OSHA Inspection: SINAI CENTER FOR REHABILITATION AND HEALTHCARE LLC

Issued

2020-10-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2021-04-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $13494.00 · Current $8200.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(ii): The employer did not select a NIOSH-certified respirator:  a) Sinai Post-Acute Nursing and Rehab Center, 65 Jay Street, Newark, NJ 07103  29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(ii): The employer did not use a NIOSH-certified respirator in compliance with the conditions of its certification.  The employer did not provide NIOSH-certified respirators to employees, including but not limited to, Certified Nursing Assistants, Housekeepers, and Transportation Aides while providing direct care to suspected and/or confirmed COVID-19 positive patients.  The employer provided and required employees to wear respirators labelled KN95.  However, the KN95 respirators were not used in compliance with the conditions of their certification in that they were not appropriately fit tested on employees.  Violation occurred on or about May 15, 2020 and thereafter.

Issued

2020-10-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2021-04-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:  a) Sinai Post-Acute Nursing and Rehab Center, 65 Jay Street, Newark, NJ 07103  The employer provided and required employees including, but not limited to, Certified Nursing Assistants, Housekeepers, and Transportation Aides to wear N95 respirators and respirators labeled as K95 while providing direct care to suspect and/or confirmed COVID-19 positive patients.  However, the employer did not provide these employees with a medical evaluation to determine if the employees were medically fit to wear respirators.   Violation occurred on or about April 16, 2020 and thereafter.

Issued

2020-10-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2021-04-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): The employer did not ensure that an employee required to use a tight-fitting facepiece respirator was fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) was used, and at least annually thereafter:  a) Sinai Post-Acute Nursing and Rehab Center, 65 Jay Street, Newark, NJ 07103  The employer provided and required employees, including but not limited to, Certified Nursing Assistants, Housekeepers, and Transportation Aides to wear N95 respirators and respirators labeled as KN95 while providing direct care to suspect and/or confirmed COVID-19 positive patients.  However, the employees were not initially fit tested prior to being required to wear N95 respirators at the workplace.    Violation occurred on or about April 16, 2020 and thereafter.

Issued

2020-10-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2021-04-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(2)(i):  All respirators were not stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals, or to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve:  a) Sinai Post-Acute Nursing and Rehab Center, 65 Jay Street, Newark, NJ 07103  The employer provided and required employees including, but not limited to, Certified Nursing Assistants, Housekeepers, and Transportation Aides to wear N95 respirators while providing direct care to suspected and/or confirmed COVID-19 positive patients.  However, the employer did not ensure the respirators were stored in breathable paper bags between uses instead of in plastic Ziploc storage bags.    Violation occurred on or about April 16, 2020 and thereafter.

Issued

2020-10-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2021-04-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not provide effective training that covered the required elements in 1910.134(k)(1)(i) through 1910.134(k)(1)(vii):  a) Sinai Post-Acute Nursing and Rehab Center, 65 Jay Street, Newark, NJ 07103  The employer did not provide effective training to employees, including but not limited to, Certified Nursing Assistants, Housekeepers, and Transportation Aides, while providing direct care to suspect and/or confirmed COVID-19 positive patients.  The training did not include:  a) Why the respirator is necessary and how improper fit, usage, or maintenance can compromise the protective effect of the respirator; b) What the limitations and capabilities of the respirator are; c) How to use the respirator effectively in emergency situations, including situations in which the respirator malfunctions; d) How to inspect, put on and remove, use, and check the seals of the respirator; e) What the procedures are for maintenance and storage of the respirator; and f) How to recognize medical signs and symptoms that may limit or prevent the effective use of respirators.  Violation occurred on or about April 16, 2020 and thereafter.

Issued

2020-10-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $9639.00 · Current $5800.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.39(a)(1): The employer did not report within 8-hours the work-related death of an employee:  a) Sinai Post-Acute Nursing and Rehab Center, 65 Jay Street, Newark, NJ 07103  A Transportation Aide died of COVID-19 on April 15, 2020.  The employer failed to report this fatality to OSHA until April 28, 2020.    Violation occurred on or about April 15, 2020