Two INS Facilities Cited for TB Exposure

May 8, 2000
Workers were exposed to tuberculosis while in confined spaces and without personal protective equipment, OSHA rules.

Willful citations for tuberculosis exposure have been issued against two immigration detention facilities in Houston by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The alleged violations were discovered during an investigation by two Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) facilities. An employee complained that workers were being exposed to active tuberculosis (TB) from individuals brought into the two INS offices.

Thousands of undocumented individuals are processed through the INS detention facilities and stay an average of 48 to 72 hours. INS employees come into close contact with the individuals during apprehension, pat downs, transportation and interrogation. During transportation, INS employees are enclosed in confined spaces in vehicles and small rooms without personal protective equipment (PPE) such as respirators and masks.

OSHA determined that these employees have not been provided with PPE since 1996, nor received training on hazards associated with TB. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has categorized this type of work as high hazard for exposure to TB.

While federal agencies are not assessed penalties by OSHA, the private-sector equivalent penalty would be $390,000.

by Todd Nighswonger

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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