OSHA Inspection: KAISER FOUNDATION HEALTH PLAN OF COLORADO

Issued

2017-02-17 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-03-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4617.00 · Current $4617.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee use appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation:   (a)  Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado, dba Kaiser Permanente, at 11000 E 45th Avenue, Denver, CO: On or about 10/24/16, the employer did not ensure that each affected employee use appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from liquid chemicals and caustic liquids.  Two employees used a ten percent bleach solution and reagent alcohol to decontaminate equipment in the microbiology lab.  Employees did not wear eye protection while using the corrosive liquid and liquid chemical.  This condition exposed employees to a chemical hazard.  (b)  Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado, dba Kaiser Permanente, at 11000 E 45th Avenue, Denver, CO: On and preceding 10/21/16, the employer did not ensure that each affected employee use appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from liquid chemicals.  Employees prepared solutions of microorganisms, including but not limited to francisella tularensis, in open topped vials.  The employees used high speed Fischer Scientific analog vortex mixers to mix the solution.  Employees were exposed to a splash of the liquid during the mixing.  Employees did not wear eye protection while using vortex mixers.  This condition exposed employees to a chemical hazard.

Issued

2017-02-17 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-03-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(b): The employer did not base the selection of the appropriate hand protection on an evaluation of the performance characteristics of the hand protection relative to the task(s) to be performed, conditions present, duration of use, and the hazards and potential hazards identified:  (a)  Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado, dba Kaiser Permanente, at 11000 E 45th Avenue, Denver, CO: On or about 10/24/16, the employer did not base the selection of the appropriate hand protection on an evaluation of the performance characteristics of the hand protection relative to the task(s) to be performed, conditions present, duration of use, and the hazards and potential hazards identified.  Two employees used a ten percent bleach solution and reagent alcohol to decontaminate equipment in the microbiology lab.  Contaminated equipment was placed in a lab sink.  Employees immersed their hands in the bleach solution while decontaminating the equipment.  Employees wore Cardinal Health Flexal disposable nitrile medical exam type gloves.  Disposable medical exam type gloves do not provide adequate protection from immersion in the chemicals used by the employees.  This condition exposed employees to a chemical hazard.

Issued

2017-02-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6)(ii): 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 product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals and which, in conjunction with the other information immediately available to employees under the hazard communication program, would provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical:  (a)  Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado, dba Kaiser Permanente, at 11000 E 45th Avenue, Denver, CO: On and preceding 11/4/16, the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals and which, in conjunction with the other information immediately available to employees under the hazard communication program, would provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical.  Employees used a ten percent bleach solution and reagent alcohol to decontaminate equipment.  The bleach and alcohol were stored in secondary containers (wash bottles).  The alcohol wash bottle was labeled with the identity of the contents, but was not labeled, tagged, or marked with information related to the hazards of the chemical within the container.  This condition potentially exposed employees to a chemical hazard.