OSHA Inspection: LAGRANGE TN HWY DEPT

Issued

Sep 20, 2002

Abate by

Nov 7, 2002

General-duty citation text

NYSLL Article 2, Section 27(a)(3a)(1):  The employer did not furnish to
each of its
employees employment and a place of employment which was free from
recognized hazards
that were causing or were likely to cause death or serious physical harm
to its employees and
which will provide reasonable and adequate protection to the lives, safety
or health of its
employees.  In applying this paragraph, fundamental distinctions between
private and public
sector employment have been recognized.
(a) Employees of the Town of Lagrange Highway Department were exposed to
the hazard of
being infected with the rabies virus through possible direct contact with
saliva of rabid
animals (eg, deer) being introduced into open cuts or wounds in the skin
or via mucous
membranes which can occur when workers pick up and remove road kill or
other dead
animals.
The employer had not developed and implemented an effective rabies control
training
program dealing with, but not necessarily limited to, the proper handling
practices of
removing road kill; the personal protective equipment needed; the etiology
and modes of
transmission of the disease; decontamination of equipment and personal
hygiene (hand
washing); avoiance of animal/saliva contact; and follow-up procedures in
the event of an
exposure incident.

Issued

Sep 20, 2002

Abate by

Nov 7, 2002

General-duty citation text

NYSLL Article 2, Section 27a(3a)(1):  The Employer did not furnish to each
of its
employees, employment and a place of employment which was free from
recognized physical
hazards tht were causing or were likely to cause death or serious physical
harm to its
employees and which will provide reasonable and adequate protection to the
lives, safety or
health of its employees.  In applying this paragraph, fundamental
distinctions between private
and public sector employment have been recognized.
A. Employees of the Town of Lagrange Highway Department, during the
performance of their assigned duties, were exposed to the hazard of
contracting Lyme
Disease while working in tick habitat areas identified as having a high or
moderate risk of
harboring the tick vector of Lyme Disease.  This hazard is recognized by
the Centers For
Disease Control in their June 4, 1999 publication, "Recommendations for
the Use of Lyme
Disease Vaccine,f Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices".
This hazard is not likely to cause death but is likely to cause
substantial illness and
impairment if not identified and treated promptly.
Reasonable and adequate methods to abate this hazard include, but are not
limited to:
Implement an educational program for employees with exposure which
includes the
signs and symptoms of Lyme Disease infection, the importance of seeking
immediate medical
attention, self inspection for attached tick at the conclusion of each
work day when exposure
to tick habitat occurred, the proper method of removal of attached ticks,
proper clothing for
work in tick habitat and proper use of repellants and insecticides.

Issued

Sep 20, 2002

Abate by

Dec 23, 2002

Issued

Sep 20, 2002

Abate by

Dec 23, 2002