OSHA Inspection: RONALD DEL VECCHIO, D.D.S., P.C.

Issued

Jun 3, 2021

Abate by

Jul 21, 2021

Penalty

Initial $2,926 · Current $1,463 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(1):The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):  Ronald Del Vecchio, DDS, PC located at 281 Hartford Turnpike, Suite 308, Vernon, CT:  On or about December 8, 2020, the employer had not conducted an assessment to determine if hazards such as SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, were present that necessitated the use of PPE in order to protect employees who had contact with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients.   Employees involved in aerosol-generating procedures such as assisting with dental procedures using high-powered handpieces and lasers did not use appropriate eye protection.

Issued

Jun 3, 2021

Abate by

Jul 21, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(2)(i):Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:  Ronald Del Vecchio, DDS, PC located at 281 Hartford Turnpike, Suite 308, Vernon, CT:  On or about December 8, 2020, the employer provided N-95 respirators for employees to use on a voluntary basis to protect themselves from aerosolized particles and  SARS-CoV-2 virus.  He had not provided them with any training pertaining to the proper use of N-95s including how to don, doff, and store the respirators.

Issued

Jun 3, 2021

Abate by

Jul 21, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(d)(1)(i):Selection of appropriate respirators was not based on the respiratory hazard(s) to which the worker was exposed and user factors that affect respirator performance and reliability:  Ronald Del Vecchio, DDS, PC located at 281 Hartford Turnpike, Suite 308, Vernon, CT:  On or about December 8, 2020, employees engaged in direct patient care including, but not limited to aerosol-generating procedures such as scaling and assisting while high-speed dental hand-pieces were being used, were given the option of wearing N-95 respirators or Level 3 Surgical masks. At a minimum, a NIOSH-certified N-95 filtering facepiece respirator is necessary to protect employees from aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Issued

Jun 3, 2021

Abate by

Jul 21, 2021

Penalty

Initial $2,926 · Current $1,463 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1030(c)(1)(i):The employer having employee(s) with occupational exposure did not establish a written Exposure Control Plan designed to eliminate or minimize employee exposure:  Ronald Del Vecchio, DDS, PC located at 281 Hartford Turnpike, Suite 308, Vernon, CT:  On or about December 8, 2020, the employer had not developed an Exposure Control Plan to address potential hazards associated with exposure to blood-borne pathogens in a dental office. The dentist, a dental assistant, and a dental hygienist treated 20 to 25 patients daily.

Issued

Jun 3, 2021

Abate by

Jul 21, 2021

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:  Ronald Del Vecchio, DDS, PC located at 281 Hartford Turnpike, Suite 308, Vernon, CT:  On or about December 8, 2020, employees who were responsible for processing dirty re-usable dental instruments transported the contaminated instruments on an open shallow tray and were not provided tongs or other tools for handling the instruments.

Issued

Jun 3, 2021

Abate by

Jul 21, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1030(g)(2)(i):The employer did not ensure that each employee with occupational exposure participated in a training program:  Ronald Del Vecchio, DDS, PC located at 281 Hartford Turnpike, Suite 308, Vernon, CT:  On or about December 8, 2020, the employer had not provided employees with training related to blood-borne pathogens, how they could be exposed, and how to minimize their risk of exposure.