OSHA Inspection: COOLEY DICKINSON HOSPITAL INC.

Issued

Dec 3, 1996

Abate by

Jan 22, 1997

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $2,250

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 exposed to
the hazard of being infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis through
contact with patients
who were suspected to be infectious with tuberculosis in that:
a).  Bronchoscopy procedures were performed on TB suspect patients in the
Special
Procedures Room (Room 6, Radiology Dept.).  The procedures were performed
while the
room was under positive pressure, causing the dispersal of the aerosolized
droplets from the
patients to spread throughout the room to the surrounding corridors and
rooms.
Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard, as
recommended by the
Centers for Disease Control, include, but are not limited to:
(1)  Renovating the ventilation system for Room 6, so that it can be
automatically switched
from positive pressure to negative pressure, as is required for different
procedures, with
pressure gages informing the staff as to the status of the ventilation
system.
(2)  Contacting the Maintenance Dept., before performing the bronchoscopy
procedures, to
have them manually switch the ventilation system for Room 6 from positive
pressure to
negative pressure, and testing to determine that the switch has been
accomplished.
(3)  As an interim measure, performing the bronchoscopy procedures which
require the use
of the C-Arm equipment, in other radiology rooms, which can be maintained
under negative
pressure, and using portable HEPA filtration systems.

Issued

Dec 3, 1996

Abate by

Jan 22, 1997

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $2,250

Issued

Dec 3, 1996

Abate by

Dec 27, 1996

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $2,250

Issued

Dec 3, 1996

Abate by

Jan 22, 1997

Penalty

Initial $1,350 · Current $1,350

Issued

Sep 25, 1996

Abate by

Sep 30, 1996

Issued

Sep 25, 1996

Abate by

Sep 30, 1996

Issued

Sep 25, 1996

Abate by

Sep 30, 1996

Issued

Sep 25, 1996

Abate by

Oct 9, 1996