OSHA Inspection: NORWICHTOWN COVALESCENT HOME

Issued

Jan 14, 1991

Abate by

Jun 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $490 · Current $490

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 health care workers who
had direct contact with blood or body fluids were not adequately
protected from potential infections due to a possible immune deficiency
from a sero conversion:
THE FOLLOWING INSTANCES, THE EMPLOYER DID NOT ENSURE THAT THE EMPLOYEES
WERE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED FROM POTENTIAL INFECTIONS IN THAT:
THE EMPLOYER DID NOT PROVIDE THE HBV VACCINE TO THE NURSES AIDES WHO
WERE EXPOSED TO BODY FLUIDS
THE EMPLOYER'S PROGRAM DID NOT ENSURE THAT EMPLOYEES EXPOSED TO BLOOD
AND/OR BODY FLUIDS SHALL BE EVALUATED CLINICALLY AND WITH HIV TESTING
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER THE EXPOSURE, FURTHER EVALUATIONS OF 6
WEEKS, 16 WEEKS, AND 6 MONTHS AFTER THE INCIDENT.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD WOULD
BE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EMPLOYEE TRAINING PROGRAM EMPHASIZING THE
FOLLOWING:
1) EMPLOYEES WHO POTENTIALLY ARE EXPOSED TO BODY FLUIDS SHALL BE OFFERED
THE HEPATITUS B VACCINATION FREE OF CHARGE IN AMOUNTS AND AT TIMES
PRESCRIBED BY STANDARD MEDICAL PRACTICE.
2) AFTER AN EXPOSURE, THE HEALTH CARE WORKER SHALL BE EVALUATED
CLINICALLY AND BY HIV ANTIBODY TESTING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND
ADVISED TO REPORT AND SEEK MEDICAL EVALUATION OF ANY ACUTE FEASIBLE
ILLNESS THAT OCCURS WITHIN TWELVE WEEKS AFTER EXPOSURE. HIV
SERONEGATIVE WORKERS SHALL BE RETESTED 6 WEEKS PAST EXPOSURE, AND ON
A PERIODIC BASIS THEREEAFTER. (12 WEEKS, AND 6 MONTHS AFTER EXPOSURE)
-12 MONTHS IS RECOMMENDED.)

Issued

Jan 14, 1991

Abate by

Jan 22, 1991

Issued

Jan 14, 1991

Abate by

Feb 19, 1991