OSHA Inspection: DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Issued

Sep 30, 2015

Abate by

Oct 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(2): The employer did not inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces  a) On or about 04/22/2015 and at times prior thereto, employees working in the Boiler Plant at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center located at 1310 24th Avenue South in Nashville, TN were exposed to confined space hazards from permit required confined spaces not being identified by posting danger signs.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 30, 2015

Abate by

Oct 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8):   The employer did not maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical.  a) On or about 04/22/2015, and at times prior to, employees working in the Engineering Electrical and Machine Shops at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center located at 1310 24th Avenue South in Nashville, TN were exposed to hazardous materials (including but not limited eye, skin, and respiratory irritants) to which the employer had not provided access to safety data sheets for each hazardous material used by employees.     b) On or about 04/22/2015, employees working in the  Prosthetics Department were exposed to hazardous materials (eye and skin irritant) and did not have a safety data sheet readily available to employees.  The Department of Veteran affairs was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.1200(g)(8), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 912235, Notice number 1, item number 5 with respect to a workplace located at 3600 30th Street, Des Moines, IA 50310.  The Department of Veteran affairs was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.1200(g)(8), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 924926, Notice number 1, item number 9 with respect to a workplace located at 11201 Benton Street, Loma Linda, CA 92357  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 30, 2015

Abate by

Oct 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use.  a) On or about 04/22/2015 and at times prior thereto, employees working at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center located at 1310 24th Avenue South in Nashville, TN were exposed to respiratory hazards from wearing required respirators and the employer did not include the following information in their written respiratory protection program:  Instance a:  Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace (1910.134(c)(1)(I);   Instance b: Fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators (1910.134(c)(1)(iii);    Instance c: Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations (1910.134(c)(1)(iv);     Instance d: Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding, and otherwise maintaining respirators (1910.134(c)(1)(v);     Instance e: Procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for atmosphere-supplying respirators (1910.134(c)(1)(vi);     Instance f: Procedures for training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations (1910.134(c)(1)(vii);     Instance g: Procedures for training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their maintenance (1910.134(c)(1)(viii)     Instance h: Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program (1910.134(c)(1)(ix).   In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 30, 2015

Abate by

Oct 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(6)(i)(C): The employer did not obtain a statement that the physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP)  had provided the employee with a copy of the PLHCP's written recommendation.  a) On or about 04/22/2015, employees working at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center located at  1310 24th Avenue South in Nashville, TN were exposed to respiratory hazards from wearing respirators and the employers medical clearance record did not contain a statement that the physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP)  had provided the employee with a copy of the PLHCP's written recommendation.   In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 30, 2015

Abate by

Oct 13, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(5)(ii)(C): Employees entered into permit spaces that met the conditions set forth in 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(5)(i) but before an employee entered the space, the internal atmosphere was not tested with a calibrated direct-reading instrument.    a) On or about 04/22/2015 and at times prior thereto, employees working in the Boiler Plant at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center located at 1310 24th Avenue South in Nashville, TN were exposed to confined space hazards and before entering the boiler confined spaces did not use a properly calibrated (per manufacturer's recommendations) direct-reading instrument to test for oxygen, flammable gases and vapors and potential toxic air contaminants.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 30, 2015

Abate by

Oct 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(14): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not review the permit-required confined space program, using the canceled permits retained under 29 CFR 1910.146(e)(6) within one  a) On or about 04/22/2015, employees were exposed to confined space  hazards when conducting confined space entries at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Boiler Plant, located at 1310 24th Avenue South in Nashville, TN,  and the employer did not review the permit-required confined space program, using the canceled permits retained within one year.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 30, 2015

Abate by

Oct 13, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(f): The entry permit that documents compliance with this section and authorizes entry did not identify the required information listed in (f)(1)-(f)(15):  On or about 04/22/2015 and times prior to, employees were exposed to confined space entry hazards at the Boiler Plant of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center located at 1310 24th Avenue South in Nashville, TN, when the employer did not list the following information in the following instances:   Instance a. The rescue and emergency services that can be summoned and the means (such as the equipment to use and the numbers to call) for summoning those services were not recorded (146(f)(11));    Instance b. The measures used to isolate the permit space and to eliminate or control permit space hazards before entry (forced air ventilation) (146(f)(8);  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 30, 2015

Abate by

Oct 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(k)(2)(iv): The employer did not ensure that affected employees practice making permit space rescues at least once every 12 months, by means of simulated rescue operations in which they remove dummies, manikins, or actual persons from the actual permit spaces or from representative permit spaces.  a) On or about 04/22/2015, employees working at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center located at 1310 24th Avenue South in Nashville, TN were exposed to confined space hazards and the employer had not ensured that employees practice making permit space rescues at least once every 12 months.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 30, 2015

Abate by

Oct 27, 2015

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 04/22/2015 and at times prior to, employees working at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center located at 1310 24th Avenue South in Nashville, TN, were exposed to bloodborne pathogens and the employer had not updated (last up-dated 12/22/2011) the written Bloodborne Pathogens Program annually.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 30, 2015

Abate by

Oct 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1047(d)(1)(i): Determinations of employee exposure to ethylene oxide were not made from breathing zone air samples representative of the fifteen minute short term exposure of each employee.  2) On or about 04/22/015, employees working in the SPD Department at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center located at 1310 24th Avenue South in Nashville, TN were exposed to ethylene oxide for which the employer did not collect and analyze air samples representative of the fifteen minute short term exposure of each employee.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 30, 2015

Abate by

Oct 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1047(d)(7)(i): Employees were not notified within 15 working days after receipt of ethylene oxide monitoring results, and in writing either individually, or by posting results in an appropriate location accessible to the affected employees.  a) On or about 04/22/2015, and at times prior to, employees working in the SPS Department at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center located at 1310 24th Avenue South in Nashville, TN, were exposed to ethylene oxide (EtO) for which the employer did not provide the employee with the results of the monitoring within 15 days of receipt.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 30, 2015

Abate by

Oct 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1)(i): The employer did not compile a list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present using a product identifier that was referenced on the appropriate safety data sheet.  a) On or about 04/22/2015, and at times prior to, employees working the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center located at 1310 24th Avenue South in Nashville, TN were exposed to hazardous materials (eye, skin, and/or respiratory irritants) for which the employer did not compile a complete chemical list of all hazardous materials used in the work place.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Sep 30, 2015

Abate by

Oct 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6)(i): Except as provided in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(7) and 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(8), the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the information required by 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1)(i) through 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1)(v).   a) On or about 04/22/2015, employees working at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Machine Shop E-03 and Morgue) located at 1310 24th Avenue South in Nashville, TN  were exposed to hazardous materials (including but not limited eye, skin, and respiratory irritants) to which the employer had not properly labeled the chemical containers. (This is cited under paragraph (f)(5)(1) of the previous 29 CFR 1910.1200 standard.)  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).