OSHA Inspection: HOLLAND TN HIGHWAY DEPT

Issued

May 6, 2008

Abate by

Aug 5, 2008

General-duty citation text

NYSLL Article 2, Section 27-a.3.a(1):  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 harm to employees, in that, employees were exposed to:
Workers (Animal Control Officer(s), Police Officer(s), etc.) were exposed
to the hazard of being
infected with the rabies virus through possible direct contact with
saliva, blood, or other body
fluids of potentially rabid animals (such as skunks, raccoons, deer, and
foxes) being introduced
into open cuts or wounds in the skin or via mucous membranes. In applying
this paragraph,
fundamental distinctions between private and public employment have been
recognized.
Reasonable and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard, among
others, are:
1. Training to include proper handling procedures, personal protective
equipment, the etiology
and modes of transmission of the disease, decontamination and avoidance of
animal/saliva
contact.
2. Follow-up procedures to be implemented after an exposure incident.
Workers who have
occupational exposure and who have experienced an exposure incident shall
be offered post-
exposure vaccination and other treatment in accordance with the Centers
for Disease Control and
Prevention. The follow-up shall take place as soon as possible and at no
cost to the employee.
3. Hand-washing: After removing gloves, hands or other skin surfaces shall
be washed
thoroughly and immediately after contact with body fluids.
4. Decontamination: Tools and other surfaces potentially contaminated with
infectious saliva or
body fluids must be disinfected with a 10solution of sodium hypochlorite
(household bleach)
in water.
5. Prevaccination:
a)Highway Department employees performed and are expected to perform animal
carcass collection and disposal. Highway Department employees are exposed
to
the hazard of being infected with the rabies virus through possible direct
contact
with the saliva, blood and other body fluids of potentially rabid animals
such as
skunks, raccoons, deer, and foxes into open cuts or wounds in the skin or
via
mucous membranes. The Highway Department employees have not had rabies
exposure control training, been provided with dedicated tools and personal
protective equipment, and have not been offered pre-exposure vaccination.

Issued

May 6, 2008

Abate by

Jun 23, 2008

Issued

May 6, 2008

Abate by

Jun 9, 2008

Issued

May 6, 2008

Abate by

Jun 9, 2008

Issued

May 6, 2008

Abate by

Jun 9, 2008

Issued

May 6, 2008

Abate by

Jun 23, 2008

Issued

May 6, 2008

Abate by

May 23, 2008

Issued

May 6, 2008

Abate by

Jun 23, 2008