Deficiencies in Electrical Outlet Safety and Maintenance
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified several deficiencies related to electrical outlets during a facility tour, document review, and staff interviews. In the auxiliary space between two resident rooms, an electrical outlet located beneath a waterline and connected to a refrigerator was found to lack Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) protection. The Environmental Consultant was unaware of this issue and stated it had not been noted in previous life safety surveys. Additionally, in a resident room, a damaged and bent electrical outlet faceplate was observed, which was not flush with the outlet. The Maintenance Consultant was also unaware of this damage. Further review of documentation revealed that GFI outlets were being tested only annually, despite the manufacturer's instructions on the outlet cover indicating that testing should occur monthly. The Maintenance Consultant confirmed that all outlets were tested annually and was not aware of the monthly testing requirement. These deficiencies affected three of five residents and one of two smoke compartments, as noted in the findings.
Plan Of Correction
The outlet in the Snack Shack was replaced with a GFI receptacle. The wall plate in the resident room was replaced that afternoon. (See attached photos.) The Director of Maintenance will audit the electrical receptacles throughout the building monthly and ongoing, to ensure that each receptacle is in proper working order. The Administrator will review the audits quarterly and bring findings to the Quality Assurance Team as part of the QAPI safety program evaluating the effectiveness. This corrective action was completed June 20th, 2025.