After reporting on another incident in which health care employees were exposed to bloodborne pathogens earlier this summer, yet another company has run into some trouble with the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding BBPs. The department found that Lifefleet, a medical transport company in Ohio, allowed their workers to be exposed to bloodborne pathogens and body fluids. These can contain infectious diseases or other contaminants and workers who have a high risk of being exposed to them (such as those working in a medical transport vehicle) should be better protected against exposure.

The company was cited with four willful violations including failing to clean or dispose of PPE for their employees, failure to perform medical tests (like blood tests) after an exposure, failure to give employees the results of such a test after an exposure, and failing to train workers on prevention or what to do in case of an exposure. Employees were not required to use PPE like gloves or facemasks when working with potentially infectious biohazards.

The company also received seven serious violations and three other-than-serious violations. They are looking at fines of $235,800. The company did not maintain a sharps incident or injury log. Workers may have been exposed to slip and fall possibilities because there was often standing water in the ambulance bay.

There is no excuse not to protect workers who are in environments where these BBPs are common, and I hope that these fines and citations spur this company and others into taking more preventive measures.