OSHA Inspection: CORRECTIONAL MEDICAL SERVICES

Issued

Dec 30, 1996

Abate by

Jun 25, 1997

Penalty

Initial $2,625 · Current $1,969 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 employees
were exposed to the hazard of being infected with Mycobacterium
tuberculosis though contact
with patients who were or may be infected with tuberculosis:
a) Correctional Medical Facility - Ambulatory Section
Nurses and Emergency Medical Technicians were exposed to the hazard of
being infected with
Tuberculosis through contact with active or suspected TB inmates who were
not being placed
in negative pressure isolation rooms.
b) Correctional Medical Facility
Healthcare workers did not receive the PPD two-step testing method when
such skin testing was
performing for a baseline.
Violation observed on or about 10/22/96.
Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard, as
recommended by the Center
for Disease Control, among others are:
1. Placement if individuals with suspected or confirmed TB disease in an
AFB(Acid Fast Bacilli)
isolation room.  AFB isolation rooms for persons with suspected or
confirmed infectious TB and
areas in which high hazard procedures are performed on such individuals
must be maintained
under negative pressure and appropriately exhausted (either directly to
the outside away from
intake vents or through properly designed, installed and maintained HEPA
filters.)
2. Screen inmates suspected of having TB and ensure that active TB inmates
are quickly placed
in AFB isolation.  Provide a rapid diagnostic service.
3. Provide training to employees on the hazard and control of
tuberculosis.  The training must
include epidemiology, transmission, treatment and pathogenesis of
tuberculosis and the reading
and understanding of the monitors that may be placed on the doors of the
rooms.

Issued

Dec 30, 1996

Abate by

Jan 27, 1997

Penalty

Initial $2,625 · Current $1,969 Reduced

Issued

Dec 30, 1996

Abate by

Feb 3, 1997

Issued

Dec 30, 1996

Abate by

Feb 3, 1997