101 West 8th Avenue,
Spokane,
99204
Washington,
United States
As of September 28, 2020, WSNA members at Providence Sacred Heart report the following workplace health and safety hazards related to COVID-19: - "Critical Staffing Status" (aka, "crisis staffing") - Health care workers who test positive and are asymptomatic must report to work - Re-using PPE until it breaks - Failing to social distance in break rooms - Not practicing universal masking for visitors - Not masking COVID patients, even when a nurse enters the room (Please see the attached detailed hazard description, addendum and supporting documentation) Detailed Hazard Description is as follows: - "Critical Staffing Status" (aka, "crisis staffing") In an email to WSNA on September 23 (provided as attachment), Providence HR confirmed that Sacred Heart remains in "critical staffing status".as declared by Incident Command'. This status is being used for purposes of rapid return to work after COVID testing - see next bullet point. - Health care workers who test positive and are asymptomatic must report to work DOH and L&I's joint Hazard Alert issued in September 2020 states that hospitals must ¿[p]rohibit staff from working or being on the premises if exposed to COVID-19, and all staff who test positive must be excluded from work and isolated according to CDC guidelines¿. The CDC's return to work criteria for health care providers states: HCP who are not severely immunocompromised and were asymptomatic throughout their infection may return to work when at least 10 days have passed since the date of their first positive viral diagnostic test. However, Providence Sacred Heart is requiring employees who test positive, but who are asymptomatic, to return to work immediately citing its 'staffing crisis.- Further detail provided in the addendum. - Re-using PPE until it breaks Multiple units in the hospital report being asked to use PPE until it breaks, which fits under the CDC definition of crisis use of PPE. Further detail provided in the addendum. - Failing to social distance in break rooms Multiple units in the hospital report that management is not ensuring appropriate social distancing per the September Hazard Alert. Further detail provided in the addendum. - Not practicing universal masking for visitors The September 2020 Hazard Alert requires hospitals to "[e]nsure source control (public and patient masking) for patients and visitors throughout the hospital, especially when staff are in rooms or care areas.- Nurses report that the hospital is not practicing nor enforcing a universal masking policy for visitors, putting patients and employees at risk. Nurses note that the masking requirement for visitors in not well-emphasized in signage and could be easily missed by visitors. - Not masking COVID patients, even when a nurse enters the room The September 2020 Hazard Alert requires hospitals to "[e]nsure source control (public and patient masking) for patients and visitors throughout the hospital, especially when staff are in rooms or care areas.- Nurses report the hospital is not requiring patients to mask, meaning that even in COVID patient rooms, the patients are not masking even when a nurse or other hospital employee enters the room. Also please see attached addendum and supporting documentation #1 and #2. On October 9th DOSH received additional alleged hazards: SHMC as of a week ago started triaging COVID patients in the regular triage rooms within the ER department. Previously, they were room separately by PII. The triage room is small and caregivers are not being required to wear N95s - all staff are wearing surgical masks and face shields. The small room is being cleaned by the RN, not EVS, between patients that are PUI.
Source: Osha.gov | Receipt Date: 2020-09-29
