OSHA Inspection: THE INN AT ASHLAND WOODS

Issued

Nov 25, 2024

Abate by

Jan 31, 2025

Penalty

Initial $4,839 · Current $2,420 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): In any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer, the employer failed to establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures. The program shall be updated as necessary to reflect those changes in workplace conditions that affect respirator use. The employer shall include in the program the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures.  On or about August 23, 2024, the employer failed to develop and implement a written respiratory protection program for employees that cared for residents that had tested positive for communicable diseases including but not limited to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, also known as SARS?CoV?2 or COVID-19. Residents that tested positive for communicable diseases can present hazards to employees by transferring their illness through airborne routes of exposure such as coughing and sneezing around the employee while being treated. The program must include employees going through training, fit testing, and medical evaluations when they are to enter and take care of a resident who tested positive for a communicable disease.

Issued

Nov 25, 2024

Abate by

Jan 31, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): General. The employer shall provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. The employer may discontinue an employee's medical evaluations when the employee is no longer required to use a respirator.  On or about August 23, 2024, the employer did not provide a medical evaluation program for employees who require the use of respirators in the workplace or use respirators in the workplace including the Benehal N95 Particulate Respirators. The employer requires employees to wear the respirators for tasks where they are entering the room of a resident who has tested positive for a communicable disease such as SARS?CoV?2 or COVID-19. Employees would enter the room to do a variety of tasks including but not limited to delivering medication or food to the employer and assisting the resident with other tasks that may expose them to illness through airborne routes of exposure.

Issued

Nov 25, 2024

Abate by

Jan 31, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): The employer shall ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator is fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) is used, and at least annually thereafter.  On or about August 23, 2024, the employer did not implement an effective annual fit testing program that evaluates employees' effectiveness in wearing a respirator that is tight fitting and fits the employees' face including Benehal N95 Particulate Respirators. The employer requires employees to wear the respirator when going into residents' rooms who have tested positive for communicable diseases that can spread through airborne transmission including SARS?CoV?2 or COVID-19.

Issued

Nov 25, 2024

Abate by

Jan 31, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k): This paragraph requires the employer to provide effective training to employees who are required to use respirators. The training must be comprehensive, understandable, and recur annually, and more often if necessary. This paragraph also requires the employer to provide the basic information on respirators in Appendix D of this section to employees who wear respirators when not required by this section or by the employer to do so.  On or about August 23, 2024, the employer did not conduct employee respirator training for employees who assist residents infected with a communicable disease and have to wear tight fitting respirators including Benehal N95 Particulate Respirators. The employer requires employees to wear a respirator when entering rooms that house the residents who tested positive with a communicable disease including but not limited to SARS?CoV?2 or COVID-19.