Failure to Enforce Smoking Safety Policies in Designated Area
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to establish and enforce policies regarding designated smoking areas and smoking safety. During an observation, a trash can in the designated smoking area was found to contain a smoked cigarette, rather than only trash. A laundry aide confirmed that staff responsible for supervising residents during smoking should check the trash can to ensure cigarettes are not discarded there, as this could pose a fire risk. The administrator acknowledged that cigarettes should be extinguished in the proper receptacle and that staff supervising residents should monitor this process. Review of the facility's smoking policy indicated the facility is responsible for providing a safe and hazard-free environment for residents assessed as safe for smoking privileges.