OSHA Inspection: BOCA RATON COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

Issued

Dec 19, 2001

Abate by

Jan 2, 2002

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $1,688 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(A)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:
The employer did not furnish to each of his employees employment and a
place of employment
which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or were likely
to cause death or
serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to: the
hazard of being
infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis through contact with patients who
were or may be
infected with tuberculosis:
a) On or about 8/27/01, patient care room # E-20A, a designated AFB
isolation room to be used
for the isolation of active or suspect TB patients, was not found to be
maintained under negative
pressure.
Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard include,
but are not limited to
the following:
1. Keep AFB isolation rooms/procedures under negative pressure to induce
airflow into the room
from all surrounding areas (e.g. adjoining highways, offices, processing
areas, ceiling plenums,
plumbing chases, etc.)
2. Monitor (demonstrate) direction of airflow frequently to assure
maintenance of negative
pressure, frequently, and after adjustment or maintenance is performed on
the systems.
NOTE: (a) Air flow exhausted from isolation rooms must be transported
through ducts and
systems which are recognized as containing "biohazard air" and which are
designed and operated
to ensure maintenance of negative pressure during normal operations and
during interruptions
(e.g. power failures and required maintenance).
Reference:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Guidelines for Preventing
Transmission of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Health-Care Facilities. MMWR 1994; Vol
43(No. RR-13)

Issued

Dec 19, 2001

Abate by

Jan 2, 2002

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $1,687 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(A)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:
The employer did not furnish to each of his employees employment and a
place of employment
which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or were likely
to cause death or
serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to: the
hazard of being
infected with Mycobacterum tuberculosis through contact with patients who
were or may be
infected with tuberculosis:
a) Nurses, Licensed Nurse Practitioners, Respiratory therapists and other
employees were
exposed to the hazard of being infected with tuberculosis (TB) through
contact with active or
suspect TB patients who were not placed in negative pressure isolation
rooms.
Violation observed on or about 8/27/01
Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard include,
but are not limited to
the following:
1. Placement of individuals with suspected or confirmed TB disease in AFB
(acid fast bacilli)
isolation rooms and performance of "high risk" procedures in negative
pressure rooms or
enclosures. Keep AFB isolation rooms/procedures under negative pressure to
induce airflow into
the room from all surrounding areas (e.g. adjoining highways, offices,
processing areas, ceiling
plenums, plumbing chases, etc.)
NOTE; Air flow exhausted from isolation rooms must be transported through
ducts and systems
which are recognized as containing "biohazard air" and which are designed
and operated to
ensure maintenance of negative pressure during normal operations and
during interruptions (e.g.
power failures and required maintenance).
Reference:
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Guidelines for Preventing
Transmission
of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Health-Care Facilities. MMWR 1994; Vol
43(No. RR-13)