OSHA Inspection: WYNDHAM HOTELS AND RESORTS, LLC

Issued

Nov 12, 2015

Abate by

Jan 5, 2016

Penalty

Initial $6,000 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):  Establishment:  Employer's PPE assessment did not include all elements required by this section such as:  a) Selecting, and having each affected employee using, the types of PPE that will protect the affected employee from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment; b) Communicating selection decisions to each affected employee; and, c) Selecting PPE that properly fits each affected employee.  The PPE assessment did not include specific PPE that would adequately protect body parts such as the hands and arms of the employees who were exposed to:   a. hazardous cleaning products such as heavy duty alkaline bathroom cleaner containing ethylenediamine tetraacetate and ammonium chloride, Ecolab anti-bacterial multi-purpose cleaner containing ammonium chloride, Lysol multi-purpose foam cleaner containing diethylene glycol monobutyl ether and ammonium chloride, Laundry Sour containing formic acid, Eco-Star Destainer containing sodium hypochlorite, Solar Brite laundry detergent containing Stain Blaster Multi-Use cleaner containing petroleum distillates and potassium hydroxide, and Stainblaster Destainer cleaner containing sodium hypochlorite;  b. biological hazards such as body fluids found on linens and towels and surfaces and in trash and trash receptacles and contact with used needles and other sharps devices;  c. physical hazards such as lacerations and puncture wounds from contact with used needles and other sharps devices;  Employer provided Ambitex latex gloves (3-4 millimeter thickness) which tore easily and did not provide adequate protection against the listed chemicals and incidental exposure to body fluids.  Appropriate gloves are those that provide sufficient durability against physical hazards, and sufficient resistance against chemical and biological hazards.

Issued

Nov 12, 2015

Abate by

Jan 5, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(b): The employer did not base selection of appropriate hand protection on an evaluation of the performance characteristics of the hand protection relative to the tasks to be performed, conditions present, duration of use, and the hazards and potential hazards identified:  Establishment: Employer did not provide and make available adequate gloves and in the appropriate sizes to employees performing work activities such as:  a) Employees who perform housekeeping of interior spaces such as guest rooms and rooms utilized for sleep studies, and use hazardous cleaning products such as heavy duty alkaline bathroom cleaner containing ethylenediamine tetraacetate and ammonium chloride, Ecolab anti-bacterial multi-purpose cleaner containing ammonium chloride, and Lysol multi-purpose foam cleaner containing diethylene glycol monobutyl ether and ammonium chloride;  b) Employees who perform housekeeping of interior spaces such as guest rooms and rooms utilized for sleep studies and clean surfaces and handle bed linens and towels that contain body fluids;  c) Employees who remove linens and towels that contain body fluids from rooms;  d) Employees who remove used needles and other sharps devices from rooms and public restrooms and public areas;  e) Employees who launder items such as contaminated bed linens and towels, and handle hazardous laundry cleaning products such as Laundry Sour containing formic acid, Eco-Star Destainer containing sodium hypochlorite, Solar Brite laundry detergent containing Stain Blaster Multi-Use cleaner containing petroleum distillates and potassium hydroxide, and Stainblaster Destainer cleaner containing sodium hypochlorite;  f) Employees who launder items such as bed linens and towels that are soiled with body fluids;  Employer provided Ambitex latex gloves (3-4 millimeter thickness) which tore easily and did not provide adequate protection against the listed chemicals, incidental exposure to body fluids and caused rashes in employees who had latex allergies. Appropriate gloves are those that provide sufficient durability against physical hazards, sufficient resistance against chemical and biological hazards and prevent latex allergies.

Issued

Nov 12, 2015

Abate by

Jan 5, 2016

Penalty

Initial $6,000 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(f)(1): The employer did not provide training to each employee required to use Personal Protective Equipment that covered when PPE is necessary, what PPE is necessary, how to don, doff, adjust and wear PPE, the limitations of PPE and the proper care, maintenance, useful life and disposal of the PPE:   Establishment:  The employer did not provide training to employees who were exposed to hazards that require the use of PPE:   a. hazardous cleaning products such as heavy duty alkaline bathroom cleaner containing ethylenediamine tetraacetate and ammonium chloride, Ecolab anti-bacterial multi-purpose cleaner containing ammonium chloride, Lysol multi-purpose foam cleaner containing diethylene glycol monobutyl ether and ammonium chloride, Laundry Sour containing formic acid, Eco-Star Destainer containing sodium hypochlorite, Solar Brite laundry detergent containing Stain Blaster Multi-Use cleaner containing petroleum distillates and potassium hydroxide, and Stainblaster Destainer cleaner containing sodium hypochlorite;  b. biological hazards such as body fluids found on linens and towels and surfaces and in trash and trash receptacles and contact with used needles and other sharps devices;  c. physical hazards such as lacerations and puncture wounds from contact with used needles and other sharps devices.

Issued

Nov 12, 2015

Abate by

Jan 5, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(iv)(A)(2): Contaminated laundry was not placed and/or transported in bags or containers which were labeled or color-coded in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(1)(i):  Establishment:  Employer did not ensure that bags or containers which were labeled or color-coded in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(1)(i) were readily available in appropriate sizes and ensure that employees place contaminated laundry such as bed linens, bed pads and blankets in these containers at the location where it was used.