Exposed Opening in Electrical Panel
Penalty
Summary
During a facility tour and staff interview, an electrical panel located in the Biohazard Storage Room near Room 27 was observed to have an exposed opening. Specifically, one of the 42 breaker spaces, labeled as '24', was missing a cover, resulting in an open gap in the panel. Staff present at the time confirmed the observation and indicated they were unaware of the missing cover. This deficiency affected 27 out of 92 residents and one of six smoke compartments. The finding was cited as a failure to maintain electrical equipment in accordance with NFPA 101 and NFPA 70 requirements, which mandate that unused openings in electrical panels be properly closed.
Plan Of Correction
The EVS Director was trained by the Administrator on 4/9/25 on the importance of electrical panel safety. How the facility plans to monitor its performance to make sure that solutions are sustained. The facility must develop a plan for ensuring that correction is achieved and sustained. This plan must be implemented, and the corrective action evaluated for its effectiveness. The POC is integrated into the quality assurance system. The EVS Director will conduct quarterly inspections of all electrical panels and wiring to ensure compliance. These inspections will be documented, and corrective actions will be taken as necessary. Results will be reviewed in the QAPI meetings for ongoing compliance oversight.