OSHA Inspection: MARINER HEALTH CARE INC DBA PALISADE LIVING CENTER

Issued

Jun 19, 2003

Abate by

Jun 9, 2005

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $2,232 Reduced

Hazardous substances 83008301

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 serious physical harm to employees in that:
a)On or about April 24, 2003, and at times prior thereto, employees at the
Palisade Living
Center were transferring non-weight bearing and partially weight bearing
residents manually by
lifting them.  Evaluation of the task of handling nursing home residents
indicates that employees,
including primarily certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and nursing
assistants (NAs), are exposed
to a hazard which is causing or likely to cause musculoskeletal disorders
(MSDs).  Employees
were required to transfer non-weight bearing and partial weight bearing
residents manually by
lifting or partially lifting them, exposing employees to lifting-related
hazards resulting in injuries
and disorders, including, but not limited to, back and shoulder injuries.
OSHA has determined that one method of addressing these stressors is to
minimize
manual
lifting for transferring and lifting of non-weight bearing and partial
weight bearing residents.
This necessitates the use of appropriate mechanical lift assist and
transfer devices.
Abatement suggestions:
1.Worksite analysis to recognize and identify existing ergonomic stressors
related to
resident handling.  This analysis would identify resident handling tasks
that are causing
or likely to cause injury.
2.Occupational Health Management which includes accurate record keeping of
manual
lifting injuries.  The protocol should address early recognition,
evaluation, referral of
resident handling injury/illness cases, and return to work
policies/procedures.
Systematic worksite review should be included.
3.Training and education for exposed employees, including methods to
evaluate the
effectiveness of the training.  Re-training should be done annually or as
operations
change.  Training should be done in a manner understood by all employees
and should
address hazards associated with the job, early recognition of
musculoskeletal disorders,
the risks of manual resident handling, the mandatory use of appropriate
mechanical lifting
devices and other resident handling equipment, as appropriate, minimize
manual lifting,
and the prevention of resident handling injuries/illnesses.  Training
should emphasize the
appropriate ways of using mechanical lifting devices and other assistive
devices, such as
gait belts, during resident transfer procedures.  The importance of early
recognition and
reporting of musculoskeletal injuries should be stressed with an
explanation of the
benefits of early medical intervention and evaluation of the situation
which resulted in
the injury.
Educational material and training on minimizing risks from resident
handling should also
be provided to those responsible for implementing policy and purchasing
equipment,
including use of engineering, administrative, and work practice controls,
particularly safe
resident handling techniques.4.Hazard prevention and control which
includes engineering, administrative, and work
practice controls.
Examples of engineering controls include:
a.The use of appropriate mechanical lift-assist devices to reduce
significantly, if not
eliminate, manual transferring and lifting of totally non-weight bearing
residents.
Mechanical lifts should be provided with adequate numbers and sizes of
slings to
meet the needs of the facility.
b.The use of mechanical lifts or lift walkers to reduce significantly, if
not eliminate,
manual transferring and lifting of partial weight bearing residents.
c.Double-handled gait belts, or other transfer assist devices (such as but
not limited
to slip sheets and pivot transfer devices).  Proper use of these devices
appropriate
to their design.
d.Equipment to assist with daily living (such as toilet/shower chairs,
toilet risers,
pelvic lift devices, height adjustable bathtubs, and powered height
adjustable beds
and "low beds") designed to hold the maximum weight of any resident.
Administrative controls reduce the duration, frequency, and severity of
exposure to resident
handling hazards.  These controls may include preventive maintenance of
resident handling
equipment and maintenance of slings and belts in a sanitary condition.
Work practice controls
include proper work techniques such as using the appropriate lift-assist
devices correctly.
Abatement Certification:  Abatement certification and documentation is
required for this
item (see enclosed "Sample Abatement Certification Letter").

Issued

Apr 29, 2003

Abate by

Jun 1, 2003

Penalty

Initial $2,125 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Apr 29, 2003

Abate by

Jun 1, 2003