OSHA Inspection: VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, BEDFORD HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Sep 23, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.25(c)(2):29 CFR 1910.25(c)(2): The employer did not ensure that standard stairs have a maximum riser height of 9.5 inches (24 cm).  Location: Building 2, B11 Transformer and Gear Switch Room  On or about 2/20/24, an exit discharge had a step up that exceeded the maximum riser height for stairs. The step measured approximately 22-23 inches in height.

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Sep 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.36(d)(1):Employee(s) were not able to open an exit route door from the inside at all times without keys, tools, or special knowledge:  a) Location: Freezer, adjacent to Logistics Warehouse  On or about 2/21/24, employees were exposed to a freezer door that had a non-functional emergency release lever. By not being able to exit the freezer, employees are exposed to hypothermia and related effects.

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Sep 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.37(a)(3):Exit routes must be free and unobstructed. No materials or equipment may be placed, either permanently or temporarily, within the exit route. The exit access must not go through a room that can be locked, such as a bathroom, to reach an exit or exit discharge, nor may it lead into a dead-end corridor. Stairs or a ramp must be provided where the exit route is not substantially level.  Location: Multiple  On or about the following dates, exit routes were obstructed in the following instances:  a) On or about 2/21/24, an exit pathway in the laundry section of building 19 was narrowed to a passageway of less than 28" by a series of laundry carts, preventing employees from passing through unobstructed.  b) On or about 2/27/24, an exit pathway in SPS was covered with tape and plastic, obstructing employees from exiting the area.   c) On or about 2/21/24, a marked exit door in the Steam plant was unable to be opened.

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Jan 10, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.37(b)(4):Signs were not posted along the exit access indicating the direction of travel to the nearest exit and exit discharge when the direction of travel to the exit or exit discharge was not immediately apparent:  a) Location: Building 20  On or about 2/21/24, signs were not posted along the exit access to the nearest exit discharge. The employer did not ensure that employees had a clearly identifiable path of exit travel in the event of an emergency.  b) Location: Building 8  On or about 2/21/24, signs were not posted along the exit access to the nearest exit discharge in room B05-B03. The employer did not ensure that employees had a clearly identifiable path of exit travel in the event of an emergency. Neither discharge from the room was labeled with an illuminated emergency exit sign.

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Aug 27, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.37(b)(5):Each doorway or passage along an exit access that could be mistaken for an exit was not marked "Not an Exit" or similar designation, or be identified by a sign indicating its actual use (e.g. closet):  Location: Building 20  On or about 2/21/24, a blocked door was observed to not be marked with either an illuminated "EXIT" sign, nor a sign that indicated the door was not an exit. By not defining this door, the employer did not ensure that employees would not attempt to use this door in the event of an emergency.

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Oct 10, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.37(b)(6):Each exit sign was not illuminated to a surface value of at least five foot-candles (54 lux) by a reliable light source and be distinctive in color:  Location: Building 5, 1st floor  a) On or about 3/5/24, the employer did not ensure that a designated emergency exit door was marked by an exit sign that was illuminated to a surface value of at last five foot candles.

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Sep 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  Employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials without suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body in the following instances:  Location: Building 61, Housekeeping Closet B20.   a) On or about 3/5/24, a housekeeping closet was not fitted with an eyewash and shower while chemicals including, but not limited to, Alpha-HP Multi Surface Disinfectant cleaner were stored and prepared for use.

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Oct 10, 2024

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:  Location: Building 78  On or about 2/21/24, the employer did not ensure that employees working with patients that were either SARS_CoV_19 positive or suspected positive had a medical evaluation prior to using a respirator.

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Oct 10, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator were not annually fit tested:   Location: Building 78  On or about 2/21/24, the employer did not ensure that employees working with patients that were either SARS_CoV_19 positive or suspected positive had an annual fit test.

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Sep 23, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1904.29(b)(3):Each recordable injury or illness was not recorded on the OSHA 300 Log and 301 Incident Report within seven calendar days of receiving information that a recordable injury or illness has occurred:  Location: 200 Springs Road, Bedford MA  a) On or about 2/20/24, the employer did not ensure that recordable injuries and illnesses were recorded on the OSHA 300 Log within seven calendar days of receiving information that a recordable injury or illness had occurred. The employer had log entries dating back to 2020 on the 2024 OSHA 300 log.

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Sep 23, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1030(c)(1)(iv):The Exposure Control Plan was not reviewed and updated at least annually:  Location: Various areas within the facility that provide medical care  a) On or about 2/20/24, the employer did not ensure that the exposure control plan was reviewed and updated at least annually. By not reviewing the program, the employer did not ensure that the program was effective, and that it factored in new technologies or changes to tasks or procedures.

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Sep 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1001(j)(4)(ii): The employer did not affix labels that complied with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.1200(f) of OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard and/or included the following information: DANGER CONTAINS ASBESTOS FIBERS AVOID CREATING DUST CANCER AND LUNG DISEASE HAZARD:  Location: Building 70, Room 140  On or about 2/27/24, the employer did not ensure that a room awaiting asbestos testing was adequately marked to indicate the presence of asbestos in the room.

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Sep 6, 2024

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:  Location: Building 19, Laundry  On or about 2/21/24, the employer did not ensure that employees working in the laundry area were provided with training on hazardous chemicals in their work area including, but not limited to, laundry detergents including Aquanomic.