OSHA Inspection: OPTIONS UNLIMITED, INC.

Issued

May 28, 2021

Penalty

Initial $9,557 · Current $6,365 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:  COMPANY-WIDE:  On or about November 28, 2020, a written respiratory protection program was not implemented where the use of respiratory protection including, but not limited to, N-95 and N-100 filtering face piece respirators was required for employees exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus while providing care to presumed and confirmed COVID-19 positive residents.

Issued

May 28, 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:  SOUTH GRAND STREET HOME, 894 SOUTH GRAND STREET, GRANBY, CT:  On, or about November 28, 2020, employees who provided direct care to suspected and known COVID-19-positive residents had been provided with N-95 tight-fitting filtering facepiece respirators.  The employees were not provided with medical evaluations prior to being required to wear the respirators.

Issued

May 28, 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:  SOUTH GRAND STREET HOME, 894 SOUTH GRAND STREET, GRANBY, CT:  On or about November 28, 2020, employees were provided with N-95 tight-fitting filtering facepiece respirators for use while caring for residents who needed nebulizer treatments, used CPAP, and/or were suspected to be infected or diagnosed with COVID-19.  The employees were not fit tested prior to being required to wear the respirators.

Issued

May 28, 2021

Abate by

Jul 16, 2021

Penalty

Initial $1,366 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1904.29(b)(8):The employer classified other types of injuries and illnesses as privacy concern cases:  COMPANY-WIDE:  On or about January 8, 2021, the employer's 2020 OSHA 300 Injury and Illness Log incorrectly classified eight cases (numbered 19 through 26 and dated November 25 through December 7, 2020) that were described as "illness due to exposure to COVID-19"as privacy cases.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet).

Issued

May 28, 2021

Abate by

Jul 16, 2021

Penalty

Initial $1,366 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1904.30(a):The employer did not maintain a separate OSHA 300 Log for each establishment that was in operation for one year or longer.  COMPANY-WIDE:  On or about January 8, 2021, all injuries and illnesses at company-operated group homes in Connecticut were recorded on one OSHA 300 log, regardless of the physical address where the employee was assigned.  The company has eight group homes located in Bloomfield, Broad Brook, East Granby, East Hartford, East Windsor, Farmington, and Windsor as well as a corporate office in Bloomfield.

Issued

May 28, 2021

Penalty

Initial $6,827 · Current $3,635 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1904.39(a)(1):The employer did not report within 8-hours the death of an employee resulting from a work-related incident.  OPTIONS UNLIMITED, INC., 693 BLOOMFIELD AVENUE, SUITE 202, BLOOMFIELD, CT  06002:  On or about December 6, 2020, an Assistant Residential Manager who cared for COVID-19 residents in a group home for developmentally and intellectually disabled adults died of COVID-19.  The employer did not report the fatality to OSHA within 8 hours of being informed by the family.