OSHA Inspection: CARDINAL HEALTH AT PALMS OF PASADENA HOSPITAL

Issued

Oct 22, 2003

Abate by

Dec 10, 2003

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $3,300 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 palace 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 in that employees were exposed to the hazard of
exposure to cytotoxic/antineoplastic drugs.
a) The employer did not ensure that health care workers working with
cytotoxic
drugs/antineoplastic drugs such as but not limited to adrucil-5
fluorouracil,
adriamycin-Doxorubicin,Bienoxane-Bleomycin, Cytoxan- Cyclophosphamide and
Fludara-Fludarabine were following work practices to minimize exposure to
the
drugs, in that, the top of a sharps container was removed, the sharp
container was
filled to the top with needles and syringes that were contaminated with
hazardous
drugs and the sharps container was stored in the laminar flow hood.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement to correct this
hazard is
to place needles contaminated with hazardous drugs in an appropriate
puncture
resistant, leakproof on the sides top and bottom. Do not fill the sharps
container
beyond a point that would allow the sharps to fit entirely within the
container with the
top in place. Discontinue the storage of items in the laminar flow hood.