OSHA Inspection: U.S. IMMIGRATION & NATURALIZATION SERVICE

Issued

Apr 26, 2000

Abate by

May 19, 2000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1960.8(a):  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 employees in that employees were exposed to the following
conditions:
Employees including, but not limited to, detention officers, deportation
officers,
examination officers and assistants, performing apprehensions, body
searches,
interrogation and transportation of suspects and/or individuals to and
from other
detention/incarceration facilities were exposed to the hazard of being
infected with
tuberculosis or other airborne infectious agents through repeated prolonged
indoor/closed space contact with individuals who may be infected with
tuberculosis or other airborne infectious agents.
Feasible and Useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard, as
recommended
by the Center for Disease Control and the Districts own Exposure Control
Plan
for Tuberculosis, among others are.
1.
(a) The wearing of particulate HEPA respirators when employees enter
enclosures
housing individuals with suspected or confirmed TB disease or
(b) During transport or detaining/incarcerating, the individual with
suspected or
confirmed TB disease shall be evaluated to determine if it is feasible for
the
individual
to be fitted with an appropriate mask, such as but not limited to,
surgical or dust, mist
and fume respirator.
2.  Medical surveillance (at no cost to employee) including replacement
evaluation,
administration and interpretation of TB mantoux skin tests and periodic
mandatory
evaluations shall be offered to employees as follows:  An initial baseline
screening at the
time of employment for all employees in the covered facility, annually for
all employees
and re-testing every 6 months for workers after unprotected exposure to
tuberculosis.
3.  Training of employees to insure employee knowledge of such issues as,
the hazard
of TB transmission, the signs and symptoms of an individual with active or
potentially
active TB, medical surveillance and therapy and site specific protocols
including the
proper use and controls as outlined in the Districts Exposure Control Plan.
4.  Construction of negative pressure enclosures for detainees during
encarciration and
interrogation proceedings.
*** Certification and Documentation of Abatement Required ***

Issued

Apr 26, 2000

Abate by

May 19, 2000

Issued

Apr 26, 2000

Abate by

May 19, 2000

Issued

Apr 26, 2000

Abate by

May 30, 2000

Issued

Apr 26, 2000

Abate by

May 30, 2000