title: An analysis of OSHA inspections assessing contaminant exposures in general medical and surgical hospitals.
abstract: This study analyzed data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Chemical Exposure Health Database to assess contaminant exposures in general medical and surgical hospitals. Seventy-five inspections conducted in these hospitals from 2005 through 2009 were identified. Five categories of inspections were conducted, the three most common being complaint-based, planned, and referral-based inspections. Complaint-based inspections comprised the majority of inspections-55 (73%) of the 75 conducted. The overall violation rate for all inspection types was 68%. This finding was compared to the violation rates of planned inspections (100%), referral-based inspections (83%), and complaint-based inspections (62%). Asbestos was the hazardous substance most commonly sampled and cited by OSHA in hospitals, with 127 samples collected during 24 inspections; 31% of the total 75 inspections resulting in one or more violations were due to asbestos.
authors.affiliation: BHP Billiton, Miami, AZ, USA. Jordan.knight099@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jordan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: Darrah K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Sleeth
authors.forename: Rodney R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Leon F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Pahler
mesh_terms: D001194:Asbestos / Q000032:analysis; D005161:Facility Regulation and Control; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000032:analysis; D005976:Glutaral / Q000032:analysis; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D008752:Methylene Chloride / Q000032:analysis; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D014489:United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration
chemical_list: D015386:Hazardous Substances; D001194:Asbestos; D005557:Formaldehyde; D007854:Lead; D008752:Methylene Chloride; D005976:Glutaral