OSHA Inspection: NYSOMH SAGAMORE CHILDREN'S PSYCHIATRIC CTR

Issued

Apr 24, 2009

Abate by

Jun 11, 2009

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 is free from
recognized hazards
that are causing or 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) NYSOMH Sagamore Children's Psych Ctr - Employees assigned to the main
reception
desk were exposed to the hazard of violence at the hands of the public in
the form of
patients' visitors who may be denied access to the facility, and who might
be aware of cash
money kept at the front desk.  Reasonable and adequate abatement methods
for reducing this
hazard, among others, are:
1) Training.  A comprehensive training program including proper safety
practices and
techniques for dealing with the public and in particular the emotionally
distressed, such as
the training the mental health aids get, should be implemented.
2) Engineering controls, such as a safety glass enclosure or gated
entrance should be used.
3) Administrative controls, such as using security staff or other
employees already qualified
to perform the tasks in question, or having security staff close at hand
at all times during
visiting hours could be used.