OSHA Inspection: METRO PARAMEDICS SERVICE, INC.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5000.00 · Current $3000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1)(i): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards were present, or were likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and when the hazards were likely to be present, the employer did not select, and have each affected employee use, the types of PPE that would protect the employees from the hazards identified:                        a) During the period of March 15, 2014 through May 15, 2014, at the above located workplace, paramedics were required to assist and provide medical care to accident victims involved in automobile accidents. The employer did not select and provide appropriate personal protective equipment in the form of flame and cut resistant protective gear (coats, pants) that meet the NFPA standard for protective clothing (NFPA 1999 Standard on Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations) to protect employees during motor-vehicle extrication, rescue, or other hazardous situations. The employees were thereby exposed to the hazards associated with sharp metal, broken glass, hazardous chemicals and flammable liquids.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(a): The employers did not select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands are exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasions; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes:    a) During the period of March 15, 2014 through May 15, 2014, at the above located workplace, paramedics were required to assist and provide medical care to accident victims involved in automobile accidents. The employer did not select and provide the employees appropriate hand protection in the form of cut resistant/chemical resistant gloves that meet the NFPA standard for protective clothing (NFPA 1999 Standard on Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations). The employees were thereby exposed to the hazards associated with sharp metal, broken glass, hazardous chemicals and flammable liquids.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5000.00 · Current $3000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): In a workplace where respirators were necessary to protect the health of an employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer, the employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures:                   a) During the period of March 15, 2014 through May 15, 2014, at the above located workplace, paramedics were required to wear negative pressure respirators while transporting patients. The employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134. The paramedics were thereby exposed to airborne biohazards.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1):  The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:                     a) During the period of March 15, 2014 through May 15, 2014, at the above located workplace, paramedics were required to wear negative pressure respirators while transporting patients. The employer did not provide the paramedics medical evaluations to ensure the wearing of respirators did not present a health hazard to the employees.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): The employer did not ensure that employees using tight-fitting face piece respirators were fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator face piece (size, style, model or make) was used, and at least annually thereafter.              a) During the period of March 15, 2014 through May 15, 2014, at the above located workplace, paramedics were required to wear a negative pressure tight-fitting air-purifying respirator while transporting patients. The employer did not ensure employees using tight-fitting face piece respirators were fit tested prior to initial use of respirators and at least annually thereafter.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5000.00 · Current $3000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(c)(1)(ii):  The employer's written Exposure Control Plan did not include the exposure determination required by paragraph(c)(2), method of implementation for paragraphs (d) Methods of Compliance, (f) Hepatitis B vaccination and Post-Exposure Evaluation and follow-up, (g) Communication of Hazards to Employees, (h) Recordkeeping and procedures for the evaluation of circumstances surrounding exposure incidents as required by paragraph (f)(3)(i) of this standard:           a)  During the period of March 15, 2014 through May 15, 2014, at the above located workplace, paramedics were exposed to blood and other potentially infectious materials. The employer's written Exposure Control Plan did not include:        a. Post exposure evaluation       b. Post exposure follow-up       c. Procedures for the evaluation of circumstances surrounding exposures incidents.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(c)(1)(iv):   The Exposure Control Plan was not reviewed and updated at least annually and whenever necessary to reflect new or modified task and procedures which affect occupational exposure and reflect new or revised employee positions with occupational exposure. The review and update of such plan did not:       i) Reflect changes in technology that eliminate or reduce exposure to bloodborne pathogens; and       ii) Document annually considerations and implementations of appropriate commercially available and effective safer medical devices designed to eliminate or minimize   occupational exposure.               a)  During the period of March 15, 2014 to May 15, 2014, at the above located workplace, paramedics were exposed to blood and other potentially infectious materials. The workplace bloodborne pathogen exposure control program had not been reviewed and updated since 2008.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(c)(1)(v): The employer, who was required to establish an Exposure Control Plan did not solicit input from non-managerial employees responsible for direct patient care who are potentially exposed to injuries from contaminated sharps in the identification, evaluation, and selection of effective engineering and work practice controls and did not document the solicitation in the Exposure Control Plan:   a) During the period of March 15, 2014 through May 15, 2014, at the above located workplace, paramedics were exposed to blood and other potentially infectious materials. The employer who was required to establish an Exposure Control Plan had not solicited input from non-managerial paramedics responsible for direct patient care and potentially exposed to injuries from contaminated sharps in the identification, evaluation, and selection of effective engineering and work practice controls and did not document the solicitation in the Exposure Control Plan.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5000.00 · Current $3000.00 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) or within 10 working days of initial assignment to employees who had occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials:        a) During the period of March 15, 2014 through May 15, 2014, at the above located workplace, two paramedics who were recently hired were exposed to blood and other potentially infectious materials. The employer did not made the HBV series available within the first ten working days of initial assignment.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(f) (2) (iv):  The employer did not ensure that employees who declined to accept the hepatitis B vaccination offered by the employer signed the statement in appendix A:    a) During the period of March 15, 2014 through May 15, 2014, at the above located workplace, approximately eight paramedics required to work with blood and other potentially infectious materials declined the employer's offer to provide the Hepatitis B vaccination series. The employer did not ensure that employees who declined the hepatitis B vaccination offered by the employer signed the statement in appendix A.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5000.00 · Current $3000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(ii)(A): The employer did not ensure that all employees with occupational exposure participated in a training program at the time of initial assignment to tasks where occupational exposure may take place:       a)  During the period of March 15, 2014 through May 15, 2014, at the above located workplace, two paramedics who were recently hired were required to work with blood and other potentially infectious materials. The employer did not effectively train the employees in the facility's bloodborne pathogen exposure control program at the time of their initial assignment.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(ii)(B): The employer did not ensure that all employees with occupational exposure participated in a training program at least annually:    a) During the period of March 15, 2014 through May 15, 2014, at the above located workplace, six long term paramedics were required to work with blood and other potentially infectious materials.  The employer did not provide annual bloodborne pathogen training to the paramedics.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.32(b)(3):  The Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (OSHA Form 300A or equivalent) was not properly certified:    a) On or about May 15, 2014, at the above located workplace, the employer's  OSHA 300A summary for 2013 was not properly certified by a company executive.

Issued

2014-09-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-10-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(4)(i): The medical questionnaires were not administered confidentially during the employee's normal working hours or at a time and place convenient to the employee:            a) During the period of March 15, 2014 through May 15, 2014, at the above located workplace, paramedics were required to wear negative pressure respirators while transporting patients. Medical questionnaires were not administered confidentially and the employer maintained copies of the employee's confidential OSHA Respiratory Medical Evaluation Questionnaire.