Failure to Maintain Safe and Sanitary Environment in Key Facility Areas
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a safe and sanitary environment in several key areas, including the hallway outside the kitchen and the laundry area. Observations revealed multiple broken tiles and standing water in the hallway leading from the kitchen to the outside, which was being tracked into the kitchen. Dietary staff confirmed that water entered the hallway during rain and had to be mopped up to prevent it from entering the kitchen, while the broken tiles prevented proper sanitation. Maintenance staff were unaware of the broken and missing tiles until notified, and acknowledged that the area could not be properly sanitized. Additional observations found missing linoleum flooring behind the nurse's desk, with staff reporting that maintenance concerns should be entered into a computerized notification system, though this was not always done consistently. In the laundry area, there were several unsanitary and unsafe conditions, including an exposed, uncapped sewage pipe between washers, an unsealed and flaking ceiling in the dryer room, and heavily scuffed and chipped paint on walls, door frames, and storage cabinets, exposing wood and making the surfaces unsanitizable. A wall-mounted thermostat was also found without a cover, exposing electrical components. Maintenance staff stated they were unaware of these issues until recently and reiterated that all concerns should be reported through the facility's computerized work order system, but acknowledged that this process was not always followed by staff.