OSHA Inspection: YATES FUNERAL HOME, INC.

Issued

Apr 23, 1991

Abate by

May 25, 1991

Penalty

Initial $640 · Current $350 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:
(a)  On or about December 17-28, 1990, funeral service employees
performing embalming and removal of remains were exposed to the
hazard of being infected by Hepatitis B Virus and/or Human
Immunodeficiency Virus through possible direct contact with blood
or other potentially infectious materials.
Feasible abatement methods for reducing this hazard include:
1.  Establishment of Hepatitis B vaccination policy and program
Which addresses all circumstances warranting such vaccinations and
indentifies all employees at substantial risk of directly
contacting blood or other potentially infectious materials, and
offers all such employees Hepatitis B vaccinations in amounts and
at times prescribed by standard medical practice.
Reference:  Centers For Disease Control Immunization Practices Advisory
Committee:  Recommendations for Protective against Viral Hepatitis.
MMWR 1985;35:313-24, 329-35.
2.  Establishment of a training policy and program for employees (as
above) which includes:
a.  Education on Epidemiology, modes of Transmission, and pre-
vention of HIV/HBV,
b.  Counseling regarding potential risks to the fetus from HIV/HBV
and other associated infectious agents.
c.  Training regarding Centers for Disease Control Guidelines con-
cerning "Universal Precautions" as it applies to their workplace,
and specified procedures for workpractices e.g.  cleaning and dis-
infection of work tables, equipment and
3.  Implementation of engineering controls and workpractices as nece-
ssary to reduce risk of contact with blood (e.g. splashes, aerosols,
cuts) such as
a.  Placement of embalming table drain tube and aspirator discharge
below water surface in the embalming sink.
b.  covering of embalming sink.
c.  Maintenance of regulated areas to preclude access of unprotected
employees to area of facility where fixutures, equipment, etc., may
be contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious material.

Issued

Apr 23, 1991

Abate by

May 25, 1991

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:
(a)  On or about December 17-28, 1990, appropriate post-exposure
medical evaluation and follow-up procedures were not established for
embalmers and other employee(s) exposed to the hazard of being
infected with HBV and/or HIV through direct contact with blood or
other potentially infectious materials i.e., incidents of percu-
taneous (needle stick or cut)  exposure, or mucous membrane (splash
to eye, nasal mucosa, or mouth) exposure, or to cutaneous exposure
of chapped abraded, or otherwise non-intact skin.
Feasible abatement methods, for reducing this hazard include:
A confidential medical examination and follow-up including the following
:   1.  Documentation of HBV  and HIV infection status of the source
patient (if known) and,
2.  Follow-up of the exposed including antigen and/or antibody
testing (HBV/HIV), counseling, illness reporting, and safe and
effective post-exposure phrophylaxis as indicated according to
standard recommendations for medical practice.
Reference:  Centers for Disease Control.  Recommendations for Prevention
of HIV Transmission in Health-Care Settings:  MMWR 1987;36 (Suppl. 2S).
Reference:  Centers for Disease Control, Immunization Practices Advisory
Committee, Recommendations for Protection Against Viral Hepatitis.  MMWR
1990:39: (No.S.2).
Note:  It is recommended that the facility develop policies for docu-
mentation and tracking of post-exposure evaluations and follow-up
procedures (re: HBV/HIV)  which address or specify requirements for:
1.  Documentation of source patient indentification and circumstances
underwhich exposure occurred.
2.  Determination of source HIV status and/or testing (HIV) of source
patients where feasible and consent issues.
3.  Documentation of seronegative source patients "risk-factors"
evaluation.
4.  Development of a chronological tracking system to assure timely
administration of vaccines and procedures (e.g. HB vaccine, serial
HIV testing)  and notification to exposed employees of results of
tests and evaluations, and dates of future vaccinations/inooculations
,  tests or procedures that may be required.

Issued

Apr 23, 1991

Abate by

May 2, 1991

Penalty

Initial $420 · Current $250 Reduced

Issued

Apr 23, 1991

Abate by

May 2, 1991

Issued

Apr 23, 1991

Abate by

Apr 26, 1991

Penalty

Initial $360 · Current $200 Reduced

Issued

Apr 23, 1991

Abate by

May 25, 1991

Issued

Apr 23, 1991

Abate by

May 25, 1991