OSHA Inspection: QUALITY LABORATORY ASSOCIATES INC.

Issued

Jul 7, 1989

Abate by

Oct 30, 1989

Penalty

Initial $900 · Current $450 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:
a) On or about April 19, 1989, appropriate post-exposure medical
evaluation and follow-up procedures were not established and provided
for laboratory employees exposed to the hazard of being infected with
HBV and or HIV through direct contact with blood or other potentially
infectous materials i.e. incidents of percutaneous (needle stick or
cut) exposure, or mucous membrane (splash to eye, nasal, mucosa, or
mouth) exposure, or tocutaneous exposure of chapped, abraded, or
otherwise non-intact skin.
Feasible abatement methods for reducing this hazard include:
A confidential medical examination and follow-up including the following
1) Documentation of the HBV nd HIV infection status of the source
patient (if known) and,
2) Follow-up of the exposed employee including antigen and/or antibody
testing (HBV/HIV), counseling, illness reporting and safe and
effective post-exposure phrophylaxis as indicated according to
standard recommendations for medical practice.
References:
Centers for Disease Control. Recommendations for Prevention of HIV
Transmission in Health-Care Settings: MMWR 1987;36 (Suppl. 2S).
Centers for Disease Control. Immunization Practices Advisory Committee.
Recommendations for Protection Against Viral Hepatitis. MMWR 1985;35:
313-24, 329-35.
Note: It is recommended that the facility develop policies for
documentation and tracking of post-exposure evaluations and
follow-up procedures (Re: HBV/HIV) which address or specify
requirements for:
1) Documentation of source patient identification and circumstances
under which exposure occurred.
2) Testing (HIV) of source patients in situations in which consent
cannot be obtained (e.g. an unconscious patient).
3) Documentation of seronegative source patients "risk-factors"
evaluation.
4) Development of a chronological tracking system to assure timely
administration of vaccines and procedures (e.g. HB vaccine, serial
HIV testing) and notification to exposed employees of results of
tests and evaluations, and dates of future vaccinations/innoculations
tests or procedures that may be required.

Issued

Jul 7, 1989

Abate by

Nov 30, 1989

Penalty

Initial $720 · Current $360 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:
a) On or about April 19, 1989, Hepatitis B vaccinations were not offered
or made available to laboratory employees at substantial risk of
direct contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials.
Feasible abatement methods for reducing this hazard include the
establishment of a Hepatitis B vaccination policy which addresses all
circumstances warranting such vaccinations and identifies all employees
at substantial risk of directly contacting blood and other potentially
infectious materials, and offers all such employees Hepatitis B
vaccinations in amounts and at times prescribed by standard medical
practice.
Reference:
Centers for Disease Control. Immunization Practices Advisory Committee
Recommendations for Protection Against Viral Hepatitis. MMWR 1985;35:
313-24, 329-35.

Issued

Jul 7, 1989

Abate by

Oct 30, 1989

Penalty

Initial $420 · Current $210 Reduced

Issued

Jul 7, 1989

Abate by

Oct 30, 1989

Issued

Jul 7, 1989

Abate by

Jul 10, 1989

Penalty

Initial $810 · Current $405 Reduced

Issued

Jul 7, 1989

Abate by

Oct 30, 1989

Penalty

Initial $400 · Current $200 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1290

Issued

Jul 7, 1989

Abate by

Oct 30, 1989

Hazardous substances 1290

Issued

Jul 7, 1989

Abate by

Oct 30, 1989

Hazardous substances 1290

Issued

Jul 7, 1989

Abate by

Oct 30, 1989

Hazardous substances 1290

Issued

Jul 7, 1989

Abate by

Jul 10, 1989

Issued

Jul 7, 1989

Abate by

Oct 30, 1989

Issued

Jul 7, 1989

Abate by

Oct 30, 1989

Issued

Jul 7, 1989

Abate by

Oct 30, 1989