OSHA Inspection: HAVEN HEALTH CENTER OF NORWICH

Issued

Nov 7, 2003

Abate by

Dec 29, 2003

Penalty

Initial $2,450 · Current $1,225 Reduced

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 were likely to cause physical harm to
employees, in that
employees were required to perform lifting tasks that have caused or were
likely to cause
musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs):
(a) On or about May 12, 2003 and at times prior thereto, employees,
including the
Certified Nursing Assistants who work at Haven Health Center of Norwich on
Crouch
Avenue in Norwich, Connecticut, performed repeated lifting/lowering,
pushing, pulling,
bending, reaching, twisting, and other tasks associated with resident
transfers and
repositioning.  These actions, which required employees to manually
transfer and/or
reposition partial-weight bearing residents and non-weight bearing
residents, exposed
employees to hazards which had caused, are causing, or are likely to cause
musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) involving the back and shoulders.
Abatement:  Although some ergonomic-related risk factors may be reduced or
eliminated
by implementing a single means of abatement, in most cases a combination
of measures
with a process that includes analysis of the worksite, instituting
appropriate controls,
providing appropriate response to employee injuries, and training and
education (in both
recognition of hazard and injury and of avoidance of injury) will provide
the most
effective method of addressing the risk factors.  The employer may adopt
any measures
that are effective in substantially reducing or eliminating the hazard.
Abatement measures include engineering, training and education, and
administrative and
work practice controls.
Engineering controls:
Some examples of engineering controls include:
1.Make available and require the use of mechanical lift-assist devices and
other
transfer and repositioning assistive devices, which include but are not
limited to:
low-friction slip sheets, pivot transfer devices, slide boards,
double-handled gait
belts, as well as specialized equipment for use with residents with
special needs
(i.e. bariatric residents).
2.Continue the evaluation and use of additional ergonomic improvements
such as
the introduction of larger casters on shower chairs, carts and equipment
that will
be used on carpeted surfaces.
Training and Education:
Examples of training and education include:
Provide training to employees who are responsible for transferring and
repositioning residents, stressing the importance of reporting
musculoskeletal
injuries, providing regular feedback to injured employees on corrective
actions
in order to prevent future injuries, and training in the appropriate use of
mechanical lift-assist, transfer, and repositioning devices.
Administrative controls:
Examples of administrative controls that may apply to this facility
include:
1.Develop and enforce a policy requiring the use of transfer and
repositioning
devices when a residents care plan documents the need.
2.Develop and implement a preventive maintenance program to ensure that all
mechanical lift-assist devices, transfer devices, and beds are properly
maintained,
including a system to ensure that batteries used for mechanical
lift-assist devices
are charged or replaced as needed.
3.Provide resident mobility assessments in a timely manner, including at
the time
of initial admission and whenever a change in the resident affects his/her
ability
to assist with transfers or repositioning.
Work practice controls:
Some examples of work practice controls that may apply to this workplace
include:
Monitor manual resident repositioning to ensure that, where required, it is
performed by a minimum of two persons in accordance with company policy.

Issued

Nov 7, 2003

Abate by

Nov 13, 2003

Penalty

Initial $892 · Current $446 Reduced

Issued

Nov 7, 2003

Abate by

Nov 13, 2003

Penalty

Initial $892 · Current $446 Reduced

Issued

Nov 7, 2003

Abate by

Nov 13, 2003

Issued

Nov 7, 2003

Abate by

Nov 13, 2003

Issued

Nov 7, 2003

Abate by

Nov 13, 2003

Penalty

Initial $892 · Current $446 Reduced

Issued

Nov 7, 2003

Abate by

Dec 29, 2003

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $525 Reduced

Issued

Nov 7, 2003

Abate by

Nov 13, 2003

Issued

Nov 7, 2003

Abate by

Nov 13, 2003

Issued

Nov 7, 2003

Abate by

Nov 13, 2003