OSHA Inspection: ST. JOSEPH HEALTH CENTERS & HOSPITAL

Issued

Jul 12, 1995

Abate by

Jul 18, 1995

Penalty

Initial $12,500 · Current $1,500 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:
(a)  Workers, including but not limited to Residents, Registered Nurses,
Nursing
Assistants, Respiratory Therapists and Unit Secretaries were exposed to the
hazard of being infected with tuberculosis through contact with patients
who were
or may be infected with tuberculosis.
Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing these hazards, as
recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, among others are:
(1)  Provide periodic retesting of all PPD-negative workers frequently
exposed to patients with tuberculosis or who are involved with potentially
high-risk procedures (e.g. bronchoscopy, sputum induction, or aerosol
treatments given to patients who may have tuberculosis) at least every 6
months.
(2)  Implementation of protocol for evaluation of workers after
unprotected exposure to a potentially infectious tuberculosis patient for
whom infection-control procedures were not taken.  Unless a negative skin
test has been documented within the preceding 3 months, each exposed
worker (except those already known to be positive reactors) are to receive
a Mantoux tuberculin skin test as soon as possible after exposure.  If the
initial skin test is negative, the test should be repeated 12 weeks after
the
exposure ended.  Exposed workers with skin-test reactions > 5 mm or
with symptoms suggestive of tuberculosis should receive chest
radiographs.  Persons with previously known positive skin-test reactions
who have been exposed to an infectious patient do not require a repeat
skin test or a chest radiograph unless they have symptoms suggestive of
tuberculosis.
(3)  Provide all exposed workers training and information to ensure
knowledge of such issues as the hazard of TB transmission, its signs and
symptoms, medical surveillance and therapy, and site specific protocols
including the purpose and proper use of controls.
Saint Joseph Health Centers & Hospital was previously cited for a
violation of
Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 which was
contained in OSHA Inspection Number 102528593, Citation 1, Item Number 3
issued on May 2, 1994.

Issued

Jul 12, 1995

Abate by

Jul 31, 1995

Penalty

Initial $7,500 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Issued

Jul 12, 1995

Abate by

Jul 31, 1995

Issued

Jul 12, 1995

Abate by

Jul 18, 1995

Issued

Jul 12, 1995

Abate by

Jul 31, 1995

Issued

Jul 12, 1995

Abate by

Jul 18, 1995