OSHA Inspection: QUALITY LIFE LABS

Issued

Jul 6, 1989

Abate by

Sep 30, 1989

Penalty

Initial $640 · Current $320 Reduced

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:
a) On or about April 19-27, 1989, appropriate post-exposure medical
evaluation and follow-up procedures were not established and provided
for receiving/data entry employee(s) exposed to the hazard of being
infected with HBV and/or HIV through direct contact with blood or
other potentially infectious materials, i.e., incidents of
percutaneous (needle stick or cut) exposure, or mucous membrane
(splash to eye, nasal mucosa, or mouth) exposure, or to cutaneous
exposure of chapped, abraded, or otherwise non-intact skin.
Feasible abatement methods for reducing this hazard include:
A confidential medical examination and follow-up including the following
1) Documentation of the HBV and HIV infection status of the source
patient (if known) and,
2) Follow-up of the exposed employee including antigen and/or antibody
testing (HBV/HIV), counseling, illness reporting, and safe and
effective post-exposure phrophylaxis as indicated according to
standard recommendations for medical practice.
Reference: Centers for Disease Control. Recommendations for Prevention
of HIV Transmission in Health-Care Settings: MMWR 1987;36 (Suppl. 2S)
Centers for Disease Control, Immunization Practices Advisory Committee,
Recommendations for Protection Against Viral Hepatitis. MMWR 1985;35:
313-24, 329-35.
Note:  It is recommended that the facility develop policies for
documentation and tracking of post-exposure evaluations and
follow-up procedures (Re: HBV/HIV) which address or specify
requirements for:
1) Documentation of source patient identification and circumstances
underwhich exposure occurred.
2) Testing (HIV) of source patients in situations in which consent
cannot be obtained (e.g. an unconcious patient).
3) Documentation of seronegative source patents "risk-factors"
evaluation.
4) Development of a chronological tracking system to assure timely
administration of vaccines and procedures (e.g. HB vaccine, serial
HIV testing) and notification to exposed employees of results of
tests and evaluations, and dates of future vaccinations/
innoculations, tests or procedures that may be required.

Issued

Jul 6, 1989

Abate by

Sep 30, 1989

Penalty

Initial $350 · Current $175 Reduced

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:
a) On or about April 24, 1989, receiving and data entry personnel were
exposed to hazards of being infected by HBV and/or HIV through
possible direct contact with blood or other potentially infectious
materials while opening "mail-in" specimen containers and removing,
handling, data processing, bagging contests (blood tubes, urine
samples which may break) and discarding disposable syringes and
needles which are occasionally uncapped and loose in the containers.
Feasible abatement methods for reducing this hazard include:
1) Establishment of a Hepatitis B vaccination policy and program which
addresses all circumstances warranting such vaccinations and
identifies all employees at substantial risk of directly contacting
blood or other potentially infectious materials, and offers all such
employees Hepatitis B vaccinations in amounts and at times prescribed
by standard medical practice.
Reference: Centers for Disease Control Immunization Practices Advisory
Committee: Recommendations for Protection Against Viral Hepatitis. MMWR
1985;35:313-24, 329-35.
2) Establishment of a training policy and program for employees (as
above) which includes:
a) Education on epidemiology, modes of transmission, and prevention of
HIV/HBV,
b) Counseling regarding potential risks to the fetus from HIV/HBV and
other associated infectious agents,
c) Training regarding Centers for Disease Control Guidelines concerning
"Universal Precautions" as it applies to their work practices, and
specifies procedures for work practices, e.g. (cleaning and
disinfection of work tables, equipment, removing specimans and
contents from containers) and
d) Training about Hepatitis B vaccination program and procedures to be
followed and provided if they are exposed to a needles stick or other
direct contact with blood or other potentially infectious material
(see Item 1 above).

Issued

Jul 6, 1989

Abate by

Jul 9, 1989