OSHA Inspection: SANOFI PASTEUR INC.

Issued

Feb 6, 2015

Abate by

Feb 26, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

Hazardous substances 8400

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that  employees were exposed to aerosols created during the manipulation of viable Neisseria meningitidis cultures:  a)  Employees performed a fermentation process during which viable cultures of Neisseria meningitidis were centrifuged using an Eppendorf Mini Spin Plus micro centrifuge (Model 5453, SN 0041424) thereby exposing employees to aerosolized bacteria cultures, as discovered on or about October 1, 2014.  b)  An employee performed an experiment during which tubes of viable cultures of Neisseria meningitidis were opened and pipetted on the bench top thereby exposing the employee to aerosolized bacteria culture, on or about September 12, 2014.   c)  Employees performed a fermentation process during which tubes of viable cultures of Neisseria meningitidis were opened and pipetted on the bench top thereby exposing the employees to aerosolized bacteria culture, as discovered on or about October 1, 2014.  d)  An employee performed an experiment during which flasks of viable cultures of Neisseria meningitidis were shaken in Bellco baffled flasks (#2510-00250) in an incubator thereby exposing the employee to aerosolized bacteria culture, on or about September 12, 2014.  e)  Employees performed a fermentation process during which viable cultures of Neisseria meningitidis were transferred from a fermentation vessel through a valve into a smaller container thereby exposing employees to aerosolized bacteria culture, as discovered on or about October 1, 2014.    Abatement Certification and Documentation Required