OSHA Inspection: WILKINSON GEORGIA IDAHO SENIOR HOUSING LEASE CO., LLC DBA

Issued

2013-05-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-06-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7000.00 · Current $5500.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of Occupational Safety and Health Act:  The employer did not furnish to each employee employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause serious physical harm to employees, in that employees were required to perform lifting tasks resulting in stressors that have caused or were likely to cause musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs):    (a)  On or about November 7, 2012, and at times prior thereto, employees, including the Certified Nursing Assistants, Nurses Aides and other Caregivers who work at the Four Seasons Assisted Living facility, performed transfer, assistance, and/or repositioning tasks for partial weight-bearing residents and non-weight bearing residents which exposed employees to musculoskeletal such as hazards repeated lifting/lowering, pushing, pulling, bending, reaching, twisting, ambulating and other tasks associated with resident transfers and repositioning. These hazards caused, are causing, or are likely to cause musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) involving the neck, back, shoulders and extremities.   Abatement: Although some ergonomic-related risk factors may be reduced or eliminated by implementing a single means of abatement, in most cases a process that includes analysis of the worksite including appropriate assessment of the resident population, 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 controls include engineering, training and education, and administrative and work practice controls.   Engineering controls:  Engineering controls must reduce the amount of force exerted to lift, lower, push, and pull.  Controls should also reduce awkward postures such as reaching, and twisting and ideally reduce the number of times that repetitive tasks are performed.  Some examples of engineering controls include: Supplying an adequate supply of mechanical lift-assist devices and supplies such as batteries and slings so the required force exerted is within the capacity of the employees performing the task.  All movement of fully dependent residents will be performed with the use of mechanical means, unless evaluation shows that they are of such small stature that they can be moved safely with by manual means.   In addition other transfer and repositioning devices, which include, but are not limited to: low-friction slip sheets, pivot transfer devices, slide boards, double-handled gait belts, resident self-assist devices, as well as specialized equipment for use with residents with special needs (i.e., bariatric residents).   In some cases room modifications or positioning of items within the room may be necessary to ensure that adequate space is provided for proper positioning while performing tasks and access to residents.   Training and Education:  Examples of training and education include: Providing competency based training to new employees and retraining existing 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, emphasized training in the appropriate use of mechanical lift-assist, transfer, and repositioning devices, and training in identifying and reporting malfunctioning lift assist equipment or any other conditions that could cause or contribute to injuries to the employees.   Administrative Controls:  Examples of administrative controls that may apply to this facility include: Developing and enforcing a policy requiring the use of transfer and repositioning devices when a resident's care plan documents the need; developing a policy to place incoming residents into living space that is compatible with the staffs need to use transfer and repositioning devices; assuring that resident care plans address transfer and positioning assistance needs, that the Caregivers are aware of such needs and that the care plan is kept current.; developing a Bed Mobility program to address repositioning tasks, including bed placement and use of repositioning aids.    Work Practice Controls:  Some examples of work practice controls that may apply to this workplace include: Monitoring resident repositioning to ensure that, where required, it is performed by a minimum of two persons.  Manual lifting of totally dependent residents by nursing staff will be prohibited unless exceptional circumstances dictate otherwise, for example, emergency situations or medical necessity, or resident refusal to allow the use of mechanical devices.  Re-evaluate residents as appropriate to reduce manual transfers.  Note: Abatement certification AND supporting documentation are required for this item

Issued

2013-05-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-05-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5000.00 · Current $3000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(2)(i): Engineering and/or work practice controls were not used to eliminate or minimize employees occupational exposure:  a.) At the Assisted Living Facility:  On or about November 7, 2012, and at times prior thereto, employees did not use lancets with engineering controls to eliminate or reduce needle stick injuries.  Note: Abatement certification is required for this item

Issued

2013-05-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-05-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7000.00 · Current $5500.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(f)(2)(i): Hepatitis B vaccination was not made available after the employee had received the training required in 29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(vii)(I) and within 10 working days of initial assignment to employees who had occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials unless the employee had previously received the complete hepatitis B vaccination series, antibody testing had revealed that the employee was immune, or the vaccine was contraindicated for medical reasons:    a.)	On or about November 7, 2012, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not ensure that the first dose of hepatitis B vaccination series was administered to covered employees at the facility within 10 working days, or if the employee declined the vaccination, a signed declination was on file.    Note: Abatement certification AND supporting documentation are required for this item

Issued

2013-05-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-05-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a):  Protective equipment, including protective shields and barriers, were not provided and used where hazards capable of causing injury and impairment were encountered:    a.)	Employees responsible for bathing residents on shower chairs were not issued water impervious shoe cover to protect them from contaminated bath water and slips and falls.    Note: Abatement certification is required for this item

Issued

2013-05-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-05-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(iii)(A)(2)(iii):  During use, containers for contaminated sharps were not replaced routinely or were allowed to be overfilled:    a.)	Summer House Med Room:  A sharps container used primarily for lancets and other contaminated sharps, was overfilled.    Note: Abatement certification is required for this item