Safety Report: Covid-19 OSHA Complaint, Veterans Health Administration, 3710 SW U.S. Veterans Hospital Rd., PORTLAND, OR, 97239, USA

3710 Southwest US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, 97239 Oregon, United States

PPE: Workers on an inpatient psych floor (5C) with known Covid-19 positive patients are not provided adequate PPE while working in close proximity to patients who exude spittle, mucus, droplets, aerosols, and sweat while the staff provides care, takes vitals, conducts restraint, or positions patients, creating an exposure distance ranging from direct skin contact to 6-12 inches. Staff are provided surgical masks but not N-95 respirators. RNs, LPNs and CNAs continue to work without access to N-95 masks Fit testing Some RNs, LPNs and CNAs were not afforded an opportunity to be fitted for N-95 masks and are now being told it is un-necessary. Training Management states that surgical masks are adequate PPE. Hazard communication Staff were told after patients tested positive that they were a low risk exposure and that self-quarantining or testing was not indicated, that the VA would not be testing 5C employees at this time. Other units in the hospital tested their employees after they were exposed to COVID-19. CPAPS: Staff assist pts with the use of CPAP machines before and after patients use them, but there is no policy for cleaning the CPAPs , either before or after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The used CPAPs are stored in a room where staff do laundry and where patient's personal belongings are stored. Cross contamination could easily occur especially if machines are not being cleaned.


Source: Osha.gov | Receipt Date: 2020-06-17 | Symptoms: Mucus in Stools