OSHA Inspection: BAYSTATE MEDICAL CENTER

Issued

Mar 4, 1991

Abate by

May 8, 1991

Penalty

Initial $700 · 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 form recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death
or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to
confined spaces:
A) BOILER ROOM: THE EMPLOYER DID NOT DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A SAFE
CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROGRAM FOR EMPLOYEES REQUIRED TO ENTER BOILERS
TO PERFORM CLEANING OPERATIONS.
AMONG OTHR METHODS, A FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO
CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS TO FOLLOW STANDARD PROCEDURES FOR SAFE ENTRY
INCLUDING, BUT NO LIMITED TO:
1) ESTABLISHMENT OF A WRITTEN ENTRY PERMIT PROGRAM INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO:
a) HAZARD INDENTIFICATION
b) HAZARD CONTROL
c) PERMIT SYSTEM
d) EMPLOYEE INFORMATION
e) PREVENTION OF UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY
f) EMPLOYEE TRAINING
g) EQUIPMENT
h) RESCUE
i) PROTECTION FROM EXTERNAL HAZARDS
j) DUTY TO OTHER EMOLOYERS
2) ENTRY INTO THE TANK SHALL BE BY PERMIT ONLY. THE PERMIT SHALL BE
SPECIFIC FOR THE LOCATION AND TYPE OF WORK TO BE DONE. THE PERMIT
SHALL BE DATED AND CARRY AN EXPIRATION TIME THAT WILL BE VALID FOR
ONE SHIFT ONLY. THE PERMIT SHALL BE UPDATED FOR EACH SHIFT WITH THE
SAME REQUIREMENTS.
3) THE PERMIT SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:
a) THE HAZARDS OF THE PERMIT SPACE
b) ISOLATION PROCEDURES
c) OTHER MEASURES FOR REMOVING OR CONTROLLING POTENTIAL HAZARDS
d) ACCEPTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITONS TO BE MAINTAINED DURING ENTRY
e) TESTING AND MONITORING EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES TO VERFIY AND
MAINTAIN ACCEPTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITONS.
f) RESCUE AND OTHER SERVICES TO BE SUMMONED IN CASE OF EMERGENCY AND
THE MEANS OF COMMUNICATION WITH THOSE SERVICES.
g) ANY RESCUE EQUIPMENT TO BE PROVIDED ON SITE.
h) COMMUNIATION PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT TO BE USED BY AUTHORIZED
ENTRANTS AND ATTENDANTS TO MAINTAIN CONTACT.
i) PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT PROVIDED.
j) ANY OTHR INFORMTION NECESSARY TO ENSURE EMPLOYEE SAFETY.
4) ALL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE REQUIRED TO ENTER THE PERMIT SPACE SHALL
RECEIVE THE APPROPRIATE TRAINING INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
HAZARD RECOGNITION; USE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT;
COMMUNICATION WITH ATTENDANT; THE PERMIT SYSTEM; EMERGENCY ENTRY
AND EXIT PROCEDURES AND PROPER WORK PRACTICES TO BE USED IN A
CONFINED SPACE.
5) ALL EMPLOYEES WHO WORK AS ATTENDANTS SHALL RECEIVE THE APROPRIATE
TRAINING INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: HAZARD RECOGNITION;
COMMUNICATION WITH ENTRANTS; ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN WHEN UNAUTHORIZED
PERSONS APPROACH OR ENTER A PERMIT SPACE; PROPER RESCUE PROCEDURES.
6) ALL ENTRANCES TO THE CONFINED SPACE SHALL BE POSTED WITH THE
FOLLOWING INFORMATION: DANGER; CONFINED SPACE; ENTRY BY PERMIT ONLY
7) PROVISIONS SHALL BE MADE FOR EITHER AN IN-PLAN RESCUE TEAM OR AN
ARRANGEMENT UNDER WHICH AN OUTSIDE RESCUE TEAM WILL RESPOND TO A
REQUEST FOR RESCUE SERVICES.

Issued

Mar 4, 1991

Abate by

Sep 8, 1991

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $300 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: Rhe
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 physcial harm to employees in that:
A) EMPLOYEES IN THE SEROLOGY DEPARTMENT WERE EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE
ERGONOMIC STRESS CAUSED BY REPETITIVE HAND, WRIST AND ARM MOTIONS
RESULTING IN DISABLING CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS.
THERE ARE FEASIBLE ENGINEERING ADMINISTRATIVE AND MEDICAL APPROACHES
TO PREVENT OCCURRENCES OF CUMULATIVE TRUAMA DISRORDERS, AMONG OTHER
METHODS, A FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT PROGAM TO REDUCE
CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS WOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
1) EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF EMPLOYEES IN THE RECOGNITION OF THE
ERGONOMIC STRESSORS PRESENT IN THEIR JOBS. TRAINING IN SYMPTOM
RECOGNITION OF CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS AND TRAINING IN THE
POSTURES, WORKSTATION ADJUSTMENTS, AND WORK PRACTICES THAT ARE
KNOWN TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS.
2) EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF SUPERVISORS IN THE ABOVE. SUPERVISORS
SHOULD HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO NOTE AND CORRECT POOR WORK PRACTICES.
3) FREQUENT REST BREAKS FOR ALL EXPOSED EMPLOYEES.
4) ROTATION OF EMPLOYEES AMONG JOBS THAT REQUIRE THE USE OF DIFFERENT
MUSCLE GROUPS AND ARE NOT THEMSELVES THE CAUSE OF REPETITIVE MOTION
INJURIES.
5) ALLOW NEW OR REASSIGNED EMPLOYEES TO CONDITION THEIR MUSCLE/TENDON
GROUPS PRIOR TO WORKING AT FULL CAPACITY (A CAPACITY WHICH HAS BEEN
DETERMINED TO BE SAFE AND CAUSE NO ADVERSE EFFECTS).
6) SET UP A MEDICAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TO MONITOR EMPLOYEES AND PREVENT
EARLY SYMPTOMS FROM PROGRESSING TO INJURIES. THIS PROGRAM SHOULD
INCLUDE: ENCOURAGING EARLY REPORTING OF INJURIES AND DISORDERS;
INSTITUTING A FORMAL, DOCUMENTED, TRACKING AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM
TO MONITOR INJURY TRENDS. PROVIDING ADEQUATE TREATMENT OF ERGONOMIC
RELATED CASES, INCLUDING NOT REASSIGNING EMPLOYEES TO A JOB UNTIL IT
HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO MINIMIZE THE HAZARDS THAT RESULTED IN INJURY;
ALLOWING ADEQUATE TIME OFF FOR HEALING AFTER SURGERY OR OTHER
INTERVENTION; AND UTILIZING PHYSICAL THERAPISTS TO DEVELOP AND
IMPLEMENT CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT MEASURES UPON DETECTION OF EARLY
SYMPTOMS.
7) CONTINUE EFFORTS TO REPLACE THE ABBOTT COMANDER WITH AN INSTRUMENT
THAT HAS A DETACHABLE KEYBOARD.
8) REDESIGN WORKSTATIONS TO BE ADJUSTABLE, TO ELIMINATE STATIC WORK
POSITIONS, AND TO MINIMIZE DISTANCES BETWEEN EMPLOYEES AND OBJECTS
BEING HANDLED.
9) INVESTIGATE THE FEASIBLITY OF PURCHASING COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE
MOTORIZED OR ELECTRONICALLY OPERATED PIPETTES AND PIPETTE/DISPENSERS
AND ELIMINATING USE OF INSTRUMENTS WHICH REQUIRE EXCESSIVE ERGONOMIC
STRESS.
10) INVESTIGATE THE FEASIBLITY OF PURCHASING OR DESIGNING A DEVICE FOR
REMOVING TEST TUBE CAPS.
11) PROVIDE ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED CHAIRS WITH ARM RESTS.
12) HIRE A PROPERLY TRAINED ERGONOMIC CONSULTANT TO: REVIEW ALL OSHA AND
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS MADE; PERFORM A SYSTEMATIC EVALUATION OF
EXISTING AND NEW OWKR PRACTICES, EQUIPMENT, AND WORKSTATIONS DESIGN
FOR ALL OPERATIONS WITH CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDER HAZARDS;
RECOMMEND ENGINEERING AND ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS TO REDUCE OR
ELIMINATE ERGONOMIC HAZARDS; EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
CONTROLS IMPLEMENTED; ERGONOMICALLY ASSES NEW EQUIPMENT OR WORK
STATION LAYOUT IN THE PLANNING STAGES BEFORE EXPOSING EMPLOYEES TO
POTENTIAL CUMULATIVE TRAUMA STRESSES.
13) SET UP AN ERGONOMICS TEAM CONSISTING OF MEMBERS FROM MANAGEMENT,
SAFETY, MEDICAL, AND EXPOSED EMPLOYEES TO: EVALUATE HEALTH DATA;
DETERMINE, MODIFY AND EVALUATE INTERVENTION STRATEGIES.
STEP 1-
Administrative controls shall be implemented so that employee exposure
to repetitive motion trauma is reduced. These controls could consist of
employee rotation, mandatory frequent rest breaks, elimination of
instruments which require excessive ergonomic stress, or other methods
to rectify the situation.
STEP 2-
Submit to the area director a written detailed plan of abatement
outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering,
administrative and medical measures to reduce employee exposures to
repeated trauma.
STEP 3-
Correction shall be completed by the implementation of feasible
engineering and/or administrative controls and their effectiveness at
achieving compliance verified.

Issued

Mar 4, 1991

Abate by

May 8, 1991

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $300 Reduced

Issued

Mar 4, 1991

Abate by

Jun 8, 1991

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $700

Issued

Mar 4, 1991

Abate by

Apr 8, 1991

Penalty

Initial $400 · Current $200 Reduced

Issued

Mar 4, 1991

Abate by

Apr 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $500 · Current $500

Issued

Mar 4, 1991

Abate by

May 8, 1991

Penalty

Initial $400 · Current $400

Issued

Mar 4, 1991

Abate by

Apr 8, 1991

Penalty

Initial $100 · Current $100