Improper Use of Power Strips and Lack of GFCI Protection
Penalty
Summary
The facility was found to have several deficiencies related to the improper use of power strips and the lack of ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) protection during a fire safety tour conducted on March 19, 2025. Observations revealed that power strips were improperly used in multiple areas, including the Reception desk and the Telecommunication Room, where power strips were plugged into other power strips instead of directly into wall receptacles. Additionally, in the Service Corridor, one of the vending machines lacked GFCI protection, which is a requirement for safety. Further deficiencies were noted in resident rooms, where televisions were plugged into power strips within six feet of the patient care area, which is against the regulations for patient care vicinities. These observations were made in Rooms 122, 123, 128, and 104. The Maintenance Director acknowledged these findings during the tour, and the issues were reviewed with both the Administrator and the Maintenance Director at the exit conference.
Plan Of Correction
K920 NFPA 99 ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT - POWER CORDS AND EXTENSION CORDS 1. What corrective action(s) will be accomplished for those residents found to have been affected by the practice: 1) In the allegation of the Reception Desk using power strip and not plugging directly into the wall receptacle. Maintenance staff will remove the power strip and plug items directly into the wall receptacle. 2) In the allegation of the Telecommunication Room using power strip and not plugging directly into the wall receptacle. Maintenance staff will remove the power strip and plug items directly into the wall receptacle. 3) In the allegation of the Service Corridor having a vending machine without GFCI protection, maintenance will add GFCI protection for that vending machine. 4) In the allegation of Room 122 using a power strip for the television. Maintenance staff will remove the power strip and plug the television directly into the wall receptacle. 5) In the allegation of Room 123 using a power strip for the television. Maintenance staff will remove the power strip and plug the television directly into the wall receptacle. 6) In the allegation of Room 128 using a power strip for the television. Maintenance staff will remove the power strip and plug the television directly into the wall receptacle. 7) In the allegation of Room 104 using a power strip for the television. Maintenance staff will remove the power strip and plug the television directly into the wall receptacle. 2. How you will identify other residents having potential to be affected by the same practice and what corrective action will be taken: All residents in the facility have the potential to be affected by these practices. 3. What measures will be put into place or what systematic changes you will make to ensure that the practice does not recur: - Maintenance will ensure that power strips are not being used where they should not be used and items are plugged directly into the wall receptacle. - Maintenance will ensure that items that need GFCI protection have GFCI protection. 4. How the corrective action(s) will be monitored to ensure the practice will not recur, i.e., what quality assurance program will be put into place: The Director of Maintenance or a qualified Designee, will monitor for substantial compliance. Findings of the audits will be reported at the Monthly QAPI meeting by the Director of Maintenance or a qualified Designee to ensure effectiveness and compliance of the plan of correction. Corrective action completion date: 4/19/25 K920 ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT...POWER CORDS AND EXTENSION CORDS 1. What corrective action(s) will be accomplished for those residents found to have been affected by the practice: 1) In the allegation of the Reception Desk using power strip and not plugging directly into the wall receptacle. Maintenance staff will remove the power strip and plug items directly into the wall receptacle. 2) In the allegation of the Telecommunication Room using power strip and not plugging directly into the wall receptacle. Maintenance staff will remove the power strip and plug items directly into the wall receptacle. 3) In the allegation of the Service Corridor having a vending machine without GFCI protection, maintenance will add GFCI protection for that vending machine. 4) In the allegation of Room 122 using a power strip for the television. Maintenance staff will remove the power strip and plug the television directly into the wall receptacle. 5) In the allegation of Room 123 using a power strip for the television. Maintenance staff will remove the power strip and plug the television directly into the wall receptacle. 6) In the allegation of Room 128 using a power strip for the television. Maintenance staff will remove the power strip and plug the television directly into the wall receptacle. 7) In the allegation of Room 104 using a power strip for the television. Maintenance staff will remove the power strip and plug the television directly into the wall receptacle. 2. How you will identify other residents having potential to be affected by the same practice and what corrective action will be taken: All residents in the facility have the potential to be affected by these practices. 3. What measures will be put into place or what systematic changes you will make to ensure that the practice does not recur: - Maintenance will ensure that power strips are not being used where they should not be used and items are plugged directly into the wall receptacle. - Maintenance will ensure that items that need GFCI protection have GFCI protection. 4. How the corrective action(s) will be monitored to ensure the practice will not recur, i.e., what quality assurance program will be put into place: The Director of Maintenance or a qualified Designee, will monitor for substantial compliance. Findings of the audits will be reported at the Monthly QAPI meeting by the Director of Maintenance or a qualified Designee to ensure effectiveness and compliance of the plan of correction. Corrective action completion date: 4/19/25