OSHA Inspection: POCONO MEDICAL CENTER

Issued

May 8, 1995

Abate by

Jul 13, 1995

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:
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a.) Workers (nurses, technicians etc.) were exposed to the hazard
of being infected with tuberculosis through contact with patients
who were or may be infected with tuberculosis in that patients with
suspected tuberculosis were housed in rooms that were not under
negative pressure and appropriately exhausted either directly to
the outside away from intake vents or through properly designed,
installed, and maintained HEPA filters.
Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard as
recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, among others are:
a.) Install additional AFB (acid fast bacilli) isolation rooms for
patients with suspected or confirmed TB disease. AFB isolation
rooms must be maintained under negative pressure and appropriately
exhausted.
b.) Until additional AFB isolation rooms are added, exhaust air
from the room through a window-mounted fan. These are to be used
only when the negative pressure isolation rooms are already
occupied.
c.) Utilize a HEPA filtration isolation tent at the patient's bed
to achieve negative pressure in relation to the room.ion

Issued

May 8, 1995

Abate by

Jun 22, 1995

Penalty

Initial $1,350 · Current $500 Reduced

Issued

May 8, 1995

Abate by

Jun 22, 1995

Issued

May 8, 1995

Abate by

Jun 22, 1995

Issued

May 8, 1995

Abate by

Jun 22, 1995

Issued

May 8, 1995

Abate by

Jun 1, 1995

Issued

May 8, 1995

Abate by

Jun 1, 1995

Issued

May 8, 1995

Abate by

Jun 1, 1995