OSHA Inspection: ELAN HOLDINGS INC

Issued

Sep 30, 2005

Abate by

Jun 26, 2006

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,250 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 likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to hazardous concentrations of dangerous drugs such as
morphine sulfate.
On April 28, 2005, the CFM 1000 Operator in the morphine room was exposed
to high
concentration of airborne levels of morphine sulfate which causes serious
illnesses.  Surfaces
were also contaminated with high levels of morphine sulfate at 813
micrograms at the left side
of the table in the morphine room and also on the key balance of the scale
in the morphine room
at 9,358 micrograms.  Hazards to morphine sulfate include, but are not
limited to dermatologic
and respiratory symptoms including shortness of breath, and occupational
asthma.
"AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT
METHOD TO ABATE THIS HAZARD IS..." 1.Install engineering controls with
local exhaust
ventilation connected to high efficiency air purifying filters.  The
process should be totally
enclosed preventing employees from lifting the lid of the CFM machine
causing leakage into the
work area.  2.Implementation of work practice and administrative controls.
Work area access
should be controlled minimizing exposure.  Dry sweeping of work area
prohibited.
3.Development and implementation of decontamination procedures following
"dusty" procedures.
4.Implementation of good hygiene practices and prohibition of eating,
drinking, smoking and
applying cosmetics in work area. 5.Development and implementation of
cleaning procedures for
contaminated (or potentially contaminated) work surfaces.