OSHA Inspection: ZENITH ELECTRONICS CORP.

Issued

May 1, 1991

Abate by

May 10, 1991

Penalty

Initial $630 · Current $500 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) The hazards of exposure to and contraction of Hepatitis B
Virus (HBV) and or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) through
possible direct contact with infectious blood or other body
fluids resulting from recapping needles and improper disposal of
waste with proper warning signs. Health care workers poten-
tially exposed employees include doctors, medical administration
paramedics, occupational health technicians, and housekeeping
employees.
Feasible abatement methods for reducing this hazard, include but
are not limited to:
(1) Provide sufficient training to employees in the utilization
of universal precautions as described in CDC guidelines,
for protection against HIV and HBV. Training should provide
employees with information necessary to determine when appropriate
universal precautions should be followed. The training should
ensure that employees:
(a) Properly dispose of waste material potentially con-
taminated with blood and body fluids, such as guaze,
needles, paper towels, sharps etc. in designated re-
ceptacles. Recapped or unsheathed needles, IV sy-
ringes and piggyback shall be disposed of in proper
receptacles, and not mixed with non-infectious waste.
(b) Training shall be developed based upon the work
procedures for the employees' assigned jobs. The
training shall be given to all employees potentially
exposed to blood-borne infectious agents and manage-
ment personnel effected. The training program shall
be repeated on an as needed basis.
Establish a periodic review of the training to ensure
workers are implemented the protective work practices.
(c) A review and evaluation of the established program
shall be conducted at least anually to determine its
continued effectiveness. This shall include a review
of workers exposure incidents. This program shall be
implemented expeditiously.
(2) Health care workers shall be counseled as to the possible
risks to the fetus from HBV/HIV and other possible associ-
ated infectious agents.
(3) The elimination of current practices of resheathing/recapp-
ing of needles. Needles and sharps ready for disposal
shall be disposed of in properly designated receptacles.
The current practice of recapping may result in doctor,
paramedics, doctors, assistant, housekeeping and other
healthcare workers being injured by needles potentially
contaminated with blood and/or body fluids infected with
HBV/HIV.
(4) All employees who may be potentially exposed to Hepatitis B
shall be offered the Hepatitis B vaccination in amounts and
at timed prescribed by standard medical practices.
(5) Provide housekeeping guidelines and address the proper pre-
cautions to be taken while disposing of waste materials
potentially contaminated with blood and body fluids, such
as gauze, paper towels sharps etc. involving substantial
risk of direct exposure to body fluids. Follow DCD guide-
lines regarding the use of appropriate disinfectant solu-
tions for sanitary cleaning of contaminated surfaces.

Issued

Apr 24, 1991

Abate by

Oct 29, 1991

Penalty

Initial $810 · Current $300 Reduced

Issued

Apr 24, 1991

Abate by

May 8, 1991

Penalty

Initial $630

Issued

Apr 24, 1991

Abate by

Apr 29, 1991

Issued

Apr 24, 1991

Abate by

Apr 29, 1991

Issued

Apr 24, 1991

Abate by

May 29, 1991

Issued

Apr 24, 1991

Abate by

Apr 29, 1991

Penalty

Initial $360

Issued

Apr 24, 1991

Abate by

May 13, 1991

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $350 Reduced

Issued

Apr 24, 1991

Abate by

May 3, 1991

Penalty

Initial $540 · Current $500 Reduced

Issued

Apr 24, 1991

Abate by

Apr 29, 1991

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $450

Issued

Apr 24, 1991

Abate by

May 6, 1991

Penalty

Initial $360 · Current $300 Reduced

Issued

Apr 24, 1991

Abate by

May 6, 1991

Penalty

Initial $270

Issued

Apr 24, 1991

Abate by

Apr 29, 1991

Penalty

Initial $360 · Current $300 Reduced

Issued

Apr 24, 1991

Abate by

May 29, 1991

Penalty

Initial $540 · Current $400 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0430

Issued

Apr 24, 1991

Abate by

May 29, 1991

Hazardous substances 0430

Issued

Apr 24, 1991

Abate by

May 29, 1991

Hazardous substances 0430

Issued

Apr 24, 1991

Abate by

May 29, 1991

Penalty

Initial $270 · Current $250 Reduced

Issued

Apr 24, 1991

Abate by

May 3, 1991

Penalty

Initial $540

Issued

Apr 24, 1991

Abate by

May 3, 1991

Penalty

Initial $540

Issued

Apr 24, 1991

Abate by

Apr 29, 1991

Penalty

Initial $360 · Current $350 Reduced

Issued

Apr 24, 1991

Abate by

May 6, 1991

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $400 Reduced

Issued

Apr 24, 1991

Abate by

May 6, 1991

Issued

Apr 24, 1991

Abate by

May 1, 1991

Issued

Apr 24, 1991

Abate by

Apr 29, 1991