OSHA Inspection: RYAN HEALTH CENTER, INC.

Issued

Mar 18, 2021

Abate by

Jun 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $9,557 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that Business Department employees were working in close proximity to each other and were exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19:  a) Ryan Health Center, Inc. dba Morgan Health Center located at 80 Morgan Avenue, Johnston, RI:   On or about September 22, 2020, and continuing thereafter, the employer did not develop and implement timely and effective measures in the Business Department to mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Employees working in the Business Department worked in close proximity to each other in a small office space, including the mail room, rest room, and common walkways that pass through multiple offices, which was not adequately ventilated.  Two employees shared a single small room as their office and worked at adjoining desks, less than six feet apart.  Employees used a shared conference room, which did not fully permit social distancing of six feet or more, including to eat and drink.  The employer did not fully implement administrative controls such as, but not limited to, limiting each office to one occupant, enhanced disinfecting, and engineering controls such as portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) fan/filtration systems and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) to protect against infective respiratory droplets and aerosols and to reduce transmission, thereby exposing adjacent workers to SARS-CoV-2. The employer also did not quarantine employees who had close contact with a co-worker who tested positive for COVID-19. These conditions allowed the spread of COVID-19 within the Business Department and Conference Room. After one employee was confirmed to be infected with COVID-19, two (out of the remaining five) additional employees tested COVID-19 positive, resulting in one employee death.

Issued

Mar 18, 2021

Abate by

Jun 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $9,557 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) Ryan Health Center, Inc. dba Morgan Health Center located at 80 Morgan Avenue, Johnston, RI:   On or about September 22, 2020 the employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures for respirator use that included all provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix).    The employer required employees to wear N95 face filtering respirators throughout their shifts while exposed to suspected or confirmed positive COVID-19 residents. The written program did not include the requirements and implementation for medical evaluations, and the employer did not implement fit-testing.   The violation occurred on or about September 22, 2020 through present

Issued

Mar 18, 2021

Abate by

Jun 1, 2021

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 employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace.   a) Ryan Health Center, Inc. dba Morgan Health Center located at 80 Morgan Avenue, Johnston, RI:  On or about September 22, 2020 through present, the employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine each employee's ability to use a respirator before requiring its use.  The employer required employees to wear N95 face filtering respirators as follows:  1.	 While providing care to suspected or confirmed positive COVID-19 residents.   2.	 While working inside the Business Department and COVID-19 testing of residents and employees indicated a positive individual or outbreak in the facility;  3.	While picking up laundry from units with suspected or confirmed positive COVID-19 patients and handling their laundry.

Issued

Mar 18, 2021

Abate by

Jun 1, 2021

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.  a) Ryan Health Center, Inc. dba Morgan Health Center located at 80 Morgan Avenue, Johnston, RI:   On or about September 22, 2020 to present the employer did not provide a fit test to all employees required to wear respirators.  The employer required employees to wear N95 filtering facepiece respirators to protect against the SARS-CoV-2 virus as follows:  1.	While providing care to suspected and confirmed positive COVID-19 residents.  2.	While working inside the Business Department and COVID-19 testing of residents and employees indicated a positive individual or outbreak in the facility; 3.	While picking up laundry from units with suspected or confirmed positive COVID-19 patients and handling their laundry.