Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1517663.015 - Trinity Health Of New England

Inspection Information - Office: Hartford Area Office

Investigation Summary

In early 2021, an employee was working at a general medical or surgical hospital. He worked the 11:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. shift as a housekeeping aide in the emergency department (ED). He cleaned vacant patient rooms, emptied trash, mopped, and disinfected common areas and bathrooms. Two environmental services (EVS) employees were typically assigned to the ED on the night shift. They worked independently of each other and did not take breaks at the same time. COVID-19-postive patients and persons under investigation (PUIs) were treated in the emergency department on a daily basis. A PUI was a patient who presented with both clinical and epidemiological risk factors for COVID-19. Because of his symptomatology, such a patient was suspected of having COVID-19. The employer provided the employee's work schedule from January 1, 2021, through his last shift. Either in that period, or in the last two weeks that the employee worked, there were at least 68 patients known to have COVID-19 or PUIs treated in the emergency department during the employee's shift or during shifts prior to his. The employee's overnight shift of February 10th and 11th was the last one he worked. He contracted COVID-19. He was admitted to the hospital on February 15, 2021. On February 24, 2021, he died. The employer did not record the work-related fatality on the OSHA 300 log or its equivalent. The employee was, according to his supervisors, consistently compliant with wearing the appropriate PPE and with hand hygiene practices. He correctly removed and disposed of PPE. He was compliant with cleaning practices and the management of soiled linens and waste. The emergency department was serviced by two independent air handlers, each with three levels of filtration. Filters were changed according to schedule. Employee restrooms were single occupant. Measures had been taken to limit the number of staff in the breakroom at the same time, and extra chairs had been removed to ensure social distancing.

Keywords: Infectious Disease