OSHA Inspection: MEDILABS INC.

Issued

1998-08-17 00:00:00

Abate by

1998-12-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2000.00 · Current $2000.00

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:
Location: Medilabs Inc.
On or About: 2/26/98
a) Employees (phlebotomists) were exposed to the hazard of being infected
with Mycobacterium
tuberculosis through unprotected contact with inmates, nursing home
patients, and other
individuals requiring long term care, who were infectious or suspected to
be infectious with
tuberculosis in that there was no protocol established for the early
identification of individuals
with active TB, no medical surveillance programs for employees of
Medilabs, no worker
education and training program on the hazards of tuberculosis as defined
by
the Centers for
Disease control (MMWR 10/28/94).
Among others a feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct the
hazard is the
development and implementation of the following:
1. Protocol for the early identification of individuals with active
Tuberculosis.
2. A Medical surveillance program (at no cost to the employees) including
pre-placement
evaluation, administration and interpretation of the TB Mantoux skin
tests, and periodic
evaluations shall be offered to employees as follows: an initial baseline
screening at the time of
employment for all employees in the specified job descriptions; annually
for all employees in
the specified job descriptions; retesting every six months for employees
with exposure.
3. Evaluation and management (at no cost to the employees) of workers with
a positive skin test,
or with skin test conversion on repeat testing, or who are exhibiting
symptoms of TB, including
work restrictions for infectious employees. Workers who experience a TB
exposure incident
(exposure to a patient/client with infectious TB for who infection control
precautions have not
been taken) shall also be managed according to the CDC recommendations.
4. Training and information to ensure employee knowledge of such issues as
the hazard of TB
transmission, its signs and symptoms, medical surveillance and therapy,
and site specific
protocols including the proper use of controls.
5. Suitable respiratory protection including but not limited to N-95
respirators to prevent the
transmission of Tuberculosis.
6. Ventilation systems such as hepa filtration or negative pressure for
employees exposed to
suspected or active tuberculosis patients.
7. Signs and/or placards on isolation or negative pressure rooms where
Tuberculosis is suspect.
NOTE: The employer is required to submit abatement certification for this
item in
accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19.

Issued

1998-08-17 00:00:00

Abate by

1998-09-04 00:00:00

Issued

1998-08-17 00:00:00

Abate by

1998-08-20 00:00:00