OSHA Inspection: COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER

Issued

Dec 22, 1994

Abate by

Jan 24, 1995

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $1,200

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of
%%
employment which
ere 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
being infected
with Mycobacterium tuberculosis through contact with patients who were or
may be infected
with tuberculosis in that:
a)  Physicians, nurses, patient transport personnel, and other health care
providers
were exposed to the hazard of being infected with tuberculosis through
contact with
active or suspect TB patients who were not place in a negative pressure
isolation
room: 4th Floor, F-wing, Room 4614. On or about 7/19/94.
b)  Nurses, patient transport personnel, and other health care providers
who enter
rooms where suspect or active TB patients are isolated were not offered
Mantoux skin
tests in accordance with the frequency recommendations of the Centers for
Disease
Control (CDC). On or about 7/19/94.
Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard, as
recommended by
the Centers for Disease Control, among others are:
1)  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).
2)  Provide medical surveillance (at no cost to employees) including
preplacement
evaluation, administration and interpretation of TB Mantoux skin tests,
and periodic
evaluations.  The frequency of the tests must be in accordance with
current CDC
guidelines.

Issued

Dec 22, 1994

Abate by

Jan 24, 1995

Penalty

Initial $2,925 · Current $2,925