OSHA Inspection: MEDICAL SYSTEMS OF DENVER, INC.

Issued

Feb 14, 2022

Abate by

Mar 21, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $3,481 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(1)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each operator had successfully completed the training required by paragraph (l), except as permitted by paragraph (l)(5), prior to permitting an employee to operate a powered industrial truck:   (a)  Medical Systems of Denver, Inc., at 7600 Johnson Drive, Frederick, CO:  On or about 9/16/2021, an untrained employee was allowed to operate a (Yale) fork truck to offload material at the site without having received formal instruction, including operator evaluation to determine the retention of the information. The employee and other working in the immediate area were potentially exposed  to tip over, ejection and struck by hazards.

Issued

Feb 14, 2022

Abate by

Mar 21, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(6):  The employer did not certify that each operator has been trained and evaluated as required by this paragraph (l):  (a)  Medical Systems of Denver, Inc., at 7600 Johnson Drive, Frederick, CO:  On or about 9/16/2021, the employer did not certify that each operator has been trained and evaluated to ensure the competency prior to allowing them to operate powered industrial equipment (fork trucks) at the facility.  An untrained employee was allowed to operate a (Yale) fork truck to offload material. The employee and other working in the immediate area were potentially exposed  to tip over, ejection, and struck by hazards.

Issued

Feb 14, 2022

Abate by

Mar 21, 2022

Penalty

Initial $4,351 · Current $2,611 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(g)(1)(ii):  The required working space about electric equipment rated 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground, was used for storage:  (a)  Medical Systems of Denver, Inc., at 7600 Johnson Drive, Frederick, CO: On  or about 9/16/2021, adequate clearance for accessing the electrical disconnects for equipment such as, but not limited to; the Daniels SharpSmart Nano 1000 machine and the Daniels WashSmart Nano 1000 machine was blocked by miscellaneous material and/or debris. A delay in the ability to access disconnects during an emergency situation(s) has the potential to expose employees to electrical hazards.

Issued

Feb 14, 2022

Abate by

Mar 21, 2022

Penalty

Initial $8,702 · Current $5,221 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1030(c)(1)(iv):  The Exposure Control Plan was not reviewed and updated at least annually:  Medical Systems of Denver, Inc., at 7600 Johnson Drive, Frederick, CO: On or about 9/16/2021, the employer did not review and/or update the company's Exposure Control Plan on an annual basis as required, and thus potentially exposed employees tasked with processing medical waste such as, but not limited to; blood or other potentially infectious materials, contaminated needles and other medical devices (etc.) to bloodborne pathogens hazards. The employer's Exposure Control Plan was last updated September 27, 2019.

Issued

Feb 14, 2022

Abate by

Mar 21, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1030(f)(1)(ii)(D):  The employer did not ensure that all medical evaluations or procedures including the hepatitis B vaccine, vaccination series, post-exposure evaluation, or follow-up, including prophylaxis, were provided according to recommendations of the U.S. Public Health Service current at the time these evaluations and procedure took place:  a) Medical Systems of Denver, Inc., at 7600 Johnson Drive, Frederick, CO: On or about 9/16/2021, medical evaluations or procedures including the hepatitis B vaccination series were not provided to employee who were occupationally exposed to blood and/or other potentially infectious materials when processing medical waste such as, but not limited to; contaminated needles and other medical devices or contaminated PPE. Two employees received the first vaccination of the hepatitis B vaccination series, but had not received the complete series per recommendation from the U.S. Public Health Service and were thus potentially exposed to bloodborne pathogens hazards.

Issued

Feb 14, 2022

Abate by

Mar 21, 2022

Penalty

Initial $4,351 · Current $2,611 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1):  The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:  (a)  Medical Systems of Denver, Inc., at 7600 Johnson Drive, Frederick, CO:  On or about 9/16/2021, the employer did not develop, implement, or maintain a written hazard communication program at the site. Chemicals used at the site include; but are not limited to: Clorox bleach; Howes Diesel Treat; AW-32 hydraulic oil; and transmission fluid.

Issued

Feb 14, 2022

Abate by

Mar 21, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:   (a)  Medical Systems of Denver, Inc., at 7600 Johnson Drive, Frederick, CO:  On or about 9/16/2021, employees were not trained on the hazardous chemicals utilized in the workplace. Chemicals used at the site include; but are not limited to: Clorox bleach; Howes Diesel Treat; AW-32 hydraulic oil; and transmission fluid.

Issued

Feb 14, 2022

Abate by

Mar 21, 2022

Penalty

Initial $4,096 · Current $2,458 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(g)(1):  Employers did not have a safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they use:  (a)  Medical Systems of Denver, Inc., at 7600 Johnson Drive, Frederick, CO:  On and about 9/16/2021, the employer failed to ensure that  safety data sheet for all of the chemicals utilized in the workplace were available to/for employee use.  Employees who regularly use chemicals such as, but limited to; bleach, transmission fluids (etc.) when completing  maintenance or other assigned tasks in the medical waste processing area were not protected from potential chemical hazards.

Issued

Feb 14, 2022

Abate by

Mar 21, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(c)(1):The employer did not evaluate the workplace to determine if any spaces were permit-required confined spaces:  (a)  Medical Systems of Denver, Inc., at 7600 Johnson Drive, Frederick, CO:  On and preceding 9/16/2021, the employer did not evaluate the workplace to determine if any spaces were permit-required confined spaces.  The employer processed medical waste.  Waste, once sterilized, was placed into a trash compactor.  The employer did not evaluate the trash compactor to determine if the space was a permit required confined space.  This condition potentially exposed employees to a crushing hazard.