An inspection at a Byron rehabilitation and post-acute care facility found the healthcare facility did not comply with federal respiratory protection requirements in the facility’s quarantine area and failed to protect workers from coronavirus hazards. The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found that Generations at Neighbors LLC failed to implement critical elements of OSHA’s National Emphasis Program for Coronavirus and the Emergency Temporary Standard for Healthcare. The Aug. 10 inspection cited four serious health violations and led OSHA to propose $38,620 in penalties. OSHA concluded that Generations at Neighbors — operator of six similar facilities in Illinois and Indiana — did not ensure its coronavirus prevention plan included policies and procedures to minimize the risk of transmission for each employee. The agency found the healthcare facility failed to ensure proper use of respiratory protection, conduct thorough hazard assessments, maintain social distancing and physical barriers, and determine employees’ vaccination status.
