OSHA Inspection: ADVOCATE HEALTH AND HOSPITALS CORPORATION DBA ADVOCATE LUTHERAN GENERAL HOSPITAL

Issued

Dec 14, 2021

Abate by

Jul 27, 2022

Penalty

Initial $11,703 · Current $10,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.502(d)(3):The employer did not implement other applicable patient management strategies in accordance with CDC's "COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations."  a) On or about October 27, 2021, healthcare providers engaged in the treatment of COVID-19 patients and environmental services (EVS) employees performing housekeeping in rooms of COVID-19 patients, reused N95 filtering facepiece respirators during the course of their work shift in the ICU.  At the time of the inspection, the CDC guidance (most recently updated September 10, 2021 and published at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-recommendations.html) recommended that when personal protective equipment including but not limited to a NIOSH-approved N95 or equivalent or higher-level respirator is used during the care of a patient with SARS-CoV-2 infection, it should be removed and discarded after the patient care encounter and a new one should be donned.  The CDC guidance is incorporated by reference in 29 CFR 1910.509.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Dec 14, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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.  a) On or about November 10, 2021, an environmental services (EVS) employee had facial hair that interfered with the seal between the facepiece and the face.  Employee(s) were required to use a Halyard 46767 N95 filtering facepiece respirator while providing custodial/janitorial services in the rooms of  eight (8) COVID-19 patients.  No abatement certification or documentation is required for this violation.

Issued

Dec 14, 2021

Penalty

Initial $5,851 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.502(f)(1)(i): Employers did not provide, and did not ensure that employees wear, facemasks that meet the definition in paragraph (b) of this section.  a) On or about October 27, 2021, the employer did not ensure that employees wore facemasks that met the definition in paragraph (b) of this section. Healthcare workers wore cloth masks and did not wear a surgical, medical procedure, dental, or isolation mask that were FDA-cleared, authorized by an FDA EUA, or offered or distributed as described in an FDA enforcement policy when working inside the hospital.  No abatement certification or documentation is required for this item.