OSHA Inspection: VALLEY NURSING HOME

Issued

Sep 11, 1990

Abate by

Oct 12, 1990

Penalty

Initial $560 · Current $250 Reduced

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 of likely to cause death
or serious physical harm to emloyees in that employees were exposed
throughout the Nursing Home, patient care areas; Nurses were exposed to
the hazard of being infected with HBV and/or HIV through possible direct
contact with blood or other body fluids. The HBV vaccine was not offered
to all nurses on staff who are at risk. On or about 7/11/90.
Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard among
others are:
1) Offering the HBV vaccine to employees at substantial risk of directly
contacting body fluids.
2) Inclusion in the infection control program of follow up procedures
following possible exposure to HIV or HBV.
This should include:
a) If a health care worker has a percutaneous needlestick or has a
cutaneous exposure to blood when worker's skin is abraded, the source
patient shall be informed of the incident and testedfor HIV and HBV
after consent is obtained.
b) If patient consent is refused, or if the source patient tests
positive, the health care worker shall be evaluated clinically and by
HIV antibody testing as soon as possible. (3 months, 6 months, 1 yr)
c) Follow up procedures shall be taken for health care workers exposed
to HBV. The types of procedures depend on the vaccination status of
the worker.
3) Training and education of health care workers which will include:
a) Precautionary measures, epidemiology, modes of transmission and
prevention of HBV/HIV.
b) Proper work practices and the concept of "Universal precautions".
4) Development of detailed procedures for cleaning up blood spills
which include properly sanitizing the area.

Issued

Sep 11, 1990

Abate by

Oct 12, 1990

Penalty

Initial $480 · Current $250 Reduced

Issued

Sep 11, 1990

Abate by

Oct 12, 1990

Penalty

Initial $480 · Current $250 Reduced

Issued

Sep 11, 1990

Abate by

Oct 12, 1990

Issued

Sep 11, 1990

Abate by

Sep 18, 1990