OSHA Cites New Jersey Facility after Worker Poked with Contaminated Needle

The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited serious workplace violations at a surgical center in New Jersey, according to NorthJersey.com. OSHA officials inspected the CTO Management LLC facility (operating as Health East Ambulatory Surgical Center) after an incident in which an employee was stuck with a contaminated needle.

OSHA cited 10 violations, including one for failure to counsel the employee exposed to the contaminated needle and even test for infections. Proposed penalties total $68,000, but CTO plans to contest the citations.

“Most importantly, the complaint and proposed violations by OSHA do not arise out of any hard to patients, employees or physicians,” CTO said in a statement. “Our top priority is to ensure that no harm has or ever will come to any employee, patient or physician…Our goal is not merely to fulfill government regulations but to surpass them in all aspects of operation.”

While it is great that no one was seriously harmed it is also very lucky. CTO did not follow proper protocol after the exposure and the potential for serious illness was certainly there. OSHA not only responds when workers are injured or killed, but also when the potential for a serious incident is present. That appears to be the case here.

If you have been injured at work and your employer did not follow regulations or safety procedures, please contact our firm for a free consultation and assistance in filing for workers comp.

Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC— Columbus workers comp attorneys