Failure to Maintain and Document Routine Ice Machine Maintenance
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain food service equipment in accordance with professional standards, specifically regarding the routine maintenance and cleaning of the kitchen ice machine. During a kitchen tour, surveyors observed that the ice machine filter cover appeared brown in color and lacked any date labels. The Dietary Manager stated that an outside vendor was responsible for cleaning and that the unit was cleaned two weeks prior, but was unable to provide documentation for routine maintenance or filter changes beyond two records dated over 15 months apart. The ice machine had a service sticker with handwritten dates, but there was no consistent documentation of regular inspection, cleaning, or filter changes as required by the facility's Water Management Plan (WMP) and professional standards. Further interviews with the Dietary Manager and Maintenance Director revealed uncertainty about the frequency and documentation of ice machine maintenance prior to the current staff's tenure. The Maintenance Director was not aware of the previous monitoring schedule and indicated plans to begin quarterly monitoring. The facility's WMP specified daily visual monitoring and monthly cleaning and filter inspection, but these protocols were not being followed or documented. Additionally, the facility's policy document on ice storage did not provide specific maintenance protocols, and no additional guidelines were available at the time of the survey. These findings were confirmed through observation, interviews, and record review, indicating a failure to adhere to required food safety and equipment maintenance standards.