Feds find workplace violations at Mpls VA Center

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration have found 37 workplace safety violations at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Thirty-two of the violations are listed as serious; they include electrical hazards, improper storage of oxygen, and improper compliance with requirements for controlling blood borne pathogens.

Medical center spokesman Ralph Heussner said the center is already addressing many of the problems.

"In the last 48 hours since we received the notice almost half have already been resolved or abated," Heussner said. "We fully expect to be in full compliance by a June 4 deadline."

Heussner said the center takes seriously all citations regarding health and safety and that they were going to be meeting with OSHA next week to clarify some of these citations while we put in place new systems, new processes, and some new equipment.

OSHA isn't fining the VA because it's a federal employer. But OSHA said if fines were allowed, they'd amount to more than $170,000.

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