Doctor's office settles with OSHA

A local doctor’s office has agreed to pay a $10,500 fine as part of a settlement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The Kirkland Family Practice also agreed to correct violations involving exposure of employees to needles and other sharp devices, infection control and employee training, according to a settlement signed Aug. 18 by Dr. Clem Kirkland.

In July, OSHA cited the office, 5928 Springboro Pike, with eight violations calling for a potential $32,000 fine.

In the settlement, OSHA withdrew citations involving steps taken after an employee suffered a needle-stick in June 2011 and annual employee training. OSHA reclassified and reduced the fines for other violations.

In addition to the fines, Kirkland agreed to rewrite its exposure control plan, including “annual consideration and implementation of safer needle devices” and “identification of the appropriate disinfectant to be used in decontaminating contaminated work surfaces.”

Kirkland also agreed to hire inspectors for annual job safety and health inspections for the next two years and to report “how each item was abated or corrected” to OSHA.

Kirkland did not return calls.