Hospital Claims Chemical Leak Never Happened

CBS-Chicago: Hospital Claims Chemical Leak Never Happened

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(STNG) CHICAGO OSHA has issued a citation alleging six violations against Resurrection Health Care in the wake of a possible hazardous chemical leak at St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood last month, a leak the hospital now claims never happened.
Documents from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration detail concerns about working conditions and safety equipment at the hospital following the March 2 incident, which Fire Media initially reported as a chemical spill on a loading dock that reached the hospital ventilation system, sending three people to the emergency room. The leak was reported to be ethylene oxide, a strong cleaning/disinfecting solution.

Several employees of St. Mary of Nazareth filed a complaint with OSHA, Henry Bayer, executive director of AFSCME Council 31, said in a release. “Employees across the Resurrection Health Care system have repeatedly come to us with concerns about their working conditions and training, especially when it comes to hazardous materials,” he said.

According to the complaint, an alarm sounded at the hospital on March 1, indicating a leak of ethylene oxide, Bayer said in the release. Despite requests for help from employees, hospital management did not call the Chicago Fire Department until the following morning, when CFD responders initially announced that at least 15 individuals had potentially been exposed to the chemical, the

release said.

Following an investigation, OSHA issued a citation finding six violations, including: -- Appropriate respirators were not selected nor provided to employees who had to respond to the alarm. -- The emergency plan designed to respond to an ethylene oxide leak was not implemented, including notification of emergency personnel and evacuation of employees. -- The emergency plan did not provide for proper protection of employees.

-- Employees who worked with ethylene oxide were not provided adequate information and training.

Dave Banas, acting supervisor of the OSHA Region 5 office in Calumet City, would only say that the case “remains open” and “citations were issued.” None of the citations carried a fine or penalty, according to the OSHA documents.

A statement issued Friday by Resurrection Health Care denied the leak ever happened.

The statement, issued by Resurrection Health Care spokeswoman Katherine Stern Smith, said the alarm sounded on March 2, indicating a gas leak from a machine used for sterilizing surgical equipment located in a non-patient area of the hospital.

“After comprehensive investigation, officials from the fire department and the equipment manufacturer determined no gas leaked from the machine,” the statement said. “Furthermore, the alarm manufacturer determined the alarm malfunctioned.”

Smith would not comment further.

A Fire Media spokesman could not confirm nor deny on Friday evening what the department’s investigation found.

But Ramsin Canon of AFSCME said whether or not the leak occurred is not the issue. “As the citations show, the hospital put its workers in jeopardy by not providing adequate safety equipment, an adequate emergency plan and by not responding immediately to the alarm,” he said.

A West Side community leader agreed. “By failing to provide even these basic safeguards, Resurrection puts not only employees but patients and the community at risk,” Idida Perez of West Town Leadership United said in a release.

“This is an issue that goes beyond one incident. Patients seeking care at a Resurrection hospital and those who live near those hospitals have a right to peace of mind.”

(Source: Sun-Times News Group Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2006.)

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