensive training and supervision program for all
exposed employees on the basis of body biomechanics to minimize UECTD
associated with their jobs. This training should be conducted when
the employee is initially hired and biannually for all current
employees.  The training as a minimum should include proper lifting,
gripping, instrument cleaning and laundry folding techniques, in
addition to other relevant issues.
2) Redesign or modify existing working surfaces, carts, storage racks,
and Genesis Trays to reduce reach distances, weights, stressful angle
and body positions and accommodate workers of varying heights.
3) Provide a variety of anit-fatique mats, and train employees in the
advantages of their use.
4) Ensure that the physicians advice is followed when employees are
returned to work following surgery.
STEP 1:  Submit to the area director a written plan of abatement
outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or
administrative measures to control employee exposure to musculoskeletal
injuries when performing manual material handling tasks. This plan shall
include as a minimum target dates for the following actions:
1) Development and implementation of a comprehensive training program.
2) Evaluation of the location of the hazard source.
3) Evaluation of control measure options.
4) Selection of optimum control measures.
5) Initiation of control measures.
6) Methods to be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the control
measures and if necessary, the alteration and/or substitution of
other control measures.
7) Methods to be used to assure abatement program will be followed by
employees.
This written plan with the implementation dates must be completed within
60 days.
NOTE:  Professional Services of personnel familiar with ergonomic
problems and their solution may be helpful to accomplish to above steps.
STEPS 2:  Correction shall be completed by the implementation of
feasible engineering and/or administrative controls and their
effectiveness at achieving compliance verified.
Engineering controls and their evaluation must be completed within 120
days.
Sixty day progress reports are required to be submitted to the Area
Director during the abatement period.  (Two reports one at 60 days and
the other at 120 days.)

Issued

Jun 7, 1990

Abate by

Aug 31, 1990

Penalty

Initial $490 · Current $490

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were
free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death
or serious physical harm to employees in that:
a) On or about 3/7/90 and at times prior thereto, health care workers,
such as, but not limited to, nurses, phlebotomists, laboratory
technologists, housekeepers and laundry workers, working in the
hospital laboratory, patient care areas or in other areas throughout
the hospital, were exposed to the hazard of being infectedby
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and/or Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)
through possible direct contact with blood or other body fluids.
Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard, among
others, are:
1) Informing, obtaining consent and testing all source patients for HIV
and HBV infections following percutaneous (needlestick or cut),
mucous membrane (splash or eye, nasal mucosa or mouth) exposure to
blood or body fluids or cutaneous exposure when the worker's skin is
chapped, abraded, or otherwise non-intact.
2) Clinically and serologically evaluating health care workers for
evidence of HIV infection as soon as possible following all exposures
as listed above, in which seronegativity of the source patient has
not been confirmed.
3) Providing the Hepatitis B vaccination series free of charge to
employees involved in direct patient care in the operating room and
on the floors.

Issued

Jun 7, 1990

Abate by

Jul 14, 1990

Penalty

Initial $490 · Current $490

Issued

Jun 7, 1990

Abate by

Jun 28, 1990

Penalty

Initial $420 · Current $420

Issued

Jun 7, 1990

Abate by

Mar 10, 1991

Issued

Jun 7, 1990

Abate by

Mar 10, 1991

Issued

Jun 7, 1990

Abate by

Jan 28, 1991

Issued

Jun 7, 1990

Abate by

Mar 10, 1991

Issued

Jun 7, 1990

Abate by

Mar 10, 1991

Penalty

Initial $420 · Current $420

Issued

Jun 7, 1990

Abate by

Mar 10, 1991

Issued

Jun 7, 1990

Abate by

Mar 10, 1991

Issued

Jun 7, 1990

Abate by

Jun 14, 1990

Issued

Jun 7, 1990

Abate by

Jul 15, 1990

Issued

Jun 7, 1990

Abate by

Aug 1, 1990

Issued

Jun 7, 1990

Abate by

Jun 28, 1990

Issued

Jun 7, 1990

Abate by

Jun 28, 1990