Two Hudson hospitals are cited, fined by OSHA for COVID-19 violations
Taken from NJ.com
October 9. 2020
Two hospitals in Hudson County have been cited by a federal agency for COVID-19 related health and safety violations, officials said.
In a press release, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said violations pertained to implementation of a written respiratory protection program; the providing of a medical evaluation, respirator fit test, training on the proper use of a respirator, and personal protective equipment; reporting of an injury, illness or fatality; recording an injury or illness on OSHA record-keeping forms; and complying with the General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.
Hackensack Meridian’s Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen was cited twice, with initial fines of $25,061 and $13,494. Christ Hospital in Jersey City, part of the CarePoint Health system, was also cited twice and fined $15,422 in one instance and $21,205 in the other.
“We may be on the verge of a second wave of this COVID-19 pandemic and these OSHA citations are serious violations that may have resulted in worker exposure, sickness and loss of life, said HPAE President Debbie White, a registered nurse. “In other cases, workers were exposed and may have spread the virus to their families.
“Therefore, we need Christ Hospital to provide proper PPE, with training on usage, and to document every worker exposure, sickness and, God forbid, death. Unfortunately, we are not yet convinced that any of our employers are ready for this second wave.”
Last month, the Harborage nursing home at Palisades Medical Center, which is also part of the Hackensack Meridian Health system, was cited and fined $28,070 for similar violations.
A spokesman for Christ Hospital said the fines will be appealed. Officials with Palisades Medical Center could not be reached.