OSHA Inspection: DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS

Issued

Sep 8, 2020

Abate by

Oct 2, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 C.F.R. 1910.132(d)(1): The employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). If such hazards are present, or likely to be present, the employer shall: (i): Select, and have each affected employee use, the types of PPE that will protect the affected employee from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment; (ii): Communicate selection decisions to each affected employee; and (iii): Select PPE that properly fits each affected employee.   a) On or about March 9, 2020, the Department of Veteran Affairs DBA Richard L. Roudebush V.A. Medical Center had not assessed the workplace hazards for employees working in the Cardiology Department, including those who performed inpatient and outpatient ECHO sonograms, to determine if hazards such as, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (COVID-19), were present that necessitated the use of personal protective equipment. The Department of Veteran Affairs DBA Richard L. Roudebush V.A. Medical Center had not selected and ensured affected employees use PPE, such as but not limited to, surgical masks and face shields to protect against contracting COVID-19.  b) On or about March 9, 2020, the Department of Veteran Affairs DBA Richard L. Roudebush V.A. Medical Center had not assessed the workplace hazards for employees performing COVID-19 screenings of visitors, patients, vendors, and employees (all assessments for triage) at all hospital entrances to determine if hazards such as, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (COVID-19), were present that necessitated the use of personal protective equipment. The Department of Veteran Affairs DBA Richard L. Roudebush V.A. Medical Center had not selected and ensured affected employees use PPE, such as but not limited to, surgical masks and face shields to protect against contracting COVID-19.

Issued

Sep 8, 2020

Abate by

Oct 2, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(i): The employer shall select and provide an appropriate respirator based on the respiratory hazard(s) to which the worker is exposed and workplace and user factors that affect respirator performance and reliability.  a) On or about March 24, 2020, the Department of Veteran Affairs DBA Richard L. Roudebush V.A. Medical Center had not selected an appropriate respirator to protect employees performing ECHO sonograms on confirmed COVID-19 positive patients. Employees were exposed to the hazard of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (COVID-19).