OSHA Inspection: THE NEW YORK AND PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL

Issued

Dec 23, 2014

Abate by

Dec 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $1,375 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(c)(1)(ii)(A): The employer's Exposure Control Plan did not include the exposure determination required by 29 CFR 1910.1030(c)(2):  (a) On or about 6/24/2014 at The New York and Presbyterian Hospital dba NewYork-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical Center, employees were exposed to bloodborne pathogens because the employer failed to implement an Exposure Control Plan which included an exposure determination, where employees including but not limited to nurses, perfusionists, and perioperative patient assistants, had occupational exposure to blood and OPIM while providing patient care and medical treatment.

Issued

Dec 23, 2014

Abate by

Dec 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(c)(1)(iv): The Exposure Control Plan was not reviewed and updated at least annually:  (a) On or about 6/24/2014 at The New York and Presbyterian Hospital dba NewYork-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical Center, employees were exposed to bloodborne pathogens because the employer failed to conduct an annual review of the Exposure Control Plan.

Issued

Dec 23, 2014

Abate by

Dec 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(2)(i): Engineering and work practice controls were not used to eliminate or minimize employees exposure:  (a) On or about 6/24/2014 at The New York and Presbyterian Hospital dba NewYork-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical Center, employees working in the Cardiac OR were exposed to bloodborne pathogens because the employer used unblunted surgical blades, failing to implement engineering controls on surgical scalpels in the cardiac operating room.

Issued

Dec 23, 2014

Abate by

Dec 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(c)(1)(iv)(B): The review and update of the exposure control plan did not document annually consideration and implementation of appropriate commercially available and effective safer medical devices designed to eliminate or minimize occupational exposure:  (a) On or about 6/24/2014 at The New York and Presbyterian Hospital dba NewYork-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical Center, employees, including but not limited to registered nurses and scrub nurses/ techs, were exposed to bloodborne pathogens because the employer failed to conduct an annual review of the Exposure Control Plan that considered safer medical devices, including but not limited to the surgical blades used in the Cardiac OR.

Issued

Dec 23, 2014

Abate by

Dec 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(3)(x): Masks in combination with eye protection devices, such as goggles or glasses with solid side shields, or chin-length face shields, were not worn whenever splashes, spray, spatter or droplets of blood or other potentially infectious materials may be generated and eye, nose or mouth contamination can be reasonably anticipated:  (a) On or about 6/24/2014 at The New York and Presbyterian Hospital dba NewYork-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical Center, employees, including but not limited to registered nurses, scrub nurses/ techs, perfusionists, and perioperative patient assistants, working in the Cardiac OR during surgery and perioperative environment cleaning were exposed to bloodborne pathogen hazards from splashes to the eyes and face.  The employer did not ensure that staff wore acceptable eye and face protection as defined by the standard.

Issued

Dec 23, 2014

Abate by

Dec 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $1,375 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(i): The employer did not determine or implement an appropriate written schedule for cleaning and method of decontamination based upon the location within the facility, type of surface to be cleaned, type of soil present, and tasks or procedures being performed in the area:  (a) On or about 6/24/2014 at The New York and Presbyterian Hospital dba NewYork-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical Center, employees who worked in the Cardiac ORs doing cleaning, perioperative patient care, and assisting with surgical procedures, were exposed to bloodborne pathogens because the employer failed to determine or implement an appropriate written schedule for cleaning and method of decontamination for the Cardiac OR that selected and communicated disinfectants.

Issued

Dec 23, 2014

Abate by

Dec 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(iii)(B)(1)(ii): Regulated waste was placed in containers which were not constructed to contain all contents or prevent leakage of liquids during handling, storage, transport or shipping:  (a) On or about 6/24/2014 at The New York and Presbyterian Hospital dba NewYork-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical Center, employees were exposed to bloodborne pathogens because the employer failed to ensure that regulated waste from the heart and lung machines was placed in containers that prevented leakage because thin-walled clear plastic trash bags were used to transport heavy plastic and Nalgene contents from the spent parts of the heart and lung machine.

Issued

Dec 23, 2014

Abate by

Dec 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $1,375 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(iii)(B)(1)(iii): Regulated waste was placed in containers which were not labeled or color-coded in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(1)(i):  (a) On or about 6/24/2014 at The New York and Presbyterian Hospital dba NewYork-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical Center, employees were exposed to bloodborne pathogens because the employer failed to ensure that regulated waste from the heart and lung machines was placed in containers which were labeled and color coded in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(1)(I).

Issued

Dec 23, 2014

Abate by

Dec 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(v): Employees were not provided additional training when changes such as modification of tasks or procedures or institution of new tasks or procedures affected the employee's occupational exposure:  (a) On or about 6/24/2014 at The New York and Presbyterian Hospital dba NewYork-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical Center in the cardiac OR, employees were exposed to bloodborne pathogens because the employer failed to train perfusion staff and perioperative patient assistants (PPAs) when the tasks presenting occupational exposure changed during modifications to heart and lung machine procedures.  These modifications included the rinsing of the perfusion bypass circuit and changes in the handling of heart and lung machine waste.

Issued

Dec 23, 2014

Abate by

Dec 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,100 · Current $275 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(h)(5)(i)(A): The employer did not maintain a sharps injury log that contained at a minimum the type and brand of device involved in the incident:  (a) On or about 6/24/2014 at The New York and Presbyterian Hospital dba NewYork-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical Center, the employer failed to document the type and brand of device involved in the sharps injury log.