Laundry Room Sanitation Deficiency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a clean and sanitary environment in the laundry room, as observed during a tour conducted with the Director of Environmental Services and the facility's administrator. The inspection revealed several issues, including rusted washer bases, improper drainage of washers into a two-compartment sink with visible dirt and grime, and chemicals such as detergent, bleach, iron sour, and softener being stored directly on the floor. Additionally, the garbage can pallets were soiled, a large hole was present in the wall, and one washer had dry drainage residue with no clear source identified. The Director of Environmental Services, who had been in his position for two months, acknowledged the concerns during an interview. He confirmed the improper storage of chemicals on the floor instead of on a pallet, the rusty washer bases, and the unsanitary condition of the two-compartment sink used for washer drainage. The interview also highlighted the soiled condition of the garbage can pallets, the presence of a large hole in the wall, and the dry drainage residue on one of the washers. The facility's policy on laundry area cleaning, which outlines daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning processes, was reviewed. The policy includes daily sanitization of folding tables, linen shelves, and soiled linen hampers, as well as weekly sanitization of chemical boxes and plumbing fixtures. Despite these guidelines, the observed conditions in the laundry room indicated a failure to adhere to the established cleaning schedule, resulting in the identified deficiencies.
Plan Of Correction
The base of the washer was painted and the hole in the wall was repaired on 5/05/2025 by Environmental Services Director. The two-compartment sink was cleaned; the garbage can pallets were washed, and the residue was removed from the washer on 05/06/2025 by Environmental Services. The four chemicals—detergent, bleach, iron sour, and softener—have been elevated off the floor on a palate. No residents were affected by this deficient practice. The Environmental Services Director was educated on maintaining a clean and sanitary environment in the laundry room on 04/18/25 by the Executive Director. The laundry staff was in-service on 05/02/2025 by the Director of Clinical Services on following the cleaning schedule and using the TELS system to notify Plant Operations if repairs are needed. The Director of Environmental Services or Designee will conduct audits of the laundry room to ensure that washer bases are free from rust, no chemicals are stored on the floor, garbage can pallets, two-compartment sink, and laundry equipment are clean and free from residue. Audits will be conducted daily for 1 week, then weekly for 4 weeks, then every two weeks for 2 months, and finally monthly. Findings of audits will be presented at the monthly QAPI meeting to ensure ongoing compliance.