OSHA Inspection: ATLAS LINEN HEALTH CARE SERVICES CO., LLC

Issued

Dec 15, 2015

Abate by

Apr 18, 2016

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9020

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(2): The Building and facility owners did not determine the presence, location and quantity of ACM and PACM. The employer and building and faculty owners did not exercise due diligence in complying with requirements to inform employers and employees about presence and location of ACM and PACM.  a.)  On or about 11/3/15, the facility (circa 1940 or older) has overhead, insulated pipes that transect the 'clean' area that are Presumed Asbestos-Containing Materials (PACM).  The building/facility owner did not determine the presence, location and quantity of ACM and PACM.  The employer/building facility owner did not exercise due diligence in complying with requirements to inform employees about the presence and location of the PACM.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Dec 15, 2015

Abate by

Jan 19, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9020

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(3)(ii): Building and facility owners did not maintain records of all information required to be provided pursuant to this section and/or otherwise known to the building owner concerning the presence, location and quantity of ACM and PACM in the building/facility.  a.) Facility - On or about 11/3/15, the building (circa 1940's or older) has Presumed Asbestos Containing Materials (PACM) insulated pipes that transect the clean side of the facility.  The building owner has not maintained records of all information required to be provided pursuant to this section and/or otherwise known ot the building owner concerning the presence, location and quantity of ACM and PACM in the building/facility.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Dec 15, 2015

Abate by

Jan 19, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9020

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(3)(iii):  Building and facility owners shall inform employers of employees, and employers shall inform employees who will perform housekeeping activities in areas which contain ACM and/or PACM of the presence and location of ACM and/or PACM in such areas.  a.)   Building and facility owners did not inform employers of employees who will perform housekeeping activities in areas which contain ACM and/or PACM of the presence and location.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Dec 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $8,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(2)(ii): Engineering controls were not examined or maintained, and replaced on a regular schedule to ensure their effectiveness:  a) Sort area (dirty) - On or about 11/3/15, sharps containers, for sharps found during the (dirty) sort process were not replaced after having been removed when filled.  The sharps container in the dirty sort area, next to the stairway, had not been replaced after having been removed.    NO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Dec 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(iii)(A)(2)(iii): During use, containers for contaminated sharps were not replaced routinely or were allowed to be overfilled:  a) Chemical storage room - On or about 11/3/15, red boxes placed in this area were overfilled and overflowing with contaminated sharps.  b.) Dirty Sort Mezzanine - On or about 11/3/15, the red box near the stairwell had not been replaced after removal.  NO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Dec 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(iii)(A)(1)(iv): Contaminated sharps were not discarded immediately or as soon as feasible in containers that were labeled or color-coded in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(1)(i):  a) Dirty Sort Mezzanine area - On or about 11/3/15, the employer provided a pharmaceutical waste container (black), used by employees to discard sharps, that was not labeled and/or color-coded in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(1)(I).  NO ABATEMENT CERIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Dec 15, 2015

Abate by

Apr 6, 2016

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(3)(ix)(C): Utility gloves were not decontaminated for re-use if they were not cracked, peeling, torn, or punctured, exhibited other signs of deterioration or when their ability to function as a barrier was compromised:  a) Dirty sort area - On or about 11/3/15, employees use a sharps-resistant glove to sort dirty/contaminated laundry, to help minimize any exposure to sharps-related injuries.  The puncture resistant gloves are not decontaminated for re-use, after handling/sorting contaminated laundry.  Employees place the contaminated gloves into storage lockers for re-use and  are not washed/decontaminated after daily use.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Dec 15, 2015

Abate by

Apr 6, 2016

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(ii)(A): Contaminated work surfaces were not decontaminated at the end of the work shift when the surface might have become contaminated since the last cleaning:  a) Dirty sort area - On or about 11/3/15, employees use sharps-resistant gloves to sort the contaminated laundry, after which the contaminated gloves are removed and placed into a series of small lockers.  The small lockers where the contaminated gloves are maintained are not decontaminated: either at the end of a work shift or when the surface might have become contaminated.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Dec 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(iii)(A)(3)(i): Containers of contaminated sharps were moved from the area of use, and the containers were not closed immediately prior to removal or replacement to prevent spillage or protrusion of contents during handling, storage, transport or shipping:  a) Chemical Storage Room - On or about 11/3/15, sharps containers were removed from the area of use, had not been closed immediately prior to removal or replacement to prevent spillage or protrusion of contents during handling, storage, transport or shipping.  Sharps containers were observed with open tops; contents spilling out; and, not closed and/or sealed.  NO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Dec 15, 2015

Abate by

Dec 28, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(iv)(B): The employer did not ensure that employees who had contact with contaminated laundry wore protective gloves and other appropriate personal protective equipment:  a.) Dirty Sort - On or about 11/3/15, employees sort dirty and contaminated laundry using sharps-resistant gloves.  The employer did not ensure that all employees wore nitrile or another type of fluid-resistant gloves under the Hex Armor gloves.  Employees were observed removing and handling the exterior of the dirty/contaminated gloves with ungloved hands.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Dec 15, 2015

Abate by

Dec 28, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): Protective eye equipment was not required where there was a reasonable probability of injury that could be prevented by such equipment:  a) Facility/Bulk Chemical Storage Area - On or about 11/3/15, maintenance employees who change out; place and remove the chemical distribution equipment (e.g. hoses, etc.) from the bulk containers, do not wear goggles under the faceshield to protect the eyes from splashes.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Dec 15, 2015

Abate by

Jan 19, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(viii): The person conducting the bloodborne pathogen training was not knowledgeable in the subject matter covered by the elements contained in the training program as it related to the workplace that the training would address:  a) Facility - On or about 11/3/15 - The employer uses a video taped training for Bloodborne Pathogens to train the employees in the facility.  The person who is accessible to the employees to answer questions, when the Corporate safety person is unavailable at that training, was not knowledgeable in the subject matter covered by the elements contained in the training as it related to the workplace.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED