OSHA Inspection: THE WOMAN'S HOME

Issued

Apr 19, 2012

Abate by

May 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1):     The employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).    At the work site, employees performed personal care for residents, cleaned, did laundry and assisted with medications including the use of sharps.  The employer did not have a job hazard assessment for employees who worked at the site.

Issued

Apr 19, 2012

Abate by

May 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $4,200 · Current $2,100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(c)(1)(i):     Each employer having an employee(s) with occupational exposure as defined by paragraph (b) of this section shall establish a written Exposure Control Plan designed to eliminate or minimize employee exposure.      At the work site, employees were exposed to blood and body fluids while they performed personal care for residents, cleaned, did laundry and assisted with medications including the use of sharps.  The employer did not have an exposure control plan for employees having occupational exposure to blood/body fluids.

Issued

Apr 19, 2012

Abate by

May 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(v):     Employers shall provide additional training when changes such as modification of tasks or procedures or institution of new tasks or procedures affect the employee's occupational exposure. The additional training may be limited to addressing the new exposures created.    At the work site, the employer did not provide additional training on blood borne pathogens when a resident (#6) requiring finger sticks and medication injections was admitted to the nursing home.  Employees assisted the diabetic resident with her twice daily fingerstick monitoring and twice daily insulin injections, providing set up, assistance and disposal of the used sharps.

Issued

Apr 19, 2012

Abate by

May 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(i):     The employer shall train each employee with occupational exposure in accordance with the requirements of this section. Such training must be provided at no cost to the employee and during working hours. The employer shall institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program.      At the work site, employees worked as nurse aides and nurses providing direct patient care.  The employer did not provide initial or annual training on blood borne pathogens.

Issued

Apr 19, 2012

Abate by

May 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(iii)(A)(1)(i):     Contaminated Sharps Discarding and Containment.  Contaminated sharps shall be discarded immediately or as soon as feasible in containers that are closeable.      At the work site, the employer did not provide a closeable container for used sharps.  An empty plastic coffee container was provided for a sharps container on several occasions for several days each.

Issued

Apr 19, 2012

Abate by

May 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(iii)(A)(2)(iii):     Contaminated sharps shall be discarded immediately or as soon as feasible in containers that are replaced routinely and not be allowed to overfill.    At the work site, the employer had not exchanged a full sharps container in a resident room for an empty one.  Employees working as nursing assistants assisted the resident with twice daily finger sticks and insulin injections.

Issued

Apr 19, 2012

Abate by

May 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,780 · Current $1,890 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(f)(1)(i):     The employer shall make available the hepatitis B vaccine and vaccination series to all employees who have occupational exposure, and post-exposure evaluation and follow-up to all employees who have had an exposure incident.      At the work site, employees who worked as nursing assistants and nurses performed personal care, laundry, and assisted residents with finger sticks and injections as part of their daily duties.  The employer did not make hepatitis B vaccine available to those employees with occupational exposure.

Issued

Apr 19, 2012

Abate by

May 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $500 · Current $250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(f)(3):     Post-exposure Evaluation and Follow-up. Following a report of an exposure incident, the employer shall make immediately available to the exposed employee a confidential medical evaluation and follow-up, including at least the following elements:  documentation of the route(s) of exposure, and the circumstances under which the exosure incident occurred; identification and documentation of the source indifvidual, unless the employer can establish that identification is infeasible or prohibited by state or local law;collectioni and testing of blood for HBV and HIV serological status; Post-exposure prophylaxis, when medically indicated, as recommended by the U. S. Public Health Service; counseling; and evaluation of reported illnesses.    At the work site, an employee was stuck by a contaminated sharp.  The employer did not perform a post-exposure evaluation and follow-up as required by the standard.

Issued

Apr 19, 2012

Abate by

May 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(h)(1)(i):     The employer shall establish and maintain an accurate record for each employee with occupational exposure, in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020.  This record shall include: the name and social security number of the employee;  a copy of the employees hepatitis B vaccination status, including the dates of all the hepatitis B vaccinations and any medical records relative to the employees ability to receive vaccination as required by paragraph (f)(2);  a copy of all results of examinations, medical testing, and follow-up  procedures as required by paragraph (f)(3);  the employers copy of the healthcare professionals written opinion as required by paragraph (f)(5); and  a copy of the information provided to the healthcare professional as required by paragraphs (f)(4)(ii)(B)(C) and (D).    At the work site, employees who worked as nurse aides and nurses had occupational exposure to blood and body fluids.  The employer did not have any medical files for employees as required by the standard.

Issued

Apr 19, 2012

Abate by

May 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(h)(5)(i):     The employer shall establish and maintain a sharps injury log for the recording of percutaneous injuries from contaminated sharps. The information in the sharps injury log shall be recorded and maintained in such manner as to protect the confidentiality of the injured employee. The sharps injury log shall contain, at a minimum:  the type and brand of device involved in the incident; the department or work are where the exposure incident occurred; and an explanation of how the incident occurred.       At the work site, the employer did not have and/or maintain a sharps injury log.  Employees who worked as aides and nurses assisted resident #6 with twice daily finger sticks and insulin injections.

Issued

Apr 19, 2012

Abate by

May 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $1,800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1):     Employers shall develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, material safety data sheets (MSDS), and employee information and training will be met.      At the work site, the employer did not have a written hazard communication program.  Employees who worked as cooks, nurses, and nursing assistants used chemicals that included (but were not limited to) a virucide that had to be diluted prior to use, sanitizer, and a descaler.

Issued

Apr 19, 2012

Abate by

May 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8):     The employer shall maintain in the workplace copies of the required material safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical, and shall ensure that they are readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they are in their work area(s).(Electronic access, microfiche, and other alternatives to maintaining paper copies of the material safety data sheets are permitted as long as no barriers to immediate employee access in each workplace are created by such options.)      At the work site, employees used chemicals that included, but were not limited to,a virucide, a sanitizer and a descaler.  The employer did not have material safety data sheets (MSDS) available for employees.

Issued

Apr 19, 2012

Abate by

May 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1):     Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new physical or health hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area. Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards (e.g., flammability,carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and material safety datasheets.      At the work site, employees used chemicals that included, but were not limited to, virucide, descaler, sanitizer and oven cleaner.  The employer did not train employees about chemicals used at the work site.

Issued

Apr 19, 2012

Abate by

Jun 15, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.29(a):     Basic requirement. You must use OSHA 300, 300-A, and 301 forms, or equivalent forms, for recordable injuries and illnesses. The OSHA 300 form is called the Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, the 300-A is the Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, and the OSHA 301 form is called the Injury and Illness Incident Report.      At the work site, approximately thirteen employees worked as nursing assistants and cooks to care for residents.  The employer did not keep OSHA 300 logs.      Abatement certification required within ten days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.