Janitor’s complaint leads to fine

A janitor’s complaint about improper disposal of medical waste has led to fines totaling $1,800 against three medical practices and a janitorial service.

The Washington state Department of Labor and Industries recently issued fines for worker-safety violations to American Building Maintenance Co., Spokane Plastic Surgeons, Spokane Urology and Associated Surgeons.

The three medical practices are located in the Holy Family Medical Building, 235 E. Rowan Ave., where Spokane resident Corrie Amsden worked briefly as a janitor. Amsden’s complaint prompted the worker-safety investigation.

Amsden documented her complaint with photos of what appeared to be blood-stained medical waste in the regular trash. She also took her story to the news media.

American Building Maintenance, Amsden’s former employer, drew the biggest fine: $1,000 for two violations termed “serious” by the Department of Labor and Industries. The company has appealed.

The company failed to provide Amsden with proper training on how to handle blood-borne pathogens and also failed to offer her a hepatitis B vaccination series within 10 days of assigning her to work in the medical facility, according to the citation notice.

Associated Surgeons received a $400 fine for two serious violations. The department said the medical practice had failed to appropriately label or color-code regulated waste and had failed to provide annual blood-borne pathogen training to employees.

Associated Surgeons also received a citation for failing to have a written accident-prevention plan and for various other safety violations. The medical practice has until Sept. 7 to appeal.

“We’ve taken care of everything they’ve asked us to do,” said a clinic spokeswoman. The practice does not plan to appeal, she said.

Spokane Urology received a $250 fine for failing to label or color-code regulated waste, a serious violation, according to the state agency.

The medical practice has until Monday to appeal. A clinic spokesperson could not be reached for comment.

Spokane Plastic Surgeons received a $150 fine for failing to label or color-code regulated waste, a serious violation. The clinic also had two general violations for failing either to hold safety meetings or have a safety committee and for failing to have a written chemical hazard communication program.

The practice has until Wednesday to appeal, but none is planned, said a clinic spokeswoman.