OSHA Inspection: LIFE CARE CENTER OF WESTMINSTER

Issued

Jan 7, 2000

Abate by

Jan 17, 2000

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $4,500

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
employees in that employees
were exposed to the hazard of being infected with Mycobacterium
tuberculosis (TB) through
contact with air containing TB bacilli from residents who were or may be
infected.
From 9/18/99 to 10/10/99 a resident with undiagnosed tuberculosis was at
the site
(a long term health care facility).  After the resident was positively
diagnosed all
employees were administered post-exposure tuberculin skin testing to
identify
conversions.  Approximately 44 employees (48of the workforce) had not
received a pre-exposure tuberculin skin test within the last year.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is
to ensure that all employees receive a tuberculin skin test annually in
accordance with Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, Guidelines for Prevention and
Transmission of
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in Health Care Facilities, 1994, MMWR October
26, 1994 Vol.
43, No. RR-13.
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see
enclosed "Sample
Abatement-Certification Letter").