OSHA Inspection: TOTAL LIFE CARE

Issued

Oct 3, 1994

Abate by

Oct 16, 1994

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,250 Reduced

Issued

Oct 3, 1994

Abate by

Oct 16, 1994

Issued

Oct 3, 1994

Abate by

Oct 9, 1994

Penalty

Initial $525

Issued

Oct 3, 1994

Abate by

Oct 6, 1994

Penalty

Initial $525 · Current $263 Reduced

Issued

Oct 3, 1994

Abate by

Oct 7, 1994

Penalty

Initial $875 · Current $3,375

Issued

Oct 3, 1994

Abate by

Oct 9, 1994

Penalty

Initial $525 · Current $963

Issued

Oct 3, 1994

Abate by

Nov 5, 1994

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,250 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 including,
but not limited to, staff nurses, respiratory therapists, and patient care
technicians were exposed to the hazard of being infected with tuberculosis
through
contact with patients who were suspected and/or confirmed to be infected
with
tuberculosis, in that:
(a)throughout the facility, employees such as, but not limited to, staff
nurses, respiratory therapists,
and patient care technicians, were not provided ppd skin tests.
(b)throughout the facility, employees such as, but not limited to, staff
nurses, respiratory therapists,
and patient care technicians, were not provided information and training.
(c)at the facility, no established protocol for early identification of
active tuberculosis patients was
implemented to protect employees such as, but not limited to, staff
nurses, respiratory therapists,
and patient care technicians.
(d)in room 3, isolation room used for patient confirmed positive for
tuberculosis was provided
negative air pressure that was recirculated and not exhausted to outside,
potentially exposing
employees such as, but not limited to, staff nurses, respiratory
therapists, and patient care
technicians.
Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard, as
recommended by CDC, among others are:
(a)establish protocol for early identification of individuals with active
tuberculosis.
(b)at no cost to the employee, provide medical surveillance to include
preplacement evaluation,
administration, and interpretation of the TB Mantoux skin test.
(c)at no cost to the employee, provide evaluation and management of
workers with positive skin
test, conversion on re-test, or experiencing symptoms of TB.
(d)placement of individuals with suspected or confirmed TB disease in an
acid fast bacilli isolation
room under negative air pressure and appropriately exhausted to the
outside.
(e)provide training and information to ensure employee knowledge to
include hazards of
tuberculosis transmission, its signs and symptoms, medical surveillance
and therapy, and site
specific protocol to include the purpose and proper use of controls.

Issued

Oct 3, 1994

Abate by

Oct 6, 1994

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $500 Reduced