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Messages Forum>
OSHA Visits
RoyA
1 post
Jul 18, 2010
8:41 AM
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What are OSHA inspectors looking for when they come to my clinic?
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thomaskappil
37 posts
Jul 19, 2010
9:30 AM
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OSHA inspectors are clearly looking for violations. In medical, dental and vet facilities, complaints (29 CFR 1908.11) are the # 1 reason OSHA inspects facilities. In such circumstances, OSHA already has a slew of complaints received from anonymous calls from your facility. Armed with these complaints, inspectors request to see the employer or supervisor prior to inspection. They will begin the inspection routine after presenting their credentials to the employer. The inspectors are usually accompanied by employer’s and employees’ representatives during the inspection (29 CFR 1903.8). While OSHA inspects the facility, they would also seek to chat with the employees or seek answers to questions they may have to find out more of the facility’s safety policies and procedures (29 CFR 1903.7 b). Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. Not knowing the regulations may, perhaps stoke their ire. Clearly OSHA expects employers to be familiar and comply with safety regulations.
After the inspection, OSHA insepctors discuss their findings with the employer. They leave after issuing citations or appropriate warnings for any violation noticed (29 CFR 1903.15). Within a reasonable time after the termination of the inspection, the Area Director shall notify the employer by certified mail or by personal service of the proposed penalty or that no penalty is being proposed. The Area Director shall determine the amount of any proposed penalty, giving due consideration to the appropriateness of the penalty with respect to the size of the business of the employer being charged, the gravity of the violation, the good faith of the employer, and the history of previous violations (29 CFR 1903.15 b).
A copy of the citation issued to an Austin facility can be found on Osha Insp. Statistics page.
Last Edited on 19-Jul-2010 9:36 AM
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thomaskappil
38 posts
Sep 12, 2010
10:18 AM
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This is an email received recently from a California employer about an upcoming Cal OSHA inspection visit. We have not revealed the name and telephone number to protect her privacy. Read on:
Hi Thomas,
I was talking to Dr. Kappil this morning regarding our problem in our office and she advised me to contact you.
We have a medical practice and had a complaint from one of our employees to osha since he was fired and angry. We had an osha inspection two weeks ago in our office but due to some construction she could not do her inspection and she said she will come back on the 25th. She also left a page with few things check marked that she would like to see when she comes back. In that sheet she had:
IIPP
Hazard communication
Bloodbord Pathogen and Osha log 300
I would like to know how can you help me to get this done. If I order your package what will it have and will it cover everything we need to have for our office?
You can also call me on my cellphone 313-283-
Best,
S
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Dear S,
Thank you for your email.
We have a separate folder for Cal/OSHA with materials covering relevant plans required by Cal/OSHA including the Workplace Injury and illness Prevention Program (IIPP).
As for Bloodborne Pathogen Standard and HazCom Standards, we have both federal as well as Cal/OSHA plans. At this point, you must pay more attention to Cal OSHA standards. The inspectors will be carefully looking at your compliance of the Cal OSHA plans. Ergonomic Standards exist under the Cal OSHA program. Please remember that Cal/OSHA inspectors can cite you under General Duty Clause if they find any safety violation even if there are no applicable standards. Therefore, you may begin by sprucing up your office, placing required posters including job safety posters and having appropriate warning labels for containers to comply with the bloodborne pathogen Standard.
Here is what OSHA states about warning labels:
"A warning label that includes the universal biohazard symbol, followed by the term "biohazard," must be included on bags/containers of contaminated laundry, on bags/containers of regulated waste, on refrigerators and freezers that are used to store blood or OPIM, and on bags/containers used to store, dispose of, transport, or ship blood or OPIM (e.g., specimen containers). In addition, contaminated equipment which is to be serviced or shipped must have a readily observable label attached which contains the biohazard symbol and the word "biohazard" along with a statement relating which portions of the equipment remain contaminated."
You should also have training and medical records of your employees- all the sample records are available in our documentation kit. OSHA Logs 300 and 301 have to be filled up as and when any OSHA incident occurs and summary on Form 300A must be posted on a yearly basis. The summary must be posted even if there was no occurrence of a workplace injury at your facility.
Please call Molly at 832-279-3566 and request her to ship the manuals overnight if you are interested in our OSHA program. The price will be $ 199.95 plus 39.95 for the overnight shipping charges. We will include three folders-OSHA Manual, Documentation Kit and Cal/OSHA kit, Federal Safety Posters, biohazard labels and email Cal/OSHA poster, fed and state booklets and several other fed OSHA materials incl posters as well. You asked about our refund policy, as is common among booksellers, we do not refund once you make the purchase and I can assure you will find all the required materials mentioned here on our website. We guarantee that the materials we provide are more than enough for your training and compliance.
Good luck on your upcoming inspection.
Last Edited on 13-Sep-2010 4:48 AM
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