Park Center Health Care Fined by OSHA for Virus Violations

BOARDMAN, Ohio – Park Center Health Care & Rehabilitation has been fined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for coronavirus-related violations.

The Department of Labor cited the company for violating standards for respiratory protection on Oct. 9 after starting an investigation May 7. The fine was $13,494. According to the OSHA inspection detail, which can be read HERE, the violation was classified as “serious.”

Park Center, part of Guardian Elder Care, was the only senior-care center in Ohio that was fined. The center, 5665 South Ave., has 99 beds.

The company, based in Brockway, Pa., operates skilled nursing centers in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. Its only other local site is Ivy Woods Health Care & Rehabilitation Center in North Lima.

In February, Guardian reached a $15.5 million settlement over accusations of “medically inappropriate therapy practices” brought forth by whistleblowers. The allegations spanned a period from January 2011 through December 2017. The whistleblowers were rehab managers at Guardian’s site in Carlisle, Pa.

In total, the Department of Labor announced Thursday a total of $381,388  in OSHA fines for 27 violating establishments. Among the citations are failures to implement a written respiratory protection programs, providing medical evaluations, respirator fit tests or training on proper use of protective equipment, reporting an injury, illness or fatality, recording injuries or illness on OSHA forms and complying with OSHA’s general duty clause.

Prior to the announcement, OSHA had cited 85 sites and levied $1.2 million in fines.

Pictured at top: Park Center Health Care & Rehabilitation in Boardman. Image: GuardianElderCare.com

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