OSHA Inspection: KIMBAL SHEFFIELD, DDS, LLC

Issued

Aug 30, 2017

Penalty

Initial $1,630 · Current $1,141 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(c)(1)(iv): The Exposure Control Plan was not reviewed and updated at least annually:  COMPANY-WIDE:  On or about May 1, 2017, the employer had not reviewed and updated the written Exposure Control Plan since at least 2008.  The employer is a dentist and employees are responsible for transporting contaminated used dental instruments and preparing them for sterilization.

Issued

Aug 30, 2017

Abate by

Oct 18, 2017

Penalty

Initial $2,716 · Current $1,901 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(2)(i): Engineering and work practice controls were not used to eliminate or minimize employees exposure:  OPERATORIES:  On or about and at times prior to May 1, 2017, the employer had not developed and implemented adequate engineering and work practice controls to ensure that employees who handled contaminated dental instruments prior to sterilization were protected against exposures to blood-borne pathogens when:  1. Transporting contaminated reusable dental instruments from the operatories to the sterilization areas on open trays or paper "slings".  2. Manually transferring contaminated reusable dental instruments into the ultrasonic bath and removing them from the bath to pouches for placement in the autoclave.

Issued

Aug 30, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  OPERATORIES AND STERILIZATION AREAS:  On or about and at times prior to May 1, 2017, the employer did not provide proper containers for transporting contaminated reusable dental instruments to the sterilization areas.  Employees used flat plastic trays with shallow sides or paper "slings" to carry the instruments.

Issued

Aug 30, 2017

Abate by

Oct 18, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(ii)(E): Reusable sharps that were contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious material were not stored or processed in a manner that required employees to reach by hand into the containers where these sharps had been placed:  STERILIZATION AREAS:  On or about and at times prior to May 1, 2017, employees removed contaminated reusable sharps from the ultrasound bath using gloved hands rather than tongs or other tools.  The gloves used were disposable nitrile exam gloves which were not puncture resistant.

Issued

Aug 30, 2017

Abate by

Oct 18, 2017

Penalty

Initial $2,716 · Current $1,901 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(ii)(B): The employer did not ensure that the training was provided to employees with occupational exposure at least annually:  COMPANY-WIDE:  On or about and at times prior to May 1, 2017, the employer did not provide annual training on blood-borne pathogens and the exposure control plan to his employees.

Issued

Aug 30, 2017

Abate by

Oct 18, 2017

Penalty

Initial $1,630 · Current $1,141 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:  OPERATORIES AND STERILIZATION AREAS:  On or about and at times prior to May 1, 2017, the employer had not developed and implemented a written hazard communication program to address the hazards associated with the chemicals they use for cleaning and disinfecting equipment.