OSHA Inspection: FERNCLIFF NURSING HOME

Issued

Jan 13, 1992

Abate by

Feb 16, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,875 · Current $1,406 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)  10/17/91, at Ferncliff Nursing Home in Rhinebeck,NY, an
aide in recreation therapy was exposed to the hazard of
being infected by HBV and/or HIV through possible direct
contact with blood or other body fluids through a prick
with a lance on August 5,1991. After employee exposure
adequate follow up procedures were not taken.
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.
Feasilbe 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:
Followup Procedures After Possible Exposure to HIV/HBV:
If a health care worker has a percutaneous (needlestick or cut)
or mucous membrane (splash to the eye, nasal mucosa, or mouth)
exposure to blood or body fluids or has a cutaneous exposure to
blood oe body fluids when the worker's skin is chapped, abraded,
or otherwise non-intact, the source patient shall be informed of
the incident and tested for HIV and HBV infections, after consent
is obtained.
If patient consent is refused or if the source patient tests
positive, the health care worker shall be evaluated clinically
by HIV antibody testing as soon as possible and advised to report
and seek medical evaluation of any acute febrile illness that occurs
within 12 weeks after exposure.  HIV seronegative workers shall
be retested 6 weeks post-exposure and on a periodic basis thereafter
(12 weeks and 6 months after exposure).
Follow-up procedures shall be taken for health care workers exposed
or potentially exposed to HBV.  The type of procedures depends on
the immunization status of the worker (i.e., whether HBV vaccination
has been received and antibody response is adequate) and the HBV
serologic status of the source patient.
The CDC Immunization Practices Advisory Committee has published
its recommendations regarding HBV post-exposure prophylaxis in
table format in the June 5,1985, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Report.

Issued

Jan 13, 1992

Abate by

Jan 24, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,875 · Current $1,406 Reduced

Issued

Dec 12, 1991

Abate by

Dec 22, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,875 · Current $750 Reduced

Issued

Dec 12, 1991

Abate by

Dec 22, 1991

Issued

Dec 12, 1991

Abate by

Jan 16, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,875

Issued

Dec 12, 1991

Abate by

Feb 28, 1992

Penalty

Current $750

Issued

Dec 12, 1991

Abate by

Feb 18, 1992

Issued

Dec 12, 1991

Abate by

Feb 28, 1992

Issued

Dec 12, 1991

Abate by

Dec 31, 1991

Issued

Dec 12, 1991

Abate by

Dec 15, 1991