OSHA Inspection: VA ILLIANA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

Issued

Jun 8, 2016

Abate by

Jul 5, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): Protective eye and face equipment was not required where there was a reasonable probability of injury that could be prevented by such equipment.  On or about May 3, 2016, employees in the SPS Decontamination Area were exposed to sensitizing chemicals in the Endozime AW Plus solution used to decontaminate surgical instruments and employees were not provided suitable tight fitting eye protection to protect their eyes.

Issued

Jun 8, 2016

Abate by

Jul 5, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1047(d)(1)(ii): Representative 15-minutes short term employee exposure to ethylene oxide was not determined on the basis of one or more samples representing 15-minute exposures associated with operations that are most likely to produce exposures above the excursion limit for each shift for each job classification in each work area:  On or about April 25, 2016, SPS and SIMS employees were exposed to ethylene oxide and representative 15-minute short term employee exposure sampling was not completed during operations most likely to produce exposures above the excursion limit for each job classification.

Issued

Jun 8, 2016

Abate by

Jul 5, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1047(h)(1)(iii): The ethylene oxide emergency plan did not include the elements prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.38, emergency action plans:  On or about April 6, 2016, the employer's written Ethylene Oxide Program for the SPS area issued in October 2013 (MCM Number 132ESS-07) and the SPS/SIMS ETO Alarm Procedure revised May 2015, did not include a specific plan for emergency situations including:  a) The program and posted procedures did not include the plan for fire and when the Steri-Trac ChemDAQ ethylene oxide system status alarm is code yellow, red, blue, gray, and black and securing the area.  b) The Program and Procedures did not address evacuation through the safest route after the release of ethylene oxide when triggered by the Steri-Trac ChemDAQ ethylene oxide alarm system, nor did it include the procedures to follow when the audible alarm sounds in status code (yellow, red, blue, gray, black) in the following areas:   i) Area 1 - Sterile Prep Room;  ii) Area 2 - ETO Mechanical Room;  iii) Area 3 - Pass Thru; and   iv) Area 4 - SIMS.   c) Procedures to account for all employees after they evacuate during after hours operations.  d) Procedures to be followed by the employees performing medical duties after an exposure to ethylene oxide that included eye / skin decontamination and medical examination.

Issued

Jun 8, 2016

Abate by

Jul 5, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1047(i)(4)(iii): The employer did not provide the physician's written opinion concerning ethylene oxide exposure was not provided to the affected employees within 15 days of its receipt:   On or about May 3, 2016, employees received medical examinations from Employee Health for exposure to ethylene oxide (EtO) and the employer did not provide the employees a copy of the physician's written opinion that included:  A. The Physician's opinion as to whether the employee has any detected medical condition(s) that would place the employee at an increased risk of material health impairment from exposure to EtO;  B. Any recommended limitations on the employee or on the use of personal protective equipment such as clothing or respirators; and  C. A statement that the employee has been informed by the Physician of the results of the medical examination and of any medical conditions resulting from EtO exposure that require further explanation or treatment.

Issued

Jun 8, 2016

Abate by

Jul 5, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1047(j)(3)(iii)(C): The training of employees potentially exposed to ethylene oxide did not include the measures employees can take to protect themselves from hazards associated with ethylene oxide exposure, including specific procedures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to ethylene oxide, such as work practices, emergency procedures and personal protective equipment to be used:  On or about April 6, 2016, the employer did not provide new employees training on the emergency procedures implemented to prevent employee exposure to ethylene oxide in the SPS Area.

Issued

Jun 8, 2016

Abate by

Jul 5, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(ii): Employees were not trained on the physical, health, simple asphyxiation, combustible dust, and pyrophoric gas hazards, as well as hazards not otherwise classified, of the chemicals in the work area:  On or about May 3, 2016, employees used Endozyme AW Plus to clean contaminated equipment and the employer did not provide employees information and training on the physical and health hazards of the product.