| Chicago Sun-Times: Safety slips cited at St. Francis |
|
|
|
Chicago Sun-Times: Safety slips cited at St. Francis BY FRANCINE KNOWLES Business Reporter  Download PDFResurrection Health Care has been cited for several occupational health and safety violations at its St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, including failing to properly train laundry staff exposed to blood and other potentially infectious materials, violations that prompted nearly $10,000 in penalties. Five of the violations are labeled serious. Resurrection was cited for not inspecting or decontaminating on a regularly scheduled basis receptacles used in laundry services. The containers had a reasonable likelihood for becoming contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials, OSHA said. The hospital also was cited for not ensuring employees were properly trained on the symptoms of bloodborne diseases and the transmission of bloodborne pathogens. The issues were promptly addressed, and Resurrection is "committed to providing a safe and healthy environment" for workers, said Resurrection spokeswoman Margo Schafer. In a letter to the hospital, OSHA said there were no "repeated, willful, or failure-to-abate violations, nor were there a significant number of High Gravity Serious violations." The citations grew out of an anonymous complaint filed by employees of the hospital with the help of the Chicago Interfaith Committee on Worker Issues. Sister Barbara Pfarr, executive director, said hospital workers came to the group with safety concerns. The nonprofit supports a campaign by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. |
This site is in no way connected with Resurrection Health Care, Inc.
or any affiliate of Resurrection Health Care, Inc.
or any affiliate of Resurrection Health Care, Inc.