OSHA Inspection: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, VA PALO ALTO HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, PALO ALTO DIVISION

Issued

Apr 20, 2016

Abate by

May 16, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(2): Each exit was not clearly visible and marked by a sign reading "Exit":  VA Palo Alto,10/21/2015 exit doors were not clearly marked in the following locations:  a) Building # 53 Reclamation Building: The door leading to the outside was not marked with an exit sign.   b) Building # 45: Carpenters Shop and Supervisors Shop: The exit door was not marked with an exit sign.  c) Building # 601 Interior Design Storage Building: The exit door was not marked with an exit sign.   d) Building # 51 Mechanical Room: The exit door was not marked by an exit sign.   The Department of Veterans Affairs was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.37(b)(2), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 678158, notice 2, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on 05/17/2013, with respect to a workplace located at 3801 Miranda Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304.  The Department of Veterans Affairs was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.37(b)(2), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 728441, notice number 2, item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on 06/03/2013, with respect to a workplace located at 795 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025.  The Department of Veterans Affairs was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.37(b)(2), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 109385, notice  number 3, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on 06/12/2012, with respect to a workplace located at 150 Muir Road, Martinez, CA 94553

Issued

Apr 20, 2016

Abate by

May 16, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.101(b): The in-plant handling, storage, and utilization of all compressed gases in cylinders, portable tanks, rail tank cars, or motor vehicle cargo tanks were not in accordance with Compressed Gas Association Pamphlet P-1-1965, which is incorporated by reference as specified in CFR 1910.6:  VA Palo Alto, Building 43 Welding shop 10/21/2015: A compressed gas cylinder was in storage and was not secured from being knocked over.  The Department of Veterans Affairs was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.101(b), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 678158, notice number 1, item number 4 and was affirmed as a final order on 05/17/2013, with respect to a workplace located at 3801 Miranda Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304.

Issued

Apr 20, 2016

Abate by

May 16, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:  VA Palo Alto, Building # 43 Welding shop 10/21/2015: The unused portion of the horizontal band saw blade was not provided with a guard. Employees were exposed to minor lacerations from the slow moving blade.  The Department of Veterans Affairs was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 678158 , notice number 1, item number 7 and was affirmed as a final order on 05/17/2013, with respect to a workplace located at 3801 Miranda Ave., CA 94304  The Department of Veterans Affairs was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 728441 , citation number 01, item number 002 and was affirmed as a final order on 06/03/2013, with respect to a workplace located at 795 Willow road, Menlo Park, CA 94025

Issued

Apr 20, 2016

Abate by

May 16, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Listed or labeled electrical equipment was not used or installed in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling:  VA Palo Alto: 10/21/2015 Electrical equipment was not in use in accordance to its listing and labeling and was used as a substitute for permanent wiring:    a) Building # 42, Room 101A and Main room: two re-locatable power taps energized a refrigerator, a microwave oven and a heater.    b) Building # 54, Lower level Plumbing Maintenance shop: two re-locatable power taps energized a refrigerator, a microwave oven and a power strip.    c) Building #45, # 43 and the Boiler room: Metal boxes with knockouts, outlets attachments and flexible cords attachments with plugs were used as an extension cords.   The Department of Veterans Affairs was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 678158, notice number 2, item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on 05/17/2013, with respect to a workplace located at 3801 Miranda Ave., CA 94304  The Department of Veterans Affairs was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 728441, notice number 0, item number 3 and was affirmed as a final order on 06/03/2013, with respect to a workplace located at 795 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025.  The Department of Veterans Affairs was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 109385 , notice  1, item number 6 and was affirmed as a final order on 06/12/2012, with respect to a workplace located at 150 Muir Road, Martinez, CA 94553

Issued

Apr 20, 2016

Abate by

May 16, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1): Sufficient access and working space was not provided and maintained about all electric equipment (operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground) to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment:  VA Palo Alto, 10/21/2015: Electrical panels in the following locations were blocked and were not readily accessible:  1- Building #45 Carpenters shop 2- Building #601 Interior design storage 3- Building #50 Warehouse Building 4- Building # 100 Engineering Mechanical room   The Department of Veterans Affairs was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 678158 notice number 3, item number 3, and was affirmed as a final order on 05/17/2013, with respect to a workplace located at 3801 Miranda Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304.  The Department of Veterans Affairs was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 728441 citation number 3, item number 1, and was affirmed as a final order on 06/03/2013, with respect to a workplace located at 795 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025.  The Department of Veterans Affairs was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 110227 notice number 01, item number 006, and was affirmed as a final order on 06/12/2012, with respect to a workplace located at 10535 Hospital Way, Mather, CA 95655.

Issued

Apr 20, 2016

Abate by

May 16, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(2)(i): Pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings were not provided with covers approved for the purpose:  VA Palo Alto, 10/21/2015 in the following locations electrical junction boxes were not provided with covers, the inner conductors were energized exposing employees to electrical hazards:  1- Move Shop building # 42.  2- Welding Shop building # 43.  3- Building #7 Penthouse mechanical room behind Quincy Compressor.  The Department of Veterans Affairs was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.305(b)(2)(i), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 678158, notice 1, item number 10 and was affirmed as a final order on 05/17/2013, with respect to a workplace located at 3801 Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304.

Issued

Apr 20, 2016

Abate by

May 16, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Flexible cords and cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:  VA Palo Alto, Building #41 Electronic Shop, 10/21/2015: A yellow extension cord was used in lieu of permanent wiring to power a RICOH copier.     The Department of Veterans Affairs was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 678158 citation number 02, item number 09 and was affirmed as a final order on 05/31/2013, with respect to a workplace located at 3801 Miranda Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94304.

Issued

Apr 20, 2016

Abate by

May 16, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): All places of employment, passageways, storerooms, and service rooms were not kept clean and orderly and in a sanitary condition:  VA Palo Alto, Building # 54, Lower level plumbing shop: On 10/22/2015: A fixed six foot long relocatable power tap electrical cord was permanently laying across a walkway creating a tripping hazard. The cord was plugged in an outlet and energized.

Issued

Apr 20, 2016

Abate by

May 16, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i.:  VA Palo Alto, Building 5, Prosthetics Lab, 11/05/2015 : The compressed air used for cleaning was not reduced to 30 psi.

Issued

Apr 20, 2016

Abate by

May 16, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(f)(2): Each service, feeder, and branch circuit, at its disconnecting means or overcurrent device, was not legibly marked to indicate its purpose, nor located and arranged so the purpose was evident:  VA Palo Alto, Building # 43 Welding Shop, 10/21/2015: The electrical disconnects in the electrical panel 1BA were not marked to indicate their purpose.

Issued

Apr 20, 2016

Abate by

May 16, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2): Except as elsewhere required or permitted by this standard, live parts of electric equipment operating at 50 volts or more were not guarded against accidental contact by use of approved cabinets or other forms of approved enclosures:  VA Palo Alto, Building # 53 Reclamation Building, 10/21/2015: Unapproved cover on the main electrical panel 240 volts did not shield the live electrical components inside the panel exposing employees to electrical hazards.

Issued

Apr 20, 2016

Abate by

May 16, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.304(g)(5): The paths to ground from circuits, equipment, and enclosures were not permanent, continuous, and effective:  VA Palo Alto, at the following locations, outlet plugs attached to the industrial fans were missing the grounding pins exposing employees to electrical hazard:  Warehouse Building # 50, 10/26/2015: The plugs of two industrial fans were missing the grounding pins.  Building #7 Mechanical Room Lower level 11/5/2015: An industrial fan was plugged in and energized, the plug was missing the grounding pin.