OSHA Inspection: AL TECH SPECIALTY STEEL CORP.

Issued

Mar 4, 1992

Abate by

Mar 23, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,125 · 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 the hazard of becoming infected with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
and/or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) through possible direct
contact with blood or other body fluids:
(a)  11/25/91, Emergency Medical Technicians who provide first
aid services were not offered Hepatitis B vaccinations.
(b)  Follow-up procedures after possible exposure to HIV/HBV
were not established for Emergency Medical Technicians
who may be exposed to blood or other body fluids while
administrating first aid or other care.
The hazards of such exposure include, but are not limited to, acute
Hepatitis B, cirrhosis, primary liver cancer and becoming a chronic
active carrier of the Heptatitis B and/or Human Immunodeficiency
Virus.
Feasible abatement methods to correct this hazard as stipulated
in the Center for Disease Control Guidelines published in Morbidity
and Mortality Weekly Report, June 24, 1988,Volume 37 Number 24,
include but are not limited to:
1)  Hepatitis B Vaccination
Al Tech Specialty Steel Corporation's infection control policy
regarding Hepatitis B vaccinations shall address all circum-
stances warranting such vaccinations and shall identify
employees of substantial risk of directly contacting blood
and  body fluids.
All such employees shall be offered Hepatitis B vaccinations
in amounts and at times prescribed by standard medical practice
at no cost to employees.
2)  Follow-up Procedures After Possible Exposure to HIV/HBV:
(a)  If a health care worker has a percutaneous(needlestick
or cut) or mucous membrane (splash to the eye,nasal
mucosa, or mouth) exposure to blood or body fluids or
has a cutaneous exposure to blood or body fluids when
the worker's skin is chapped, abraded, or otherwise
non-intact, the source patientshall be informed of the
incident and tested for HIV and HBV infections.after
consent is obtained.
(b)  If patient consent is refused or if the source patient
tests positive, the health care worker shall be
evaluated clinically by HIV antibody testing as soon as
possible and advised to report and seek medical evalua-
tion of any acute febrile illness that occurs within 12
weeks after exposure.  HIV seronegative workers shall
be retested 6 weeks post-exposure and on a periodic
basis thereafter (12 weeks and 6 months after exposure).
(c)  Follow-up procedures shall be taken for health care
workers exposed or potentially exposed to HBV. The
type od procedures depends on the immunization status
of the worker (i.e., whether HBV vaccination has been
received and antibody response is adequate) and the HBV
serologic status of the source patient.  The CDC
Immunization Practices Advisory Committee has published
its recommendations regarding HBV post-exposure prophy-
laxis in table format in the June 5,1985, Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Report.

Issued

Feb 25, 1992

Abate by

Mar 14, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $500 Reduced

Issued

Feb 25, 1992

Abate by

Feb 28, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,700

Issued

Feb 25, 1992

Abate by

Feb 28, 1992

Penalty

Initial $850 · Current $425 Reduced