"WSNA applauds L&I in holding Sacred Heart Medical Center accountable for not adhering to state and national H1N1 standards.  I hope this citation serves as a wake-up call for all hospitals in Washington State to fully comply with flu prevention guidelines in order to ensure public and nurse safety," said Christine Himmelsbach, MN, RN, WSNA Assistant Executive Director of Labor Relations.  

Specific violations cited by L&I against Sacred Heart Medical Center include:

Inadequate written respiratory protection programNot all employees who wear N-95 respirators have been fit tested or trained on an annual basis No provision for men with facial hair, which can interfere with the respirator seal of N-95 respirators

The hospital is required by law to post the citation on its health and safety bulletin board for three working days or until all violations are corrected, whichever time period is longer.  

SOURCE Washington State Nurses Association