OSHA Inspection: TEXAS HEALTH ENTERPRISES DBA UNIVERSITY CARE CENTR

Issued

Nov 17, 1989

Abate by

Jan 11, 1990

Penalty

Initial $480 · Current $260 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:
Health care workers (e.g., nurses, nurse's aides, housekeepers, etc.)
were exposed to the hazard of being infected by HBV and/or HIV
through possible direct contact with blood or other body fluids.
Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard, among
others, are:
1) Making health care workers at substantial risk of directly contacting
body fluids aware of the existence and benefits of Hepatitis B
vaccinations:
2) Developing written follow-up procedures for implementation after
possible exposures that include HBV/HIV testing of the source and
employee (after obtaining proper consent) and other appropriate
procedures as outlined by CDC; and,
3) Training and education on biohazard signs/tags, the hazards of
recapping needles, and procedures to be followed in the event of
exposure to needlestick or to body fluids and refresher training on
communicable diseases so all employees have the same level of
competence.

Issued

Nov 17, 1989

Abate by

Dec 4, 1989

Issued

Nov 17, 1989

Abate by

Dec 11, 1989

Issued

Nov 17, 1989

Abate by

Dec 18, 1989

Penalty

Initial $400 · Current $216 Reduced

Issued

Nov 17, 1989

Abate by

Jan 11, 1990

Issued

Nov 17, 1989

Abate by

Dec 11, 1989

Issued

Nov 17, 1989

Abate by

Dec 4, 1989