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 with the Director of Environmental Services and the facility's administrator. The deficiencies included improper storage of chemicals such as detergent, bleach, iron sour, and softener, which were stored directly on the floor instead of on a pallet. Additionally, the washer bases were rusted, and the washers were draining into a two-compartment sink that had visible dirt and grime. The garbage can pallets were soiled, a large hole was observed 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 these concerns during an interview. The facility's policy on laundry area cleaning outlined a systematic approach to maintaining cleanliness, including daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. However, the observations indicated that these procedures were not being followed, leading to the unsanitary conditions noted in the report.
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.