Baseboard Heater Cover Detached and Unrepaired in Resident Room
Penalty
Summary
A baseboard heater cover in a resident's room was found open, detached, and laying on the floor during an observation. The resident, who was in a wheelchair, reported feeling a warm breeze directly from the exposed heater and expressed fear of passing by it due to the risk of being burned. The heater cover's condition created a direct exposure to the heating element for the resident. The Maintenance Supervisor confirmed that the heater cover was damaged and detached, acknowledging that it should have been repaired promptly to prevent further damage and potential harm. The Administrator stated that maintenance staff are expected to repair damaged equipment to ensure a safe environment. Facility policy requires maintenance of equipment in a safe and operable manner, but in this instance, the heater was not maintained according to these standards.