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OSHA Fines Commercial Laundry
$83,700 for Bloodborne Pathogens and Other Safety and Health
Hazards
A Watertown N.Y., laundry's
alleged failure to protect workers against exposure to bloodborne
pathogens, hazardous chemicals, falls and other safety and health
hazards has resulted in $83,700 in proposed fines from the U.S.
Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA).
The commercial laundry was
cited for a total of 36 alleged serious and other-than-serious
violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act following
an OSHA inspection begun June 28 in response to an employee complaint.
"Exposure to blood and
other infectious materials is a very real danger in this industry,
and this employer did not provide employees with adequate protections
against these hazards," said Chris Adams, OSHA's area director
in Syracuse.
OSHA's inspection found that
the company failed to provide Hepatitis B vaccination to employees
who were exposed to bloodborne pathogens; did not provide follow-up
care after an employee was stuck by a contaminated needle; and
did not furnish puncture resistant gloves for employees who handled
sharp objects contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious
bodily fluids. The inspection also found that employees were
not adequately trained on bloodborne pathogen hazards and were
not provided with soap, towels and an unobstructed sink to wash
their hands after removing contaminated gloves.
Additional hazards identified
during the inspection included failing to maintain working conditions
at the plant in as clean a condition as possible; lack of fall
protection for employees working on the roof; obstructed exit
routes; unguarded moving machine parts; and improperly maintained
electrical equipment.
The company has 15 business
days from receipt of its citations and fines to request and participate
in an informal conference with OSHA or to contest them before
the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
The investigation was conducted by OSHA's Syracuse area office,
located at 3300 Vickery Road, North Syracuse, N.Y., Telephone:
(315) 451-0808.
Source: OSHA News Release 11/14/06
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