OSHA Inspection: HUMANA MICHAEL REESE NORTH

Issued

Jun 18, 1991

Abate by

Jul 1, 1991

Penalty

Initial $3,750 · Current $2,250 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 or likely to cause
death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were
exposed to:
(a) Health care workers employed by Michael Reese North were
exposed to the hazards of being infected by Hepatitis B Virus
(HBV) and/or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) through possible
direct contact with blood or other body fluids. Health care
workers potentially exposed include nurse(s), operating room
technicians(s), central sterile technician(s) and housekeeper(s).
Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard,
among others are:
(1) Provide a Hepatitis B Vaccination Program to address all
circumstances warranting such vaccination. Identify employees
at a substantial risk of directly contacting body fluids. All
such employees shall be offered the Hepatitis B Vaccination in
amounts and at times prescribed by standard medical practice.
<2) If a health care worker has a percutaneous (needlestick
or cut) or mucous membrane (splash to eye, nasal mucosa or
mouth) exposure to body fluids or has a cutaneous exposure to
blood when the worker's skin is chapped, abraded, or otherwise
nonintact, the source patient shall be informed of the incident
and tested for HIV and HBV infections, after consent is obtained.
(3) Follow-up procedures after possible exposure to HIV shall
include, HIV testing for the health care worker. If the source
patient consent is refused or if the patient tests positive,
the health care worker shall be evaluated clinically, and by
HIV antibody testing, as soon as possible and advised to report
and seek medical evaluation of any acute febrile illness that
occurs within 12 weeks after exposure. HIV seronegative workers
shall be retested 6 weeks post-exposure and on a periodic basis
thereafter (12 weeks and 6 months after exposure).
(4) Follow-up procedures after possible exposure to HBV shall
depend on the immunization status of the worker and the HBV
serologic status of the source patient. The CDC Morbidity and
Mortality Report, June 7, 1985 may be consulted for recommend-
ations on post-exposure prophylaxis.

Issued

Jun 3, 1991

Abate by

Jun 28, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Jun 3, 1991

Abate by

Jul 8, 1991

Penalty

Initial $2,625 · Current $1,600 Reduced

Issued

Jun 3, 1991

Abate by

Jul 8, 1991

Penalty

Initial $2,625 · Current $1,600 Reduced

Issued

Jun 3, 1991

Abate by

Jul 8, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Jun 3, 1991

Abate by

Jun 6, 1991

Issued

Jun 3, 1991

Abate by

Jun 6, 1991