Failure to Maintain Kitchen Ovens Results in Burned Food
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain the kitchen ovens in proper working condition, as evidenced by multiple observations, interviews, and record reviews. The Maintenance Director's job description and the facility's Equipment and Supplies policy require that all equipment, including kitchen appliances, be kept in safe and operating condition. However, staff interviews revealed that the ovens' regulators have not worked since before the current company took over, resulting in food being consistently burned. The Dietary Manager and Cook both confirmed the ovens do not function correctly, and the Maintenance staff member stated he was unaware of the issue and that the building currently lacks a maintenance supervisor. Residents reported that food, including chicken, tuna patties, and eggs, was frequently burned and sometimes inedible. On one occasion, tuna patties served to residents were observed to be hard and overdone. Multiple residents independently stated that their food was often or always burnt, with one describing the tuna patty as "like eating a hockey puck." The facility's daily census indicated that 47 residents could be affected by this ongoing equipment failure.