Following a coronavirus outbreak in March that led to the deaths of two workers, the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that a Mount Holly-based healthcare provider failed to implement a required coronavirus prevention program at two of its locations. OSHA determined that Oaks Integrated Care Inc. did not develop and implement timely and effective measures to mitigate the spread of the virus following outbreaks at its Bock Bay group home in Howell and the Pat LeBon Center in Lumberton. The company failed to identify and isolate clients suspected of having the coronavirus who resided in its group homes, and did not adequately inform staff who worked with these clients about the associated risks. As a result, two workers — one at Bock Bay and the other at the Pat LeBon Center — suffered exposure and eventually died from the coronavirus. The outbreaks also exposed workers at other Oaks Integrated Care group homes, including Turner Lane Group Home, Evergreen Manor Group Home, R.I.S.E., Jerry Gavin House and the Martha’s Boulevard Group Home.
Additionally, OSHA found the company failed to:
- Develop and implement a respiratory protection program.
- Provide NIOSH-certified respirators to employees who provided care to confirmed coronavirus-positive clients.
- Provide workers with fit tests or medical evaluations to ensure effective use of the required respirators.
- Provide effective training in the use, cleaning and storage of a respirator.
OSHA cited the company with a serious violation of the respiratory protection standard, and a serious violation of the general duty clause that requires employers to ensure workplaces are free of recognized hazards that may cause death or serious physical harm. Proposed penalties total $27,306.
