OSHA Inspection: WINDSOR VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE, INC.

Issued

Nov 2, 1995

Abate by

Jan 18, 1996

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $315 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of
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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 hazard of
tuberculosis:
a)Members including but not limited to emergency medical
technicians were exposed to the hazard of being
infected with tuberculosis through contact with
patients during treatment and transport who were or may
be infected with tuberculosis. Members were not
provided medical surveillance (Montoux skin tests) and
included in a TB prevention program.
Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this
hazard, as recommended by the Centers for Disease
Control, among others are:
1)Establish protocols for early identification of
patients/individuals with active tuberculosis.
2)Medical surveillance (at no cost to employees)
including preplacement evaluation, administration
and interpretation of TB Mantoux skin tests, and
periodic evaluation shall be offered to employees
as follows:
a)Initial baseline screening at the time of
assignment to EMS duties for all emergency
medical technicians and/or medical response
technicians repeat the screening annually.
3)Evaluation and management (at no cost to
employees) of workers with a positive skin test;
or with skin test conversion on repeat testing, or
who are exhibiting symptoms of TB.
a)EMS personnel who experience a TB exposure
incident (exposure to a patient with
infectious TB for whom infection control
precautions have not been taken shall also be
managed according to CDC recommendations.
4)Procedures for managing a patient with
active/suspect active TB disease including but not
limited to: vehicle ventilation systems and/or
placing a valveless respirator on the patient.
5)Provide training and education to ensure EMS
personnel knowledge of such issues as the hazard
of TB transmission, its signs and symptoms,
medical surveillance and therapy, and site
specific protocols including the purpose and
proper use of controls (if applicable) and
protective equipment.

Issued

Nov 2, 1995

Abate by

Jan 18, 1996

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $315 Reduced

Issued

Nov 2, 1995

Abate by

Jan 18, 1996

Penalty

Initial $540 · Current $270 Reduced

Issued

Nov 2, 1995

Abate by

Jan 18, 1996

Issued

Nov 2, 1995

Abate by

Jan 18, 1996

Issued

Nov 2, 1995

Abate by

Dec 18, 1995