OSHA Inspection: CHICAGO CAT CLINIC, P.C.

Issued

Jul 30, 1993

Abate by

Oct 15, 1993

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $900 Reduced

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)  Veterinary Technicians and a Doctor of Veterinary
Medicine
were exposed to an airborne concentration of nitrous oxide in
excess of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienists (ACGIH) 8 - hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) of 50
ppm for nitrous oxide and/or U.S. National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 8 - hour Time Weighted
Average (TWA) of 25 ppm for nitrous oxide:
(1)   On June 10, 1993 a Veterinary Technician was exposed to
nitrous oxide at an 8 - hour TWA of 101.10 ppm,
approximately 2.02 times the ACGIH limit of 50 ppm TWA
and
4.04 times the NIOSH limit of 25 ppm TWA.  The exposure
level is derived from one sample taken over a 337 minute
period. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled
period
of 143 minutes.
(2)   On June 10, 1993 a Veterinary Technician was exposed to
nitrous oxide at an 8 - hour TWA of 104.40 ppm,
approximately 2.08 times the ACGIH limit of 50 ppm TWA
and
4.17 times the NIOSH limit of 25 ppm TWA.  The exposure
level is derived from one sample taken over a 374 minute
period.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled
period of 106 minutes.
(3)   On June 10, 1993 a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine was
exposed to nitrous oxide at an 8 - hour TWA of 29.38
ppm,
approximately 1.17 times the NIOSH limit of 25 ppm TWA.
The exposure level is derived from one sample taken over
a 328 minute period.  Zero exposure was assumed for the
unsampled period of 152 minutes.
(4)   On June 10, 1993 a Veterinary Technician was exposed to
nitrous oxide at an 8 - hour TWA of 53.20 ppm,
approximately 1.06 times the ACGIH limit of 50 ppm TWA
and
2.12 times the NIOSH limit of 25 ppm TWA.  The exposure
level is derived from one sample taken over a 336 minute
period.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled
period of 144 minutes.
(b) Veterinary Technicians and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
were exposed to an airborne concentration of halothane in
excess
of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH) the 60 minute Ceiling Limit of 2 ppm for
halothane:
(1)   On June 10, 1993 a Veterinary Technician was exposed to
halothane at 5.14 ppm, approximately 2.57 times the
NIOSH
limit of 2 ppm Ceiling Limit.  The exposure level is
derived from one sample taken over a 68 minute period.
(2)   On June 10, 1993 a Veterinary Technician was exposed to
halothane at 3.10 ppm, approximately 1.55 times the
NIOSH
limit of 2 ppm Ceiling Limit.  The exposure level is
derived from one sample taken over a 61 minute period.
(3)   On June 10, 1993 a Veterinary Technician was exposed to
halothane at  a 60 - minute TWA of 7.67 ppm,
approximately
3.83 times the NIOSH limit of 2 ppm Ceiling Limit.  The
exposure level is derived from one sample taken over a
58
minute period.  Zero exposure was assumed for the
unsampled period of 2 minutes.
(4)   On June 10, 1993 a Veterinary Technician was exposed to
halothane at 5.81 ppm, approximately 2.90 times the
NIOSH
limit of 2 ppm Ceiling Limit.  The exposure level is
derived from one sample taken over a 84 minute period.
(5)   On June 10, 1993 a Veterinary Technician was exposed to
halothane at 3.77 ppm, approximately 1.88 times the
NIOSH
limit of 2 ppm Ceiling Limit.  The exposure level is
derived from one sample taken over a 91 minute period.
(6)   On June 10, 1993 a Veterinary Technician was exposed to
halothane at 3.31 ppm, approximately 1.65 times the
NIOSH
limit of 2 ppm Ceiling Limit.  The exposure level is
derived from one sample taken over a 69 minute period.
(7)   On June 10, 1993 a Veterinary Technician was exposed to
halothane at 10.25 ppm, approximately 5.12 times the
NIOSH
limit of 2 ppm Ceiling Limit.  The exposure level is
derived from one sample taken over a 66 minute period.
(8)   On June 10, 1993 a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine was
exposed to halothane at 3.34 ppm, approximately 1.67
times the NIOSH   limit of 2 ppm Ceiling Limit.  The
exposure level is derived from one sample taken over a
81
minute period.
(9)   On June 10, 1993 a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine was
exposed to halothane at 3.33 ppm, approximately 1.66
times
the NIOSH limit of 2 ppm Ceiling Limit.  The exposure
level is derived from one sample taken over a 82 minute
period.
(10)  On June 10, 1993 a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine was
exposed to halothane at 4.38 ppm, approximately 2.19
times
the NIOSH limit of 2 ppm Ceiling Limit.  The exposure
level is derived from one sample taken over a 186 minute
period.
Exposure to nitrous oxide and halothane may cause reproductive system
effects, liver and kidney disease and decreased audiovisual performance.
Feasible abatement methods for reducing this hazard, include but are not
limited to:
(1)   Development and implementation of written standard
operating procedures to include but not be limited to
the
work practices, maintenance of anesthesia equipment and
engineering controls to reduce employee exposure to
nitrous oxide and halothane.
(2)   Utilization of scavenging system for nitrous oxide.
(3)   Utilization of effective local and/or general exhaust
ventilation to reduce employee exposure to nitrous oxide
and halothane.
4) Implementation of effective work practices to reduce employee
exposure to nitrous oxide and halothane.
Abatement Schedule
Step 1 -    Submit to the Area Director a written, detailed plan of
abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of
engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee
exposure to hazardous 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:
(1)   Evaluation of engineering/administrative control
options;
(2)   Selection of optimum control methods and completion of
design;
(3)   Procurement, installation and operation of selected
control measures; and
(4)   Testing and acceptance of modification/redesign of
controls.
Note: All proposed control measures shall be approved for each
particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other
technically qualified person.  Ninety (90) day progress
reports
are required during the abatement period.  (The 90-day
requirement for the submission of progress reports may be
shortened or lengthened by the Area Director depending on the
specific circumstances.)
Step 2 -    Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of
feasible engineering and/or administrative controls upon
verification of their effectiveness in achieving

Issued

Jul 1, 1993

Abate by

Jul 18, 1993

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $350 Reduced

Issued

Jul 1, 1993

Abate by

Jul 18, 1993

Issued

Jul 1, 1993

Abate by

Jul 5, 1993

Penalty

Initial $300 · Current $150 Reduced

Issued

Jul 1, 1993

Abate by

Jul 5, 1993

Issued

Jul 1, 1993

Abate by

Jul 8, 1993

Issued

Jul 1, 1993

Abate by

Jul 27, 1993