OSHA Inspection: NYSOMH BUFFALO PSYCHIATRIC CTR FATALITY 1998

Issued

1999-09-30 00:00:00

Abate by

1999-10-05 00:00:00

General-duty citation text

NYSLL Article 2, Section 27-a(3):  The employer did not furnish employment
and a place of
employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or
are likely to cause
death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed
to:
a)The employer failed to furnish to each of its employees, employment and
a
place
of employment which is free from recognized hazards that are likely to
cause
death or serious physical harm to its employees and which will provide
reasonable
and adequate protection to the lives, safety, and health of its employees
in that
employees of the Buffalo Psychiatric center assigned to the Buffalo
Federation of
Neighborhood centers/ New Options as Intensive Case Managers are exposed to
the hazards of being assaulted by clients during the performance of their
assigned
work activities in the field. Reasonable and adequate abatement measures
include:
1.Ensure that Intensive Case Managers are provided with training in dealing
with potentially assaultive patients and provided with the appropriate
follow-up training as prescribed by the Office of Mental Health training
protocols.
2.Implement an accountability system to account for the whereabouts of all
employees assigned to the field.
3.Establish formal protocols to be followed by the Intensive Case Managers
when conducting home visits which provide for their safety and adequately
communicate such protocols to employees.
4.Provide for accompanied visits when the patients history indicates
assaultive behavior.
5.Provide Intensive case Managers with a means to summon assistance when
necessary.
These measures were implemented during the investigation and this order is
abated at the time of the inspection.
In applying this paragraph the fundamental distinctions between public and
private
sector employment have been taken into consideration by the PESH Bureau.

Issued

1999-09-30 00:00:00

Abate by

1999-10-05 00:00:00