OSHA Inspection: MUHLENBERG REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, INC.

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Jan 1, 1993

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  On
or about 5/9/91, 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 the hazards of working with blood
and body fluids this causing or likely to cause employee exposure to
and contraction of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and/or Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV):
a- Healthcare workers such as nursing staff, lab technicians,
laundry wqrkers and environmental services employees, are
potentially exposed to bloodborne pathogens.  Condition noted
on or about 5/9/91.
Although a written infection control program has been developed
and implemented, the following inadequacies were found.
1- The Hepatitis B Vacicne was not offered to approximately
564 hospital employees who are at substantial risk of coming
in contact with blood and/or other potentially infectious body
fluids.
2- The infection control program inadequately identified and
documented all positions with occupational exposure to
bloodborne pathogens.
3- Some hospital employees from both "high risk", (i.e.,
Surgical Pathology) and "low risk" (Environmental Services)
groups received inadequate or no training and education
about infection control policies regarding bloodborne
pathogens.
Feasible abatement methods for reducing this hazard include,
but are not limited to:
HEPATITIS B VACCINE AND EXPOSURE DETERMINATION
(ITEMS 1 AND 2)
The facility's infection control policy regarding Hepatitis
B vaccinations shall identify all employees who are
directly exposed or whose jobs have the likelihood of exposure
to blood or other potentially infectious materials.  The
employer shall make an exposure determination without regard
to the use of personal protective equipment.
All such employees shall be offered the Hepatitis B vaccine
in amounts and at times prescirbed by standard medical practice.
TRAINING AND EDUCATION
(ITEM 3)
Training and education of employees such as, but not limited
to nursing staff, lab technicians and environmental services
employees.
Such training and education shall be a the time of the initial
employment and at least annually thereafter.  The training
materials used shall be appropriate in content and vocabulary
to educational level, literacy and language background of the
employees being trained.
The training and education programs shall contain as a minimum,
the following elements:
1- A general explanation of the mdoes of transmission of
bloodborne pathogens;
2- An explanation of the employer's Infection Control Program;
3- An explanation of the appropriate methods of recognizing
tasks and other activities that may involve exposure to blood
or body fluids and other potentially infectious material;
4- An explanation of the use and limitations of work practices
that will prevent or reduce employee exposure, including
appropriate engineering controls, work practices and personal
protective equipment;
5- Information on the Hepatitis B vaccination, including
information of its efficacy, safety, and the benefits of being
vaccinated;
6- An explanation of the signs, labels, tags, and/or color
coding used in the workplace;
7- A copy of the Center of Disease Control (CDC) Guidelines;
THE WRITTEN INFECTION CONTROL PROGRAM SHALL INCLUDE THE
PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED ITEMS.

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Nov 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,125 · Current $450 Reduced

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Nov 30, 1991

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Dec 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,125 · Current $450 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Nov 4, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,125 · Current $450 Reduced

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Nov 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,875 · Current $750 Reduced

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Nov 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,125 · Current $450 Reduced

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Nov 6, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,125 · Current $450 Reduced

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Dec 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $600 Reduced

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Dec 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $600 Reduced

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Jan 30, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $600 Reduced

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Nov 2, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $600 Reduced

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Nov 2, 1991

Penalty

Initial $2,625 · Current $1,050 Reduced

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Nov 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $600 Reduced

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Nov 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $600 Reduced

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Nov 6, 1991

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Nov 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $600 Reduced

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Nov 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $1,800 Reduced

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Nov 2, 1991

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Nov 2, 1991

Penalty

Initial $2,625 · Current $1,050 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1290

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Jan 30, 1992

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Jan 30, 1992

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Nov 13, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,125 · Current $450 Reduced

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Nov 30, 1991

Penalty

Initial $1,125 · Current $450 Reduced

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Jan 30, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $600 Reduced

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Jan 30, 1992

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $1,800 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1290

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Jan 30, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,625 · Current $1,050 Reduced

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Dec 30, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $720 Reduced

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Dec 30, 1992

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Dec 30, 1992

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Nov 30, 1991

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Nov 30, 1991

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Nov 30, 1991

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Jan 30, 1992

Hazardous substances 06401720

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Nov 30, 1991

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Dec 30, 1992

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Dec 30, 1992

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Nov 30, 1991

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Dec 30, 1992

Issued

Oct 30, 1991

Abate by

Nov 30, 1992