OSHA Inspection: ELLWOOD CITY HOSPITAL

Issued

Nov 21, 1991

Abate by

Dec 13, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,625 · Current $1,125 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
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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
the hazard of being infected by HBV and/or HIV through possible direct
contact with blood or other body fluids:
a) Health care workers (laundry employees) in the Laundry were exposed
to the hazard of being infected by HBV and/or HIV through possible
direct contact with blood or other body fluids while handling and
sorting blood contaminated/blood soaked cloth items from operating
rooms and maternity delivery rooms.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct
this hazard is the following:
1) Handling, sorting and bagging of soiled linen must be done at the
location where it was used.
2) Blood contaminated linen must be placed in containers (bags, etc.)
that minimize contact and handling of the soiled cloth. This can be
accomplished by double bagging using a water soluble inner bag. The
outer bag must be biohazard labeled by a means no easily removed with
a message that is unmistakable in meaning.
3) Stringent procedures must be established to prevent sharps (needles,
scalpels, razors, etc.) from entering linen consigned for the
Laundry.
inner bag.  The outer bag must be biohazard labeled
by a means not easily removed with a message that
is unmistabkable in meaning.
3.  Stringent procedures must be established to
prevent sharps (needles, scalpels, razors, etc.) from
entering linen consigned for the Laundry.

Issued

Nov 21, 1991

Abate by

Dec 13, 1991

Issued

Nov 21, 1991

Abate by

Dec 26, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,625 · Current $1,125 Reduced

Issued

Nov 21, 1991

Abate by

Dec 13, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,625 · Current $1,125 Reduced

Issued

Nov 21, 1991

Abate by

Dec 26, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,625 · Current $1,125 Reduced

Issued

Nov 21, 1991

Abate by

Dec 26, 1991

Issued

Nov 21, 1991

Abate by

Dec 13, 1991

Issued

Nov 21, 1991

Abate by

Dec 13, 1991

Issued

Nov 21, 1991

Abate by

Dec 13, 1991

Penalty

Initial $650 · Current $325 Reduced

Issued

Nov 21, 1991

Abate by

Dec 26, 1991

Penalty

Initial $650 · Current $325 Reduced

Issued

Nov 21, 1991

Abate by

Dec 26, 1991

Issued

Nov 21, 1991

Abate by

Dec 13, 1991