OSHA Inspection: SHARED TEXTILES

Issued

Jun 10, 1992

Abate by

Jul 13, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $1,050 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 con-
tact with blood or other body fluids:
(a)  On 3/18/92, employees working in a laundry service
who sort laundry which is considered to be infectious
were not offered the Hepatitis B vaccination.
(b)  On 3/18/92, follow-up procedures after possible
exposure to HIV/HBV were not established for employees
who may be exposed to blood or other potential
infectious materials while sorting and/or washing and/
or drying soiled/contaminated linen.
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 Hepatitis 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
Shared Textile Services infection control policy regarding
Hepatitis B vaccinations shall address all circumstances
warranting such vaccinations and shall identify employees
of substantial risk of directly contacting blood and body
fluids.
2)  Follow-up Procedures After Possible Exposure to HIV/HBV:
(a)  If a health care worker has a percutaneous (needle-
stick 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 patient shall 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 eval-
uated clinically by HIV antibody testing as soon as
possible and advised to report and seek medical
evaluation 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
of 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 pro-
phylaxis in table format in the June 5, 1985, Morbidity
and Mortality Weekly Report.

Issued

Jun 10, 1992

Abate by

Jun 28, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $1,050 Reduced

Issued

Jun 10, 1992

Abate by

Jun 28, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $1,050 Reduced

Issued

Jun 10, 1992

Abate by

Jun 28, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $1,050 Reduced

Issued

Jun 10, 1992

Abate by

Jun 20, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $1,050 Reduced

Issued

Jun 10, 1992

Abate by

Jul 13, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $1,050 Reduced

Issued

Jun 10, 1992

Abate by

Jun 28, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $1,050 Reduced

Issued

Jun 10, 1992

Abate by

Jun 15, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $1,050 Reduced

Issued

Jun 10, 1992

Abate by

Jun 20, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $1,050 Reduced

Issued

Jun 10, 1992

Abate by

Jun 20, 1992

Issued

Jun 10, 1992

Abate by

Jun 28, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $1,050 Reduced

Issued

Jun 10, 1992

Abate by

Jun 28, 1992

Issued

Jun 10, 1992

Abate by

Jun 28, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $1,050 Reduced

Issued

Jun 10, 1992

Abate by

Jun 28, 1992

Issued

Jun 10, 1992

Abate by

Jun 28, 1992

Issued

Jun 10, 1992

Abate by

Jun 15, 1992

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $420 Reduced