OSHA Inspection: HOME CARE CONCEPTS OF AMERICA,INC.DBA CONCEPTS OF

Issued

Sep 28, 1999

Abate by

Nov 2, 1999

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,250 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 home
health care employees
in that employees were exposed to the hazard of being infected with
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
through unprotected contact with clients who was/were infectious or
suspected to be infectious
with tuberculosis in that potentially exposed employees were not screened
for tuberculosis
annually, and an effective training and educational program was not
implemented in that Spanish
speaking employees received no information, and English speaking employees
did not receive
information such that they understood the hazard:
The following are examples of feasible abatement methods for reducing this
hazard, as
recommended by the Center for Disease Control, include, but are not
limited to:
1. Medical Surveillance Program:
The employer shall institute a tuberculosis skin testing program for all
currently
employees, and to all new employees prior to starting work with clients.
2. Education and Training Program:
The employer shall implement a tuberculosis training program including an
bilingual
explanation of:
The cause and mode of transmission of tuberculosis.
An explanation of tuberculosis infection and disease.
An explanation of the skin testing protocol, interpretation of
results,follow-up, and the
purpose of preventive therapy.
The signs and symptoms of tuberculosis exposure and the mechanism for
reporting
symptoms.
The risk factors for tuberculosis disease development.
The tuberculosis and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis treatments.
The personal protective equipment to be utilized, as well as any
engineering and/or
administrative controls used to minimize employee exposure.

Issued

Sep 28, 1999

Abate by

Oct 21, 1999

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $3,375 Reduced

Issued

Sep 28, 1999

Abate by

Jan 21, 2000

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $3,375 Reduced

Issued

Sep 28, 1999

Abate by

Jan 21, 2000