Federal Penalty is Resurrection Health Care Facility's Second in Nine Months

/PRNewswire/ -- For the second time in the past nine months, St. Francis Hospital of Evanston has been cited for violations and fined by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The new citations stem from a July incident in which mercury was spilled.

OSHA faulted St. Francis, one of eight Chicago-area hospitals operated by Resurrection Health Care, for its failed emergency response plan, inadequate training for employees and failure to notify workers of potential health hazards after the incident. In findings issued January 19, the hospital received six serious citations and was fined $25,000.

"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. Employees were very concerned," said Henry Bayer, executive director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (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."

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. Both investigations were prompted by workers who filed OSHA complaints anonymously, for fear of retaliation by Resurrection Health Care.

The health and safety violations at St. Francis Hospital are just the latest in a recurring pattern at Resurrection facilities. St. Elizabeth, St. Mary's of Nazareth, Westlake, and the chain's flagship Resurrection Medical Center have all been cited and fined by OSHA since 2003.

Seeking to improve their working conditions and enhance the quality of patient care, Resurrection employees are working to form a union with AFSCME Council 31.

Source: HEART/AFSCME