OSHA Inspection: FAYETTE COUNTY DETENTION CENTER

Issued

Jun 18, 1998

Abate by

Jul 16, 1998

Penalty

Initial $2,750 · Current $1,375 Reduced

General-duty citation text

KRS 338.031(1)(a): The employer did not furnish to each of his employees
employment and
a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are
causing or likely to
cause death or serious physical harm.
a.In that employees were exposed to the hazard of being infected with
mycobacterium tuberculosis through unprotected contact with inmates who
were infectious or suspected to be infectious with tuberculosis. Fayette
County
Detention Center personnel who worked with and in the areas where inmates
as well as correctional officers of The Fayette County Detention Center
were
suspected to be infectious with tuberculosis were exposed to this hazard.
The
second floor of the facility was equipped with a containment room which
suspect TB inmates were kept until verification was established.  This room
was not equipped with a system to eliminate the flow of contaminated air
from
being dispersed to other parts of the facility.  In addition, inmates that
tested
positive to PPD skin test were often placed in general population until
they
could be removed to have sputum cultures and/or chest x-rays performed.
These inmates were suspect to being (or becoming) in the active stages of
TB.
These inmates should be treated (by management and personnel) as if they
were in the active stages of TB until verification of status is
established.
Feasible and Useful abatement methods are but not limited to the following:
1. Individuals with suspected or confirmed infectious TB disease must be
placed in a
respiratory acid-fast bacilli (AFB) isolation room.  High hazard
procedures on individuals
with suspected or confirmed infectious TB disease must be performed in AFB
treatment
rooms, AFB isolation rooms, booths, pressure room or an area that exhausts
room air
directly outside or through HEPA filters if recirculation is unavoidable.
2. Isolation and treatment rooms in use by individuals with suspected or
confirmed
infectious TB disease shall be kept under negative pressure to induce
airflow into the room
from all surrounding areas(e.g., corridors, ceiling plenums, plumbing
chases, etc.).
3. Air exhausted from AFB isolation or treatment rooms must be safely
exhausted
directly outside and not recirculated into the general ventilation system.
Or if recirculation is
necessary, the recirculated air must pass through HEPA filters.
4. In order to avoid leakage, all potentially contaminated air which is
ducted through
the facility must be kept under negative pressure until it is discharged
safely outside or passes
through HEPA filters.
NOTE:  CDC guidelines should be followed for abatement assistance.

Issued

Jun 18, 1998

Abate by

Jun 22, 1998

Penalty

Initial $2,750 · Current $1,375 Reduced