Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: BLOODBORNE

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that first responder team and fire brigade could possibly be exposed to the hazard of being infected by HBV and/or HIV through possible direct contact with blood and/or other body fluids during emergency care: (a) Kendall/Amalie - Witco Corporation; first responder teams and fire brigade members who, during emergency rescue and first aid, could experience occupational exposures to blood borne pathogens including, but not limited to, Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were not provided adequate information and training with respect to such exposures. (b) Kendall/Amalie - Witco Corporation; first responder teams and fire brigade members who, during emergency rescue and first aid, could experience occu- pational exposures to blood borne pathogens, including but not limited to, Hepatitis B virus (HBV) were not provided with the opportunity to receive Hepatitis B vaccination. Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard, among others, are: 1. Implement a training program for all first responder members and fire brigade members at time of initial employment and at least annually thereafter; and 2. Ensure that the training program contains the following elements: A. A copy of this standard and an explanation of its contents; B. A general explanation of the epidemiology and symptoms of bloodborne diseases; C. An explanation of the modes of transmission of blood borne pathogens; D. An explanation of the employer's infection control program; E. An explanation of the appropriate mehtods for recognizing tasks and other activities that may involve exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials; F. An explanation of the use and limitations of practices that will prevent or reduce exposure including appropriate engineering controls, work practices, and personeal protective equipment; G. Information on the types, proper use, location, removal, handling, decontamination and/or disposal of personal protective equipment; H. An explanation of the basis for selection of personal protective equipment; I. Information on the Hepatitis B vaccine, including information on its efficacy, safety and benefits of being vaccinated; J. Information on the appropriate actions to take and persons to contact in an emergency; K. An explanation of the procedure to follow if an exposure incident occurs, including the method of reporting the incident and the medical follow-up that will be made available. Also, information on the medical counseling that the employer is providing for exposed individuals. 3. Develop and implement a medical program which offers all employees exposed to blood and/or body fluids an HBV vaccination. Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in the employer did not use or implement adequate methods to minimize the consequences of a fire/explosion hazard: (a) Kendall/Amalie - Witco Corporation; the platformer unit was not provided with combustible gas detector for Hydrogen gas at strategic locations in the vicinity to provide early identification and subsequent mitigation of explosive gas releases. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to install continuous air monitoring equipment at the platformer unit for Hydrogen gas.