OSHA Inspection: FLUSHING HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER

Issued

Dec 9, 1991

Abate by

Dec 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $24,500 · Current $12,500 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)  Flushing Hospital - Housekeeping and Laundry Dept-
On or about 7/16/91, Health care workers Laundry,and
housekeeping and infectious waste handling personnel
were exposed to the hazard of being infected by
HBV and/or HIV through possible direct contact with
blood or other body fluids , while performing
lanudry sorting, spill control and infectious waste
processing:
(a) These employees were not offered the Hapatitis
B Vaccination.
(b) The infection control Program did not include
follow-up  procedures after possible exposure
to Hepatitis B Virus and /or Human Immunodeficiency
Virus.
ABATEMENT NOTES:
Among other methods, one feasible abatement method to reduce this hazard, i s
to establish and enforce adequate procedures regarding exposure to and
handling of blood and body fluids,  such as those stipulated by the Centers
for Disease Control (CDC). Guidelines for prevention of transmisionn of
Human Inmmunodificiency Virus and Hepatitis B Virus to health care and publ i
safety workers
HEPATITIS B VACCINATION
The facility's infection control policy regarding Hepatitis
B vaccinations shall address all circumstances warranting
such vaccinations and shall identify employees of substant-
ial risk of directly contacting blood and body fluids.
All such employees shall be offered Hepatitis B vaccinations
in amounts and at times prescribed by standard medical
practice.
FOLLOW-UP PROCEDURES AFTER POSSIBLE EXPOSURE TO HIV/HBV:
(i)    If a  health care worker has a per-
cutaneous (needle-stick or cut) or
mucous membrane (splash to eye, nasal
mucosa, or mouth) exposure to body
fluids or has a cutaneous exposure to
blood or body  fluids when the worker's
skin is chapped, abraded, or otherwise
nonintact,  the source patient shall
be informed of the the incident and
tested for HIV and HBV infections, after
consent is obtained.
(ii)   If patient consent is refused or if the
source patient tests positive, the
health care worker shall be evaluated
clinically 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).
(iii)  Follow-up procedures shall be taken for
health care workers exposed or
potentially exposed to HBV.  The type
of procedures depends on the immuniza-
tion status of the worker (i.e., whether
HBV vaccination has been received and
antibody response is adequate) and the
HBV serologic status of the source
patient.  The CDC Immunization Practices
Advisory Committee has published its
recommendations regarding HBV post
exposure prophylaxis in table format
in the June 5, 1985, Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Report.
(iv)   If an employee refuses to submit to the
procedures in (ii) or (iii) above, when
such procedures are medically indicated,
no adverse action can be taken on that
ground alone since the procedures are
designed for the benefit of the exposed
employee.

Issued

Nov 19, 1991

Abate by

Dec 2, 1991

Penalty

Initial $2,125 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Nov 19, 1991

Abate by

Nov 22, 1991

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,500 Reduced

Issued

Nov 19, 1991

Abate by

Dec 2, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Nov 19, 1991

Abate by

Nov 25, 1991

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Issued

Nov 19, 1991

Abate by

Dec 2, 1991

Penalty

Initial $2,125 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Nov 19, 1991

Abate by

Dec 2, 1991

Penalty

Initial $2,125 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Nov 19, 1991

Abate by

Dec 9, 1991

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Issued

Nov 19, 1991

Abate by

Jan 24, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Issued

Nov 19, 1991

Abate by

May 1, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Issued

Nov 19, 1991

Abate by

May 1, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Issued

Nov 19, 1991

Abate by

May 1, 1992

Penalty

Initial $17,500 · Current $7,500 Reduced

Issued

Nov 18, 1991

Abate by

Dec 2, 1991

Penalty

Initial $2,125 · Current $1,000 Reduced