OSHA cites Ohio nursing facilities over worker illnesses

A Cleveland-based health care company is facing workplace safety citations following inspections of three of its Ohio nursing facilities that reported coronavirus-related hospitalization of seven employees, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Tuesday.

OHNH EMP LLC runs three facilities—Pebble Creek Healthcare Center in Akron, and Salem West Healthcare Center and Salem North Healthcare Center in Salem—all of which were cited for serious violations of two respiratory protection standards, OSHA said in a statement.

The citations were for: failing to develop a comprehensive written respiratory protection program and failing to provide medical evaluations to determine employees’ ability to use a respirator in the workplace, according to OSHA. The agency also issued a Hazard Alert Letter regarding the company’s practice of allowing N95 respirator use for up to seven days and not conducting initial fit testing. 

OSHA has proposed a total of $40,482 in penalties for OHNH EMP.

The agency’s investigation found that while the company was “making efforts to protect its employees from the coronavirus, it had not fully implemented an appropriate respiratory protection program,” OSHA Cleveland Area Office Director Howard Eberts said in the statement. 

The company, which could not be reached for comment, has 15 business days to contest the citations.

More insurance and workers compensation news on the coronavirus crisis here.