OSHA Inspection: PENN VALLEY MEDICAL GROUP

Issued

Sep 21, 1990

Abate by

Oct 22, 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 health care workers were
exposed to the hazard of being potentially infected by HBV and/or HIV
through direct contact with blood or other body fluids:
a) In that employees including, but not limited to, nurses, medical
assistants, x-ray technicians, physical therapists, and lab
technicians who were engaged in procedures including, but not limited
to, giving injections and collecting blood from patients, analyzing
lab specimens and handling infectious wastes, had not received
training in universal precautions by the employer.
b) In that employees including, but not limited to, nurses, medical
assistants, x-ray technicians, physical therapists, and lab
technicians who were engaged in procedures including, but not limited
to, giving injections and collecting blood from patients, analizing
lab specimens and handling infectious wastes, were not offered
Hepatitis B vaccinations.
While ultimate responsibility for correcting the hazard rests with the
employer, given his superior knowledge of the workplace, feasibleand
acceptable methods to correct this hazard, among others are:
1) Implement a training ad education program for all health care
workers at risk.  They shall receive education on precautionary
measures, edidemiology, mode of transmission and prevention of HIV/
HBV.  Health care workers shall be counseled regarding possible risks
to the fetus from HIV/HBV and other associated infectious agents.
In addition, such high risk workers must receive training regarding the
location and proper use of personal protective equipment. They shall be
trained concerning proper work practices and, if the facility has
implemented them, shall understand the concept of "universal
precautions" as it applies to their work practices. They shall be
trained about the meaning of color coding or other methods (except tags)
used to designate contaminated articles or infectious waste.
Where tags are used, training about tabs and precautions to be used
in handling contaminated articles or infectious waste is governed by
29 CFR 1910.145(f).  Workers shall receive training about procedures
to be used if they are exposed to needlestick or to body fluids.
2) The facility's IC policy regarding hepatitis B vaccinations
shall address all circumstances warranting such vaccinations and
shall identify employees at substantial risk of directly contacting
body fluids.  All such employees shall be offered Hepatitis B
vaccinations free of charge in amounts and at times prescribed by
standard medical practices.

Issued

Sep 21, 1990

Abate by

Oct 22, 1990

Penalty

Initial $300 · Current $300

Issued

Sep 21, 1990

Abate by

Oct 22, 1990

Penalty

Initial $300 · Current $300

Issued

Sep 21, 1990

Abate by

Oct 22, 1990

Issued

Sep 21, 1990

Abate by

Oct 22, 1990

Penalty

Initial $420 · Current $420

Issued

Sep 21, 1990

Abate by

Oct 22, 1990

Issued

Sep 21, 1990

Abate by

Oct 22, 1990

Issued

Sep 21, 1990

Abate by

Oct 22, 1990

Issued

Sep 21, 1990

Abate by

Oct 22, 1990

Penalty

Initial $70 · Current $70

Issued

Sep 21, 1990

Abate by

Oct 22, 1990