OSHA Cites Medical Facility, Staffing Agency Over COVID-19 Hazards

Monday, August 9, 2021 | 0

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Wednesday said it cited a medical facility and a temporary staffing agency for failing to ensure the safety and health of nurses giving flu shots and COVID-19 tests.

In a statement, OSHA said an investigation into Lakewood Resource and Referral Center Inc. earlier this year found that the Lakewood, New Jersey-based facility did not provide medical evaluations to determine employees’ ability to use respirators before requiring their use and failed to fit test staff for the equipment.

The agency proposed a $273,064 fine for two willful violations. In 2020, OSHA cited the facility for similar hazards after the company failed to protect from COVID-19 staff providing medical and dental care.

Investigators also found that Homecare Therapies, which does business as Horizon Healthcare Staffing and contracts with Lakewood Resource, failed to ensure medical evaluations were done and did not provide fit tests for workers required to use respirators. OSHA cited the staffing agency, which is also located in Lakewood, for two serious citations with $13,653 in proposed penalties.

Neither company could immediately be reached for comment.

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