OSHA Inspection: DOCTORS HOSPITAL, INC., OF STARK COUNTY

Issued

Sep 4, 1990

Abate by

Oct 18, 1990

Penalty

Initial $810 · Current $648 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:
Health care workers (such as nurses, surgical technicians, surgical
assistants, phlebotomists, medical technologists, environmental
personnel, and laundry personnel, were exposed to the hazards 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:
a) All employees that may be involved in cleaning up body fluid spills
shall receive education and training on the proper procedures to be
followed including personal protective equipment, disinfectants used,
and proper disposal of wastes.
Through employee interviews conducted on 6/12/90, 6/13/90, 6/14/90,
6/19/90, and 6/20/90, there were some employees that were not familiar
with the proper procedures required for clean up and disposal of body
fluid spills. Education and training have not been provided. Training
should include disposal of possible infectious waste into color-coded
or biohazard tagged bags or containers.
b) Linen soiled with body fluids shall be handled as little as possible
and with minimum agitation to prevent contamination of the person
handling the linen.
On 6/14/90, an employee working in the soiled laundry department was
observed throwing soiled laundry while sorting form a yellow bag into
laundry carts placed four to fifteen feet away. Minimizing handling and
agitation of this laundry will not only reduce contact-acquired
contamination of the employee and the work are but will also decrease
mechanical injuries such as needlesticks, cuts and scratches from sharps
accidentally left in linens.

Issued

Sep 4, 1990

Abate by

Oct 18, 1990

Penalty

Initial $810 · Current $648 Reduced

Issued

Sep 4, 1990

Abate by

Oct 18, 1990

Penalty

Initial $270 · Current $216 Reduced

Issued

Sep 4, 1990

Abate by

Sep 14, 1990

Penalty

Initial $540 · Current $432 Reduced

Issued

Sep 4, 1990

Abate by

Oct 18, 1990

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $504 Reduced

Issued

Sep 4, 1990

Abate by

Oct 18, 1990

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $504 Reduced

Issued

Sep 4, 1990

Abate by

Oct 18, 1990

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $504 Reduced

Issued

Sep 4, 1990

Abate by

Sep 24, 1990

Issued

Sep 4, 1990

Abate by

Oct 18, 1990

Penalty

Initial $810 · Current $648 Reduced

Issued

Sep 4, 1990

Abate by

Oct 18, 1990

Penalty

Initial $540 · Current $432 Reduced

Issued

Sep 4, 1990

Abate by

Nov 28, 1990

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $504 Reduced

Issued

Sep 4, 1990

Abate by

Sep 27, 1990

Penalty

Initial $90 · Current $72 Reduced

Issued

Sep 4, 1990

Abate by

Sep 27, 1990

Penalty

Initial $90 · Current $72 Reduced

Issued

Sep 4, 1990

Abate by

Sep 27, 1990

Penalty

Initial $90 · Current $72 Reduced

Issued

Sep 4, 1990

Abate by

Sep 8, 1990

Penalty

Initial $360 · Current $288 Reduced

Issued

Sep 4, 1990

Abate by

Sep 27, 1990

Penalty

Initial $90 · Current $72 Reduced

Issued

Sep 4, 1990

Abate by

Oct 18, 1990