OSHA Inspection: NATIONAL JEWISH CENTER

Issued

Apr 29, 1994

Abate by

Jan 31, 1995

Penalty

Initial $5,250 · Current $5,250

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 the hazard of being
infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis through patient contact
in isolation rooms, performance of high hazard procedures, and
patient contact in small enclosed spaces such as during admission
of patients and patient vehicle transport on or about November
17, 1993.
a.  Nurses , nurse aides, respiratory therapists,
doctors, housekeeping personnel, phlebotomists and EKG
technicians, and dietary personnel were exposed to the
hazard of being infected with Mycobacterium
tuberculosis through repeated and prolonged contact
with infectious tuberculosis patients that occupied
isolation rooms that were not under negative pressure
with respect to the corridors.  Sputum inductions and
postural drainage treatments are performed in these
isolation rooms by nursing personnel on a routine
basis. Included but not limited to the following rooms
on 2-Goodman building:  Rooms  220, 223, 224, 225, 231,
232, 229
b.  Physical therapists and recreational therapists
were exposed to the hazard of being infected with
Mycobacterium tuberculosis through contact with
infectious tuberculosis patients in the physical
therapy department and rehab/recreational area
c.  Van driver(s), escort personnel and recreational
specialists were exposed to the hazard of being
infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis through
exposure to infectious tuberculosis patients during
vehicle transport activities to other area hospitals
and physician offices and to recreational areas.
d.  Admitting clerks were exposed to the hazard of
being infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis through
exposure to infectious tuberculosis patients during
admissions procedures in the small, enclosed, poorly
ventilated admitting rooms.
e.  Respiratory therapists were exposed to the hazard
of being infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis
through exposure to infectious tuberculosis patients
during high hazard procedures such as but not limited
to bronchoscopies, and spirometries.
f.  Radiology personnel were exposed to the hazard of
being infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis through
exposure to infectious tuberculosis patients during CAT
scans.
g.  NJC employees were exposed to the hazard of being
infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis through
contact with infectious tuberculosis patients, were not
provided PPD skin tests as recommended by the Centers
for Disease Control (CDC);
3  employees who are frequently exposed to
tuberculosis patients and /or who are involved with
potentially high-risk procedures (eg. bronchoscopies,
sputum induction) did not receive a PPD skin test every
6 mos.
43  employees, denoted as high risk by NJC, who are
in other areas of the hospital did not receive a PPD
skin test within the CDC recommended annual frequency
Among other methods, some feasible and acceptable
abatement methods to correct this hazard as recommended
by the CDC guidelines are:
1.  Isolation rooms occupied by infectious TB patients
must be under negative pressure exhausted to the
outside and away from intake vents.
2.  Perform Mantoux tuberculin skin tests on PPD
negative health care workers to identify persons whose
skin tests convert to positive.  The frequency must be
in accordance with current CDC guidelines.
3.  Provide training to employees on the hazard and
control of tuberculosis.  The training must include the
epidemiology, transmission and pathogenesis of
tuberculosis, and the methods for assuring
effectiveness of engineering controls.

Issued

Apr 29, 1994

Abate by

May 31, 1994

Penalty

Initial $5,250 · Current $5,250

Issued

Apr 29, 1994

Abate by

May 6, 1994

Penalty

Initial $1,875 · Current $1,875

Issued

Apr 29, 1994

Abate by

May 12, 1994

Issued

Apr 29, 1994

Abate by

May 12, 1994

Issued

Apr 29, 1994

Abate by

May 2, 1994

Penalty

Initial $1,875 · Current $1,875

Issued

Apr 29, 1994

Abate by

May 12, 1994

Penalty

Initial $1,875 · Current $1,875