Safety Report: Covid-19 OSHA Complaint, PEACEHEALTH, 2901 Squalicum Parkway, BELLINGHAM, WA, 98225, USA

2901 Squalicum Parkway, Bellingham, 98225 Washington, United States

Nurses are being directed to re-use and share PPE such as PAPR [powered air purifying respirator] without proper cleaning per manufacturer's guidelines. Nurses directed to remove mask before leaving patient room. There is lack of training on PPE [person protective equipment] including proper donning and doffing instructions. The employer has failed to furnish to each of his or her employees a place of employment free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause serious injury or death to his or her employees, in violation of RCW 49.17.060. The employer has failed to do everything reasonably necessary to protect the life and safety of employees, in violation of WAC 296-155-040(2), which states: "You must require safety devices, furnish safeguards, and you must adopt and use practices, methods, operations, and processes which are reasonably adequate to render such employment and place of employment safe. You must do everything reasonably necessary to protect the life and safety of employees." The employer has failed to provided and maintained, at the employer's expense, personal protective equipment whenever physical contact, adsorption, or inhalation of a hazard could cause injury or impairment to employees, in violation of WAC 296-155-200(1)(a) and (b), which states: "You must use personal protective equipment (PPE) wherever physical contact, absorption, or inhalation of a hazard could cause any injury or impairment to the function of any part of the body.... You must maintain PPE in a sanitary and reliable condition." The employer is in violation of WAC 296-126-094, the General Duty Clause which states: It shall be the responsibility of every employer to maintain conditions within the work place environment that will not endanger the health, safety or welfare of employees. All facilities, equipment, practices, methods, operations and procedures shall be reasonably adequate to protect employees' health, safety and welfare.


Source: Osha.gov | Receipt Date: 2020-03-13