OSHA Inspection: ST. LUKES HOSPITAL

Issued

Nov 1, 1990

Abate by

Jan 31, 1991

Penalty

Initial $810 · Current $400 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
BLOODBORNE DISEASES:
A) HEALTH CARE WORKERS (EMPLOYEES IN PATIENT CARE AREAS) WERE EXPOSED
TO THE HAZARD OF BEING INFECTED BY HEPATITIS B VIRUS AND/OR HUMAN
IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS THROUGH POSSIBLE DIRECT CONTACT WITH BLOOD
OR OTHER BODY FLUIDS CONTAINED IN LINEN.
FEASIBLE AND USEFUL ABATEMENT METHODS FOR REDUCING THIS HAZARD, AMONG
OTHERS ARE:
LINEN CONTAMINIATED WITH BLOOD OR OTHER BODY FLUIDS SHOULD BE PLACED
IMMEDIATELY IN LEAK-PROOF BAGS PRIOR TO BEING SENT TO LAUNDRY.
B) HEALTH CARE WORKERS (LAUNDRY EMPLOYEES SORTING SOILED LINEN) WERE
EXPOSED TO THE HAZARD OF BEING INFECTED BY HEPATITIS B VIRUS AND/OR
HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS THROUGH POSSIBLE DIRECT CONTACT WITH
BLOOD OR OTHER BODY FLUIDS BY CONSUMING BEVERAGES IN THE WORK AREA.
FEASIBLE AND USEFUL ABATEMENT METHODS FOR REDUCING THIS HAZARD, AMONG
OTHERS ARE:
LAUNDRY EMPLOYEES SHOULD NOT ALLOW TO CONSUME BEVERAGES IN THE WORK
AREA, ESPECIALLY WHILE SORTING SOILED LINEN.

Issued

Nov 1, 1990

Abate by

Jan 31, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · 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 OR
ARE POTENTIALLY EXPOSED TO ANTINEOPLASTIC DRUGS, SUCH AS ADRIAMYCIN, 5-
FLUOROURACIL (5FU), CYTOXAN, AND CISPLATIN:
A) MOUNTAIN STATES TUMOR INSTITUTE, CHEMO PREPARATION AREA - EMPLOYEES
(NURSES) WERE EXPOSED TO ANTI-NEOPLASTIC (CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC)
NEOPLASTIC (CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC) DRUGS BY INHALATION, CONTACT,
INJECTION AND/OR INGESTION THROUGH IMPROPER WORK PRACTICES
AND/OR ENGINEERING CONTROLS. POSSIBLE HEALTH EFFECTS FROM
EXPOSURE TO CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC DRUGS INCLUDE; CHROMOSOME DAMAGE
TO CELLS AND TERATOGENESIS; DEVELOPMENT OF NEOPLASMS AND
AND LEUKEMIAS; AND ORGAN DAMAGE.
B) PHARMACY - EMPLOYEES (PHARMACISTS AND PHARMACY TECHNICIANS) WERE
EXPOSED TO ANTINEOPLASTIC (CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC) DRUGS BY INHALATION,
CONTACT, INJECTION AND/OR INGESTION THROUGH IMPROPER WORK
PRACTICES. POSSIBLE HEALTH EFFECTS FROM EXPOSURES TO CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC
DRUGS INCLUDE: CHROMOSOME DAMAGE TO CELLS AND TERATOGENESIS;
DEVLOPMENT OF NEOPLASMA AND LEUKEMIAS; AND ORGAN DAMAGE.
SOME FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTALB ABATEMENT METHODS IN BOTH INSTANCES TO
CORRECT THIS HAZARD ARE:
1) THE USE OF MECHANICAL RECAPPING DEVICES TO ELIMINATE EMPLOYEE
EXPOSURES TO ACCIDENTAL NEEDLESTICKS AND EXPOSURE TO ANTINEOPLASTIC
DRUGS.
2) ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A LOG OR REGISTRY WHICH INCLUDES THE EMPLOYEE
NAME, DATE, DRUG, AMOUNT AND APPROXIMATE TIME OF EXPOSURE (MINUTES)
FOR EMPLOYEES WHO PREPARE AND ADMINISTER CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC DRUGS.
3) LABEL SYRINGES WHICH CONTAIN CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC DRUGS WITH A WARNING
LABEL, AS WELL AS THE PATIENT'S NAME, DRUG NAME AND QUANTITY, DATE
AND TIME PREPARED AND DOSE.
4) PREPARE THE CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC DRUGS OVER DISPOSABLE PLASTIC-BACKED
PAPER LINER WITHIN THE HOOD WHICH SHOULD BE CHANGED DAILY OR WHEN
CONTAMINATED.
5) CONTAMINATED NEEDLES AND SYRINGES SHOULD BE DISPOSED OF INTACT
DIRECTLY INTO THE SHARPS CONTAINER STORED WITHIN THE HOOD.
6) GOWNS WORN DURING CHEMOTHERAPY DRUG PREPARATION AT MSTI SHOULD NOT
BE WORN OUTSIDE OF THE PREPARATION AREA.
7) LEAVE THE BLOWER ON THE NUAIRE LABGARD LAMINAR FLOW BIOLOGICAL
SAFETY CABINET (BSC) USED IN PREPARING CHEMOTHERAPY AT MSTI
OPERATING 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK.
8) DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE AIR FACE VELOCITY OF THE 10 INCH
OPENING ON THE NUAIRE BSC PROTECTS WORKES FROM CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC
DRUG DRIFT OR WHETHER AN APPROPRIATE HOOD WITH AN ADJUSTABLE SASH
WOULD OFFER BETTER PROTECTION.

Issued

Nov 1, 1990

Abate by

Nov 9, 1990

Penalty

Initial $810 · Current $400 Reduced

Issued

Nov 1, 1990

Abate by

Nov 7, 1990

Issued

Nov 1, 1990

Abate by

Jan 31, 1991

Penalty

Initial $150 · Current $150

Issued

Nov 1, 1990

Abate by

Jan 31, 1991

Penalty

Initial $300 · Current $150 Reduced

Issued

Nov 1, 1990

Abate by

Jan 31, 1991

Penalty

Initial $360 · Current $200 Reduced

Issued

Nov 1, 1990

Abate by

Jan 31, 1991

Issued

Nov 1, 1990

Abate by

Jan 31, 1991