OSHA Inspection: CORNELL UNIVERSITY

Issued

May 4, 1994

Abate by

Jul 6, 1994

Penalty

Initial $2,125 · Current $2,125

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1070:  The
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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
workers including (but not limited to) doctors, nurses, admitting clerks,
health associates,
and nursing assistants were exposed to the hazard of being infected with
tuberculosis through
contact with patients who were or may be infected with tuberculosis in
that employees of a
health care facility were exposed to the exhaled air of individuals with
confirmed or
suspected TB disease:
a)The facility did not have a program in use for the early
identification, isolation, and
treatment of known or suspect TB patients.
b)Exposed employees did not receive medical surveillance related to TB as
defined by
the Centers for Disease Control (MMWR 12/7/90).
c)Employees have not been trained about TB or how to protect themselves
from
exposure.
All of the above took place on or about November 24, 1993.
Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard, as
recommended by the
Centers for Disease Control, among others are:
1.Protocol for the early identification of individuals with active
tuberculosis.
2.Medical surveillance (at no cost to the employees) including placement
evaluation,
administration and interpretation of the TB Mantoux skin tests, and
periodic
evaluations shall be offered to employees as follows:  an initial
baseline screening at
the time of employment for all employees in the covered facilities;
annually for all
employees in the covered facilities; re-testing every six months for
workers
with
exposure.
3.Evaluation and management (at no cost to employees) of workers with a
positive skin
test, or with skin test conversion on repeat testing, or who are
exhibiting symptoms of
TB, including work restrictions for infectious employees.  Workers who
experience a
TB exposure incident (exposure to a patient/client with infections TB for
who
infection control precautions have not been taken) shall also be managed
according to
CDC recommendations.
4.Placement of individuals with suspected or confirmed TB disease in an
AFB (acid fast
bacilli) isolation room.  AFB isolation rooms for persons with suspected
or confirmed
infectious TB and areas in which high hazard procedures are performed on
such
individuals must be maintained under negative pressure and appropriately
exhausted
(either directly to the outside away from intake vents or through
properly designed,
installed, and maintained HEPA filters).
5.Training and information to ensure employee knowledge of such issues as
the hazard
of TB transmission, its signs and symptoms, medical surveillance and
therapy, and
site specific protocols including the proper use of controls.

Issued

May 4, 1994

Abate by

May 12, 1994

Issued

May 4, 1994

Abate by

May 12, 1994