OSHA Inspection: HEARTLAND BLOOD CENTER

Issued

Nov 3, 1989

Abate by

Dec 4, 1989

Penalty

Initial $350 · Current $150 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 health care workers such as lab technologist
working in the laboratory, phlebotomists and nursing personnel drawing
blood from patients at the blood center or through the mobile units,
etc., are exposed to the hazard of being infected by the HBV and/or HIV
through possible direct contact with blood or other body fluids. The IC
(Infectious Control) program did not address the laundry operations and
did not have a procedure for protecting employees from the substantial
risk of direct exposure to body fluids.
One feasible and useful abatement method for reducing this hazard is to
implement a laundry service or procedure with training and instruction
in the following areas:
a) Provide laundry service on a routine basis based on the possibility
of contamination. Employees should not take protective clothing home
for cleaning. Clothing should be cleaned through the laundry
operations on the job or through a service. For those employees on
the mobile unit, soiled clothing should be properly placed in a
labeled leak-proof bag and replaced with clean clothing.
b) If in-house or outside laundry service is not provided, the employer
shall use disposal protective clothing. They must be fluid-resistant
and impermeable.
c) Provide extensive training in such areas as transmittal information,
risk factors for employees, universal precautions concept, and other
related information on contamination and protection in reference to
protective clothing worn by employees.
d) Provide training and information to employees regarding all laundry
operations; the proper handling and transportation or re-usable
protective clothing, especially those individuals responsible for
the laundry operations such as cleaning, handling, etc.,
Training and instruction can best be accomplished through an IC program
with monitoring and control of all laundry operations. Follow-up
procedures on training and instruction by the IC monitor is necessary
in updating procedures, proper work practices, and other related
methods.

Issued

Nov 3, 1989

Abate by

Nov 6, 1989

Penalty

Initial $210 · Current $150 Reduced

Issued

Nov 3, 1989

Abate by

Dec 4, 1989

Penalty

Initial $280 · Current $200 Reduced

Issued

Nov 3, 1989

Abate by

Nov 10, 1989

Penalty

Initial $280 · Current $200 Reduced

Issued

Nov 3, 1989

Abate by

Dec 4, 1989

Penalty

Initial $280 · Current $200 Reduced

Issued

Nov 3, 1989

Abate by

Nov 20, 1989

Penalty

Initial $350 · Current $200 Reduced

Issued

Nov 3, 1989

Abate by

Nov 13, 1989

Issued

Nov 3, 1989

Abate by

Nov 8, 1989

Issued

Nov 3, 1989

Abate by

Nov 6, 1989

Issued

Nov 3, 1989

Abate by

Nov 6, 1989