OSHA Inspection: NORTH AMERICAN DENTAL GROUP

Issued

Aug 28, 2023

Abate by

Oct 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $9,488 · Current $6,642 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.151(c):Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:  Lab and Operatories:  On or about March 01, 2023, where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use. Corrosive liquids such as a Category 1 corrosive solution, Patterson Ultra Type 4 Tartar and Stain Remover solution and pdCare Surface Disinfectant Cleaner, was stored and used in the laboratory and operatory rooms.

Issued

Aug 28, 2023

Abate by

Oct 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $9,488 · Current $6,642 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1030(c)(1)(iv):The Exposure Control Plan was not reviewed and updated at least annually:  Facility-wide:  On or about March 01, 2023, and sometime thereafter,  when the employer last reviewed and updated their Exposure Control Plan in 2019, they failed to comply with the annual review and updates that were required to eliminate or reduce hazards to their employees with reasonably anticipated occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM).

Issued

Aug 28, 2023

Abate by

Oct 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1030(c)(1)(iv)(B):The review and update of the exposure control plan did not document annually consideration and implementation of appropriate commercially available and effective safer medical devices designed to eliminate or minimize occupational exposure:  Facility-wide:  On or about March 01, 2023, the employer's "Safer Sharps Annual Review" form, found in their Compliance Binder's "Site Safety Manual" tab, did not provide any information substantiating the facility's judgment of their evaluations.  The sharps annual review form, dated February 15, 2023, did not include the necessary documentation of the consideration of newer technology available for the safer medical devices that the employer must research.

Issued

Aug 28, 2023

Abate by

Oct 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1030(c)(1)(v):The employer, who is required to establish an Exposure Control Plan, did not solicit input from non-managerial employees responsible for direct patient care who are potentially exposed to injuries from contaminated sharps in the identification, evaluation and selection of effective engineering and work practice controls and did not document the solicitation in the Exposure Control plan:  Facility-wide:  On or about March 01, 2023, and sometime thereafter, the employer did not solicit input from non-managerial employees such as Dental Hygienists and Dental Assistants who were responsible for direct patient care and are potentially exposed to injuries from contaminated sharps in the identification, evaluation and selection of effective engineering and work practice controls and did not document the solicitation in the Exposure Control plan.

Issued

Aug 28, 2023

Abate by

Oct 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1030(f)(1)(i):The employer did not make available the hepatitis B vaccine and vaccination series to all employees who have occupational exposure:  On or about March 01, 2023, and thereafter, the employer failed to make the hepatitis B vaccine and vaccination series available to all employees who had occupational exposure as Dental Assistants and a Dental Hygienist.

Issued

Aug 28, 2023

Abate by

Oct 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $9,488 · Current $6,642 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(iv)(A)(2): Contaminated laundry was not placed and/or transported in bags or containers which were labeled or color-coded in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(1)(i):  Break Room: On or about March 01, 2023, the employer did not ensure that labeling or universal precautions were utilized for employees who handle laundry contaminated with blood or OPIM.

Issued

Aug 28, 2023

Abate by

Oct 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1030(g)(1)(i)(A):Warning labels were not affixed to containers of regulated waste, refrigerators, or freezers containing blood or other potentially infectious material (OPIM):  Break Room:  On or about March 01, 2023, the employer did not ensure that warning labels were affixed to containers of regulated waste when an indistinct everyday use laundry hamper was used for laundry contaminated with blood or OPIM.

Issued

Aug 28, 2023

Abate by

Oct 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $9,488 · Current $6,642 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(2)(i): Engineering and work practice controls were not used to eliminate or minimize employees exposure:  a) Operatory Rooms:  On or about March 01, 2023, and sometime thereafter, the employer did not ensure engineering and work practice controls were used when unprotected devices were  passed hand-to-hand during dental procedures that exposed employees to needlestick and puncture wound injuries.

Issued

Aug 28, 2023

Abate by

Oct 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1030(d)(2)(vii)(A): Contaminated needles and other contaminated sharps were bent, recapped, or removed:  Operatory Rooms: On or about March 01, 2023, without demonstrating that an alternative was not feasible or that it was required by a dental procedure, the employer required employees to  recap and remove contaminated needles.

Issued

Aug 28, 2023

Abate by

Oct 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(3)(iii): The employer did not ensure that appropriate personal protective equipment in the appropriate sizes was readily accessible at the worksite or issued to employees.   Sterilization Area: On or about March 01, 2023, and sometime thereafter, the employer did not ensure that the appropriate personal protective equipment was readily accessible to employees when they were required to autoclave contaminated sharp dental instruments with latex household gloves rather than puncture-resistant utility gloves.

Issued

Aug 28, 2023

Abate by

Oct 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,692 · Current $3,984 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(10): The employer did not ensure that workplace labels or other forms of warnings were legible:   Sterilization Area:  On or about March 01, 2023, the label on the container of Purevac SC evacuation system cleaner, a Category 2 eye irritant and Category 3 flammable liquid, was not legible to employees who use the product during sterilization procedures.

Issued

Aug 28, 2023

Abate by

Oct 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(g)(8): The employer did not maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical, and did not ensure that they were readily accessible during each work  shift to employees when they were in their work area(s):  Facility-wide: On or about March 01, 2023, the employer failed to maintain safety data sheets in the workplace that were accessible to employees who frequently used hazardous products including surface and ultrasonic cleaners during sterilization processes.