Ice Machines Not Cleaned per Manufacturer Guidelines
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that both of its ice machines were cleaned and maintained according to the manufacturer's guidelines. The manufacturer's instructions, posted inside the machines, specified the use of 1.7 fluid ounces of 8.25% sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) for sanitizing. However, the Maintenance Director reported using only 1.5 fluid ounces of 7.5% Clorox bleach for all ice machines, which did not meet the specified concentration or amount required by the manufacturer. Additionally, the facility's own policy and procedure, revised in November 2022, required adherence to the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning and disinfecting ice machines and storage chests. During observations of both ice machines, brown residue was found inside the ice chutes, which was removed with a paper towel, confirming that the machines were not clean. The Maintenance Director acknowledged that the cleaning and sanitizing process did not follow the manufacturer's guidelines and verified the presence of residue. No information about residents or their medical conditions was provided in relation to this deficiency.