OSHA Inspection: AMERICAN MEDICAL RESPONSE OF MA, INC.

Issued

Sep 19, 1996

Abate by

Dec 21, 1996

Penalty

Initial $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 in that
employees were exposed to:
(1)the hazard of being infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis through
unprotected
contact with patients during ambulance transport who were infectious or
suspected to
be infectious with tuberculosis in that:
(a) Medical surveillance of employees had not been conducted  at intervals
consistent
with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention(CDC).
Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard, as
recommended by CDC,
include, but are not limited to:
(1) Periodic evaluations of employees by Mantoux testing every three
months
for those
personnel classified as high risk.  Emergency Medical Technicians are high
risk personnel
based upon potential exposures to TB positive or TB suspect patients
during ambulance
transport and for engaging in high risk medical procedures, such as, but
not limited to,
endotracheal intubation and suctioning, and aerosolized medication
treatment.  Emergency
Medical Technicians have been classified as high risk according to a risk
assessment
conducted by American Medical Response of MA, Inc.

Issued

Sep 19, 1996

Abate by

Oct 1, 1996

Penalty

Initial $1,800

Issued

Sep 19, 1996

Abate by

Oct 22, 1996

Penalty

Initial $1,800

Issued

Aug 1, 1996

Abate by

Sep 3, 1996

Penalty

Initial $1,800

Issued

Aug 1, 1996

Abate by

Sep 3, 1996