OSHA Inspection: ECONOMY LINEN AND TOWEL SERVICE, INC.

Issued

Mar 13, 1992

Abate by

May 13, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,375 · Current $756 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.  As of January 3, 1992, employees of the Zanesville
establishment (such as sorters, wash floor employees, drivers, drivers
helpers, supervisors, and clean-up/janitorial)  were exposed to the
hazard of being infected 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:
1.  Implementation of a written infectious control program to
eliminate or minimize employee exposure that includes, at a minimum,
the following elements; exposure determination, methods of compliance,
Hepatitis B vaccinations, post exposure evaluation and follow-up,
communication of hazards to employees, recordkeeping, and the
procedure for the evaluation of exposure incidents;
2.  Development of a decontamination program for the reusable
gloves required for use by the sorters;
3.  By making available, to all employees who have exposure,
the hepatitis B vaccine and vaccination series at no cost to the
employee;
4.  Specific training for the sorters on the use of work
practices  (such as, employees not compacting empty soiled item bags
down with hands, but by the use of an appropriate tool) to eliminate
unnecessary potential exposures to needlesticks;
5.  Specific training for the drivers on the use of work
practices to eliminate unnecessary potential exposures to
needlesticks;
6.  A regular self-inspection program to assure employees are
implementing the company exposure control plan.  This program should
focus on all areas of employee exposure, including driver pick-up
sites;

Issued

Mar 13, 1992

Abate by

Mar 20, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,100 · Current $605 Reduced

Issued

Mar 13, 1992

Abate by

Mar 16, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,100 · Current $605 Reduced

Issued

Mar 13, 1992

Abate by

Apr 13, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,375 · Current $756 Reduced

Issued

Mar 13, 1992

Abate by

Mar 24, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,100 · Current $605 Reduced

Issued

Mar 13, 1992

Abate by

May 13, 1992

Penalty

Initial $825 · Current $453 Reduced

Issued

Mar 13, 1992

Abate by

Apr 13, 1992

Issued

Mar 13, 1992

Abate by

Mar 16, 1992

Issued

Mar 13, 1992

Abate by

Mar 16, 1992