Hazardous Cleaning Product Left Unsecured in Resident Room
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a container of Clorox disinfecting wipes, which carries a hazard statement indicating it causes eye irritation, was found on top of a bedside table in a resident's room. The resident had a history of hydrocephalus, dementia, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and anxiety disorder, and was assessed as severely cognitively impaired with a BIMS score of 00. The resident also had a self-care deficit and required assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), as documented in the care plan. During the survey, staff confirmed that the disinfecting wipes should not have been left in the resident's room. It was further revealed that the wipes had been brought in by the resident's wife, despite previous education provided to her about not bringing certain items into the facility. The presence of the hazardous cleaning product in the resident's room was observed and acknowledged by both nursing and administrative staff as a failure to maintain an environment free from accident hazards.