OSHA Inspection: KIND HEALTH SERVICES INC. DBA HILLSIDE NURSING HOM

Issued

Nov 26, 1991

Abate by

Dec 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $875 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 the following conditions which increase the risk of
employees contracting bloodborne diseases:
a)  Health care workers such as nurses were exposed to the hazard
of being infected by bloodborne pathogens such as the Hepatitis B
Virus (HBV) through possible direct contact with blood or other body
fluids.  Feasible abatement methods for reducing this hazard, among
others, are the provision of a Hepatitis B Vaccination Program, free
of charge, to all employees who are at substantial risk of directly
contacting potentially infectious body fluids.
b)  Health care workers such as nurses were exposed to the hazard
of being infected by bloodborne pathogens such as the Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the Hepatitis B Virus (HIV) through
possible direct contact with blood or othr body fluids.  Feasible
and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard, among others,
are the development and implementation of an Infection Control Program
which specifies what procedures must be followed after an employee
experiences a percutaneous, mucous membrane, or non-intact skin
exposure to patient blood or body fluids.  The source patient must
be informed of the employee exposure incident and tested for HIV and
HBV infections unless the patient refuses consent to such testing.
If the source patient tests positive or refuses to be tested, the
employee must be evaluated clinically and seek medical evaluation of
any acute febrile illness that occurs within twelve weeks after ex-
posure.  HIV seronegative workers must be retested six weeks post-
exposure and on a periodic basis thereafter (normally twelve weeks and
six months after exposure).
For health care workers exposed or potentially exposed to HBV, the
recommendations of the CDC Immunization Practices Advisory Committee:
regarding HBV post exposure prophylaxis (published in the June 7,
1985 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) must be followed.
If an employee refused to submit to a medical test or procedure
described above, no adverse action can be taken against the employee
since these medical procedures were designed for the benefit of the
exposed employee.
c)  Health care workers such as nurses, nursing technicians,
housekeeping depatment workers and laundry department workers were
exposed to the hazard of being infected by bloodborne pathogens such
as the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
(HIV) through possible direct contact with blood or other body
fluids.  Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this
hazard, among others are the provision of a comprehensive training
program covering all of the matters listed below:
1.  Procedures to be followed after employee clothing becomes
contaminated with significant quantities fo resident blood;
2.  Procedures to be followed after employee experiences a
percutaneous, mucous membrane, or non-intact skin exposure to resident
blood or body fluids;
3.  The proper procedures to be followed to safely containerize
and label refuse and lauderable fabric which have become significantly
contaminated with resident blood or other porentially infectious body
fluids;
4.  The personal protective clothing and equipment to be worn
during the handling of residents with draining wounds, nose bleeds,
skin tears or lacerations resulting from a fall;
5.  The modes of transmission of HBV and HIV;
6.  The epidemiology of HBV and HIV;
7.  Possible risks to a fetus;
8.  The contents of CDC's "Update:  Universal Precautions for
prevention of transmission if HIV, HBV and other blood borne pathogens
in health care settings";
9.  The contents of the employer's Hepatitis B Vaccination
Program; and
10.  The proper procedures for cleaning and disinfecting
non-disposable items and surfaces which become contaminated with blood
or other potentially infectious fluids.

Issued

Nov 26, 1991

Abate by

Dec 7, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $350 Reduced

Issued

Nov 26, 1991

Abate by

Dec 7, 1991

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $875 Reduced

Issued

Nov 26, 1991

Abate by

Dec 7, 1991

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $875 Reduced

Issued

Nov 26, 1991

Abate by

Dec 7, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $438 Reduced

Issued

Nov 26, 1991

Abate by

Dec 7, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $438 Reduced

Issued

Nov 26, 1991

Abate by

Dec 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $438 Reduced

Issued

Nov 26, 1991

Abate by

Dec 11, 1991

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $875 Reduced

Issued

Nov 26, 1991

Abate by

Dec 11, 1991

Issued

Nov 26, 1991

Abate by

Dec 7, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $438 Reduced

Issued

Nov 26, 1991

Abate by

Dec 7, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $438 Reduced

Issued

Nov 26, 1991

Abate by

Dec 7, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $613 Reduced

Issued

Nov 26, 1991

Abate by

Dec 7, 1991

Issued

Nov 26, 1991

Abate by

Dec 23, 1991

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $875 Reduced

Issued

Nov 26, 1991

Abate by

Dec 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $875 Reduced

Issued

Nov 26, 1991

Abate by

Dec 16, 1991

Penalty

Initial $500 · Current $175 Reduced

Issued

Nov 26, 1991

Abate by

Dec 11, 1991

Issued

Nov 26, 1991

Abate by

Dec 7, 1991

Issued

Nov 26, 1991

Abate by

Dec 7, 1991

Penalty

Initial $500 · Current $175 Reduced

Issued

Nov 26, 1991

Abate by

Dec 7, 1991

Penalty

Initial $500 · Current $175 Reduced

Issued

Nov 26, 1991

Abate by

Dec 7, 1991