Archive for: OSHA – Citations & Fines
Weekly poll: OSHA and healthcare national emphasis programs
Because of the high rate of injuries among support healthcare workers, OSHA announced last week a National Emphasis Program directed toward nursing homes and residential care facilities that would increase the number of inspections conducted on those types of facilities, and focusing on hazards from patient handling, bloodborne pathogens, workplace violence, and slips, trips and falls. Are you in favor of more OSHA National Emphasis Programs directed toward healthcare? Take our OSHA Healthcare Advisor Weekly Poll and let us know.
OSHA initiates national program on safety and health in nursing homes
Non-fatal occupational injuries among healthcare workers are too high, says OSHA. And nursing homes are the first places the agency to going scrutinize.
More ambulatory surgery centers taking OSHA hits
With more than half of the surgeries in the U.S. performed in ambulatory care settings, ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) and physician offices are under higher scrutiny from OSHA to protect healthcare workers from bloodborne pathogens hazards, according to a two-part series of articles published in October and November editions of the AORN Journal.
Hospitals seeing red, as in more bloodborne pathogens violations
OSHA has hit hospitals with more and higher fines for bloodborne pathogens violations compared to last year, according to October issue of Briefings on Infection Control. The report uses data from the OSHA Office of Management System, from July 2010 through June 2011. Here is an excerpt.
OSHA sues dental practice for firing workers voicing safety concerns
Capped needles, not capped teeth, has a Beverly, MA, dental practice, in whistleblower trouble with OSHA.
OSHA is suing N. Terry Fayad, and his dental practice “for allegedly firing an employee for raising concerns about needlestick hazards and filing a health hazard complaint, according to a September 21 OSHA news release.
The OSHA man cometh, for nursing homes
Hazardous work conditions have OSHA targeting nursing homes for inspections this year.
The agency announced its annual inspection plan under the Site-Specific Targeting 2011 (SST-11) program which directs enforcement resources toward workplaces where high rates of injuries and illnesses occur.
A quick look at frequent and expensive OSHA fines, July 2010 to June 2011
Medical Environment Update acquired a detailed report of citations by standard for medical practices (which include clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, and various outpatient settings) and dental practices from the OSHA Office of Management System, from July 2010 through June 2011. Here is an excerpt.
Medical Environment Update, September 2011—Come and get it: Fresh data on OSHA violations
The September issue of Medical Environment Update reports frequent and expensive OSHA fines for medical and dental practices last year.
Here is an excerpt from that article:
Free webinar to focus on sharps safety in non-hospital settings
The International Healthcare Worker Safety Center is sponsoring a free webinar on a much overlooked topic: “Achieving Sharps Safety Compliance in Non-Hospital Healthcare Settings.”
Test your safety IQ—OSHA fines and emergency eyewash stations
True or False: Because OSHA standards do not define specifics of compliant emergency eyewash equipment, the agency will not fine medical practices if cited for not having one.
Medical center in Brooklyn fined $48,000 for asbestos hazards
OSHA inspected Interfaith Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, and issued $48,000 in proposed fines, most of which concerned asbestos hazards, according to a June 28 news release.
Safety audits now fair game for OSHA inspectors
OSHA investigators can subpoena a company’s safety audits, even those prepared by third party consultants and insurance carriers, according to a June 13 analysis by insurancenewsnet.com.
