OSHA cites St. Francis Hospital for six serious violations

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued six serious citations against St. Francis Hospital of Evanston stemming from a toxic mercury spill that affected patients and employees last July. Following an investigation, OSHA also fined the facility $25,000 for falling to have in place an appropriate emergency response plan, for inadequately training employees and for failing to notify workers of potential health hazards.

"Instead of taking steps to respond to the spill and prevent future incidents, administrators at St. Francis seemed to be trying to cover it up," said Henry Bayer, executive director of the AFSCME Council 31. "We commend the workers who came forward as whistleblowers to alert OSHA in hopes of preventing future harm to patients or staff."

The federal penalty is the hospital's second in just nine months. In May 2006, St. Francis received eight serious citations and nearly $10,000 in fines for failing to adequately train laundry employees exposed to hazardous materials. 

St. Francis Hospital is one of eight Chicago-area hospitals operated by Resurrection Health Care. Since 2003, OSHA has cited five of the eight hospitals. Other hospitals that have been cited are:

• Resurrection Medical Center, Chicago
• St. Elizabeth Hospital, Chicago
• St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital Center, Chicago
• Westlake Community Hospital, Melrose Park

Original copies of the OSHA complaints are available.