OSHA Inspection: GALION COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

Issued

Dec 17, 2021

Abate by

Jan 21, 2022

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $8,192 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.502(f)(2)(i): The employer did not ensure that a respirator was used in accordance with 29 CFR � 1910.134 when employees have exposure to a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.  Galion Community Hospital located at 269 Portland Way S., Galion, Ohio 44833:  On or about August 25, 2021 and at times thereafter, the employer failed to  ensure that a respirator was used in accordance with 29 CFR � 1910.134 when employees have exposure to patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. The employer required employees to wear respirators while providing medical care to COVID-19 positive patients, when performing COVID-19 testing on suspected COVID-19 positive patients and when cleaning the rooms of COVID-19 positive patients. The employer had not fully established and implemented a written respiratory protection program in that fit testing was not provided prior to initial use of a respirator and annually thereafter, employees were not provided with respirators that fit correctly, medical evaluations were not provided to all employees prior to being required to wear respirators or when an employee reported medical signs and symptoms related to the ability to use a respirator, and when medical evaluations were provided the employer did not obtain a written recommendation regarding the employees ability to wear a respirator.

Issued

Dec 17, 2021

Abate by

Jan 21, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:   Galion Community Hospital located at 269 Portland Way S., Galion, Ohio 44833:  On or about August 25, 2021 and at times thereafter, 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 respirators throughout their work shifts while exposed to suspected or confirmed positive COVID-19 patients and as increased source control protection when an employee had exposure to COVID-19 without the use of a respirator. The employer had not fully implemented the requirements of respirator selection, medical evaluations and fit testing for all employee required to wear respirators in the workplace.

Issued

Dec 17, 2021

Abate by

Jan 21, 2022

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:   Galion Community Hospital located at 269 Portland Way S., Galion, Ohio 44833:  On or about August 25, 2021 and at times thereafter, the employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine each employee's ability to use a respirator before requiring the use.  The employer required employees to wear respirators throughout their work shifts while exposed to suspected or confirmed positive COVID-19 patients and as increased source control protection when an employee had exposure to COVID-19 without the use of a respirator.  Note:  The employer may discontinue an employee's medical evaluations when the employee is no longer required to use a respirator.

Issued

Dec 17, 2021

Abate by

Jan 21, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(e)(6)(i): The employer did not obtain from the physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP)  a written recommendation regarding the employee's ability to use the respirator:   Galion Community Hospital located at 269 Portland Way S., Galion, Ohio 44833:  On or about August 25, 2021 and at times thereafter, the employer failed to obtain the written recommendation of a licensed health care professional regarding employees' ability to use respirators. The employer required employees to wear respirators while providing medical care to COVID-19 positive patients, when performing COVID-19 testing on suspected COVID-19 positive patients and when cleaning the rooms of COVID-19 positive patients.    Note:  The recommendation shall provide only the following information: Any limitations on respirator use related to the medical condition of the employee, or relating to the workplace conditions in which the respirator will be used, including whether or not the employee is medically able to use the respirator; the need, if any, for follow-up medical evaluations; and a statement that the employee was provided with a copy of the written recommendation.

Issued

Dec 17, 2021

Abate by

Jan 21, 2022

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:   Galion Community Hospital located at 269 Portland Way S., Galion, Ohio 44833:  On or about August 25, 2021 and at times thereafter, the employer did not provide an initial fit test or annual fit test thereafter 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 while providing care to suspected and confirmed positive COVID-19 residents. The employer required employees to wear respirators throughout their work shifts while exposed to suspected or confirmed positive COVID-19 patients and as increased source control protection when an employee had exposure to COVID-19 without the use of a respirator.

Issued

Dec 17, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.502(i): The employer did not install cleanable or disposable solid barriers, when such barriers were feasible at each fixed work location outside of direct patient care areas where each employee is not separated from all other people by at least 6 feet of distance.  Galion Community Hospital located at 269 Portland Way S., Galion, Ohio 44833:  On or about August 25, 2021, in the lobby off the main entrance to the hospital, the employer failed to install cleanable or disposable solid barriers at the table where employees perform in-person COVID-19 screening of patients and visitors and 6 feet of physical distance could not be maintained.