OSHA Inspection: WEST PENN ALLEGHENY HEALTH SYSTEM, INC.

Issued

Jul 21, 2017

Abate by

Sep 25, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(c)(1)(iv): The Exposure Control Plan was not reviewed and updated at least annually and whenever necessary to reflect new or modified tasks and procedures which affect occupational exposure and to reflect new or revised employee positions with occupational exposure:     a)  Worksite, Allegheny General Hospital, on or about February 14, 2017 - The Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan, Number 3-1005, included in the Employee Safety and Health Procedure Manual maintained in the Employee Safety Office of Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA was created May 1, 2000 and last reviewed January 1, 2015 by Medical Director, Infection Prevention & Control, Employee Health, Safety Committee.     The exposure control plan was not reviewed during calendar year 2016.

Issued

Jul 21, 2017

Abate by

Sep 25, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(c)(1)(iv)(A): The Exposure Control Plan did not reflect changes in technology that eliminate or reduce exposure to bloodborne pathogens:    a) Worksite, Allegheny General Hospital, on or about February 14, 2017 - The Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan, Number 3-1005, did not reflect changes in technology such as performed through a hazard assessment which fully evaluated the feasibility and appropriateness for use of any engineering controls.

Issued

Jul 21, 2017

Abate by

Sep 25, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $9,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(2)(i): Engineering and work practice controls were not used to eliminate or minimize employee exposure:     a)  Operating room, on or about March 17, 2017 -  Surgical technicians handled scalpel blades that were not equipped with blade covering protectors used during orthopedic and vascular surgical cases.    b)  Surgi-Center, on or about March 17, 2017 -  Surgical technicians handled scalpel blades that were not equipped with blade covering protectors used during orthopedic and vascular surgical cases.     c)  Interventional Radiology, on or about March 17, 2017 - Residents used Hoover needles that were not equipped with safe sharps protective devices.    d)  Operating room, on or about March 17, 2017 - Residents used Hollow point needles that were not equipped with safe sharps protective devices.    e)  Nursing units, on or about March 17, 2017 -  RN's used U500 Insulin syringes that were not equipped with safe sharps protective devices for insulin injections.     f)  Histology, on or about March 17, 2017 - Employees removed scalpel blades that were not equipped with blade covering protectors from reusable holders while preparing specimens.

Issued

Jul 21, 2017

Abate by

Sep 25, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(2)(ii): Engineering controls were not examined and maintained or replaced on a regular schedule to ensure their effectiveness:    a)  Worksite, Allegheny General Hopsital, on or about February 14, 2017 - The employer did not ensure that engineering controls such as safer devices continue to function effectively, in that mechanical dependent controls were functioning as intended on but not limited to BD insulin needles and syringes.

Issued

Jul 21, 2017

Abate by

Aug 25, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $9,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(2)(vii)(A): Contaminated needles and other contaminated sharps were bent, recapped or removed and the employer did not demonstrate that no alternative was feasible or that such action was required by a specific medical or dental procedure:    a)  Operating room, Allegheny General Hospital, on or about February 3, 2017 - Physician injections with Hypo BD 25G needle were followed with the surgical technician managing a two-handed recapping of the needle.    b)  Outpatient Surgi-Center, Allegheny General Hospital, on or about March 10, 2017 - Physician injections with Hip 18G needle with sheath were followed with the surgical technician managing a two-handed re-sheath of the extended needle in the plastic sheath.

Issued

Jul 21, 2017

Abate by

Aug 25, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $9,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(2)(viii): Immediately or as soon as possible after use, contaminated reusable sharps were not placed in appropriate containers until properly reprocessed:     a)  Operating room, Allegheny General Hopsital, on or about February 6, 2017 - Physician passed and placed down contaminated reusable sharps such as but not limited to suture needles and bone hooks inside the surgical field.  Needle holders and or other devices were not used.      Engineering controls, such as needle holders or boxes, and particular work practice controls, such as hands-free zones were not used and/or implemented.

Issued

Jul 21, 2017

Abate by

Aug 7, 2017

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $9,250

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(i): Employer did not ensure that the worksite was maintained in a clean and sanitary condition:        a) Decontamination Room, Operating Room Department, Allegheny General Hospital, on or about April 17, 2017 - The utility sink where re-usable equipment trays were cleaned and stored had blood and/or other potentially infectious material stains on and around the walls and utility sink.

Issued

Jul 21, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(iii)(B)(1)(ii): Regulated waste containers were not closable which did not ensure that waste was contained and prevented leakage of fluids during handling, storage, transport or shipping:  a) Pathology Laboratory, on or about March 28, 2017 - Red bins containing red bag regulated waste such as but not limited to gross contaminated glass vials, bottles, cassettes and pathology specimens were not contained in a closable container.

Issued

Jul 21, 2017

Abate by

Aug 25, 2017

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $9,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(ii)(E): Reusable sharps that are contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials were stored or processed in a manner that required employees to reach by hand into the containers where these sharps had been placed:      b)  Surgi-Center, Allegheny General Hospital, on or about March 10, 2017 - Surgical Technologists handled reusable sharps and instruments such as but not limited to skin hooks during sorting, pre-soak, and cleaning of soiled surgical equipment.  Equipment such as but not limited to forceps and clamps were not used to eliminate or minimize exposure.

Issued

Jul 21, 2017

Abate by

Aug 25, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(3)(ii): The employer did not ensure that the employee used appropriate personal protective equipment:  a) Pathology, on or about April 28, 2017 - Pathology Residents wore medical latex gloves.  The employer did not provide more appropriate cut resistant gloves while cutting specimens with scalpel blade.

Issued

Jul 21, 2017

Abate by

Aug 25, 2017

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $9,250

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(vii)(N): The training program did not contain at a minimum an opportunity for interactive questions and answers with the person conducting the training session:    a)  Worksite, Allegheny General Hospital, on or about February 14, 2017 - New hire surgical technicians employees participated in Allegheny Health Network bloodborne pathogens training through an online dedicated system where infection control personnel have not been present for interactive questions and answers with new hires who were occupationally exposed to bloodborne pathogens.

Issued

Jul 21, 2017

Abate by

Aug 25, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(vii)(D): The employer did not provide training which included an explanation of the employer's exposure control plan and the means by which the employee can obtain a copy of the written plan:  a)  Worksite, Allegheny General Hospital, on or about April 17, 2017 - Employees with the job titles such as but not limited to RN (Telemetry), Cardiac Cath. Technologist (Cardiac Lab), Surgical Pathology Technician (Pathology Lab), Surgical technician (Surgi-Center), and Surgical Technician (OR) were not provided training which included the explanation of the implementation of AGH's written exposure control plan nor where to obtain a copy.

Issued

Jul 21, 2017

Abate by

Sep 25, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(h)(5)(i)(A): The employer did not establish and maintain a sharps injury log for the recording of percutaneous injuries from contaminated sharps that contained the minimum information such as the type and brand of device involved in the incident:    a)  Worksite, Allegheny General Hospital, On or about May 29, 2017 - The current 2017 and 2016 sharps injury log did not record the type and brand of insulin syringes, blades, scalpel, and butterfly needles among other sharps devices involved in recordable injuries.

Issued

Jul 21, 2017

Abate by

Aug 7, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6)(ii):  The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with 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, and provided employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical:  a)  Histology - Gross Laboratory, on or about March 28, 2017 - A metal container of waste formaldehyde used during tissue slide preparation was not labeled with the hazard warning pictograms identification.   b)  Histology - Gross Laboratory, on or about March 28, 2017 - A metal container of  waste Xylene used during tissue slide preparation was not labeled with the hazard warning pictogram identification.