1. The hazard being reported on this complaint is occurring in the facility gate area at Newberry Correctional Facility (NCF) where employees enter and exit each day. I am one of 10 Fire Safety/ Occupational Safety and Health Inspectors for the Department of Corrections (DOC) and my
office is located at NCF. During this time period, all employees and visitors entering the facility are being required to lower their facemask and to show identification to the gate Correction Officer(s) (CO). The specific incident that brought this issue to my concern occurred on October 18th 2020 when I was working my approved secondary employment with local EMS and responded to NCF for a COVID positive prisoner. All EMS personal were wearing gloves, N95, and gown. After we were on scene for apppx. 15 minutes, we began exiting the facility. The gate COs told EMS personal that we are required to lower our facemask to show our face and to show identification. Discussion continued between COs and EMS staff. Ultimately EMS staff were released with the patient without having to remove our masks. The facility is still requiring all persons entering and exiting the facility to lower their face mask for identification purposes. 2. Staff escorting people through the facility removed their mask in the presence of a COVID positive patients.
Source: Osha.gov | Receipt Date: 2020-12-23
Source: Osha.gov | Receipt Date: 2020-12-23
3
