OSHA Inspection: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIR

Issued

Sep 29, 2014

Abate by

Nov 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1960.8(a): 29 CFR 1960.8(a):  The Agency head did not furnish employment and a place of employment to each employee that were free from recognized hazards that caused or were likely to cause death or serious physical harm:  29 CFR 1960.8(a): The Agency head did not furnish employment and a place of employment to each employee that were free from recognized hazards that caused or were likely to cause death or serious physical harm:  OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1) and Executive Order 12196 Section 1-201(a): The head of the agency did not furnish to employees places and conditions of employment that are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm in that some rooms designated as airborne isolation (AI) did not maintain the differential negative pressure exposing the staff to airborne diseases, on or about 9/19/14:  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Decatur, GA - The following rooms did not maintain a differential negative pressure of 0.01 inches of water gauge:  a) Room 8C164 b) Room 9C117A c) Room 10C153 d) Room 10C164 e) Room 1B136 f) Room 1B234 g) Room 2C260 h) Room 2A154 i)  Room 7C153

Issued

Sep 29, 2014

Abate by

Nov 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not provide respirator training that would ensure each employee could demonstrate knowledge of items in section (i)-(vii):  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Decatur, GA - Employees performing an autopsy were instructed to wear an N95 respirator for protection against tuberculosis. Training as required by this paragraph was not conducted, on or about 7/18/14.

Issued

Sep 29, 2014

Abate by

Oct 24, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(a): The employer did not select and require employee(s) to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands were exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasion; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes:  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Decatur, GA - In the food nutrition department, employees were exposed to burn hazards while scooping boiling water out of large vessels. Hand protection was not required, on or about 8/26/14.

Issued

Sep 29, 2014

Abate by

Oct 24, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(ii): Equipment, environmental surfaces, or working surfaces were not cleaned and decontaminated after contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials:   U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Decatur, GA - In the morgue, the chalk, erasers, and black board were visible contaminated with blood. The items were not cleaned and decontaminated, on or about 8/27/14.

Issued

Sep 29, 2014

Abate by

Oct 24, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(iv):   The details of the hazard communication program developed by the employer, did not include an explanation of the labels received on shipped containers and the workplace labeling system used by their employer:  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Decatur, GA - Employees exposed to hazardous chemicals such as, but not limited to cleaning solutions, disinfectants, and solutions used in the histology lab, were not trained on the revised labeling system under the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), on or about 8/25/14.

Issued

Sep 29, 2014

Abate by

Nov 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): The employer did not ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting respirator is fit tested prior to initial use, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, make or model) is used, and at least annually thereafter.   a) U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Decatur, GA - An employee performing an autopsy was instructed to wear an N95 respirator for protection against tuberculosis. A fit test was not performed prior to the initial use of the respirator, on or about 7/18/14.    b) U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Decatur, GA - Employees working in the autopsy room were instructed to wear an N95 respirator for protection against tuberculosis. The annual fit test was not performed, on or about 7/18/14.   The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 315478107, citation number 1, item number 1a, and was affirmed as a final order on October 25, 2011, with respect to a workplace located at 1601 West Archer Road, Gainesville, FL.

Issued

Sep 29, 2014

Abate by

Nov 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:  a) U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Decatur, GA - Employees in the Nutrition Service area replaced containers containing corrosive chemicals such as sodium hydroxide. The eye provided was not installed in the immediate area and did not have enough pressure to be used in the event of a splash to the eyes, on or about 8/26/14.  b) U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Decatur, GA - Employees in the Canteen area replaced containers containing corrosive chemicals such as sodium hydroxide. The eye provided was not installed in the immediate area to be used in the event of a splash to the eyes, on or about 8/26/14.  c) U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Decatur, GA - Employees in the Decontamination/Sterilization area replaced containers containing corrosive chemicals such as sodium hydroxide. The eye provided was not installed in the immediate area to be used in the event of a splash to the eyes, on or about 8/27/14.  The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.151(c), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 315478115, citation number 1, item number 3, and was affirmed as a final order on October 25, 2011, with respect to a workplace located at 1601 West Archer Road, Gainesville, FL.