OSHA Inspection: VALLEY VIEW REHABILITATION & HEALTH CARE CENTER, LLC

Issued

Oct 23, 2020

Abate by

Dec 21, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,446 · Current $6,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:    a) Valley View Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, 1 Summit Ave, Newton, NJ:     The employer failed to establish and implement a written respiratory protection program for employees including Registered Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants, Licensed Practical Nurses, and housekeeping staff, who were provided with and required to wear N95 or KN95 respirators when providing care for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 residents.     Violation occurred on or about 04/23/2020 and thereafter.

Issued

Oct 23, 2020

Abate by

Dec 21, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(ii): The employer did not select and use a NIOSH-certified respirator in compliance with the conditions of its certification:     a) Valley View Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, 1 Summit Ave, Newton, NJ:     The employer did not provide NIOSH-certified respirators to employees, including Registered Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants, Licensed Practical Nurses, and housekeeping staff, who were required to provide care for and/or clean rooms of suspected and confirmed positive COVID-19 residents. The employer provided and required employees to wear respirators labeled KN95.  However, the KN95s did not contain certification markings indicating they were certified under an equivalent international standard      Violation occurred on or about 04/23/2020 and thereafter.

Issued

Oct 23, 2020

Abate by

Dec 21, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employees ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:     a) Valley View Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, LLC, 1 Summit Ave, Newton, NJ:     The employer provided and required employees, including Registered Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants, Licensed Practical Nurses, and housekeeping staff, to wear N95 respirators and KN95 respirators while providing care for or cleaning rooms of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 residents.  However, the employer did not provide these employees with a medical evaluation to ensure that they were capable of safely wearing respirators.        Violation occurred on or about 04/23/2020 and thereafter.

Issued

Oct 23, 2020

Abate by

Dec 21, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model, or make) is used, and at least annually thereafter:     a) Valley View Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, 1 Summit Ave, Newton, NJ:     The employer provided and required employees, including Registered Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants, Licensed Practical Nurses, and housekeeping staff, to wear N95 respirators and KN95 respirators while caring for and cleaning rooms of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 residents.  The employer did not provide initial fit testing for employees required to use N95 or KN95 respirators to ensure the proper fit.       Violation occurred on or about 04/23/2020 and thereafter.

Issued

Oct 23, 2020

Abate by

Dec 21, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not provide respirator training that would ensure each employee could demonstrate knowledge of items in section (i)-(vii):    a) Valley View Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, 1 Summit Ave, Newton, NJ:    The employer did not provide effective training to employees, including Registered Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants, Licensed Practical Nurses, and housekeeping staff, who were provided and required to wear N95 respirators and KN95 respirators while caring for and cleaning rooms of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 residents.  The training did not include:    (k)(1)(i) Why the respirator is necessary and how improper fit, usage or maintenance can compromise the protective effect of the respirator; (k)(1)(ii) What the limitations and capabilities of the respirator are; (k)(1)(iii) How to use the respirator effectively in emergency situations, including situations in which the respirator malfunctions; (k)(1)(iv) How to inspect and check the seals of the respirator; or (k)(1)(vi) How to recognize the medical signs and symptoms that may limit or prevent the effective use of the respirators.    Violation occurred on or about 04/23/2020 and thereafter.