OSHA Inspection: ST. BARNABAS HOSPITAL

Issued

Mar 9, 1992

Abate by

Mar 24, 1992

Penalty

Initial $3,750 · Current $2,100 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
contact with blood or other body fluids:
(a)  On 11/12/91 - St. Barnabas Hospital, Housekeeping
Departments
Health care workers - housekeepimg and infectious
waste handlers were exposed to possible direct
contact with blood or other body fluids while
performing spill control and infectious waste
processing.  These employees were not offered the
Hepatitis B Vaccination.
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:
HEPATITIS B VACCINATION
The facility's infection control policy regarding Hepatitis
B vaccinations shall address all circumstances warranting
such vaccinations and shall identify employees of substant-
ial risk of directly contacting blood and body fluids.
All such employees shall be offered Hepatitis B vaccinations
in amounts and at times prescribed by standard medical
practice, at no cost to employees.

Issued

Feb 12, 1992

Abate by

Mar 31, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $900 Reduced

Issued

Feb 12, 1992

Abate by

Feb 27, 1992

Issued

Feb 12, 1992

Abate by

Feb 27, 1992