OSHA Inspection: COLUMBUS CHILDREN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Issued

Aug 14, 1989

Abate by

Feb 6, 1991

Penalty

Initial $480 · Current $480

Hazardous substances 1953

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The
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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) On May 10, 1989, a dental hygienist working near where Nitrous Oxide
was being used for the purpose of patient anesthesia was exposed to
Nitrous Oxide at an 8-hour time weighted average of 48.83 ppm over a
293 minute sampling period. Exposure calculations included a zero
increment for the time not sampled (187 minutes).
b) On May 10, 1989, a dental assistant working with nitrous oxide which
was being used for the purpose of patient anesthesia was exposed to
nitrous oxide at an 8-hour time weighted average of 98.72 ppm over a
405 minute sampling period. Exposure calculations included a zero
increment for the time not sample (75 minutes).
NIOSH has set forth a recommended permissible level of exposure of 25
ppm when nitrous oxide is used as a sole anesthetic agent, such as in
dental procedures, in their "NIOSH A Eecommended Standard for
Occupational Exposure to....Waste Anesthetic Gases Vapors," (1977).
General methods of control applicable in these circumstances include,
but are not limited to:
-Installation of a more effective ventilation system;
-Installation of scavengers.
STEP 1:
Submit to the area director a written, detailed plan of abatement
outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or
administrative masures to control employee exposure to hazarouds
substances as referenced in this citation. This plan shall include, at
a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be
consistent with the abatement dates required by this citation:
-Evaluation of engineering/administrative control options;
-Selection of optimum control methods and completion of design;
-Procurement, installation and operation of selected control
measures;
-Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls.
All proposed control measures shall be approved for each particular use
by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified
person.
STEP 2:
Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible
engineering and/or administrative controls upon verification of their
affectiveness in achieving compliance.

Issued

Aug 14, 1989

Abate by

Oct 4, 1989

Penalty

Initial $560 · Current $560

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) On May 10, 1989, in the Dental Clinic a dental assistant recapped a
used needle by hand. The employee was exposed to a needle stick
hazard, and hence was exposed to the hazard of being injected by HBV
and/or HIV through possible direct contact with blood or other body
fluids.
Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard, among
others, are: Use of new disposable needle for each injection.

Issued

Aug 14, 1989

Abate by

Aug 17, 1989

Penalty

Initial $480 · Current $480

Issued

Aug 14, 1989

Abate by

Aug 28, 1989

Penalty

Initial $400 · Current $400

Issued

Aug 14, 1989

Abate by

Sep 14, 1989

Penalty

Initial $560 · Current $280 Reduced

Issued

Aug 14, 1989

Abate by

Sep 14, 1989

Penalty

Initial $480 · Current $480

Issued

Aug 14, 1989

Abate by

Sep 14, 1989

Issued

Aug 14, 1989

Abate by

Aug 17, 1989

Issued

Aug 14, 1989

Abate by

Sep 14, 1989

Issued

Aug 14, 1989

Abate by

Sep 14, 1989

Issued

Aug 14, 1989

Abate by

Sep 14, 1989