Failure to Perform Hand Hygiene in Kitchen During Meal Service
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to perform proper hand hygiene in the kitchen during meal service, as observed on multiple occasions. Staff were seen applying gloves, handling food, wiping counters, removing dirty gloves, touching the trash can lid with bare hands, and then donning new gloves without washing their hands in between these activities. These actions were in direct violation of the facility's policy, which requires handwashing whenever entering or re-entering the kitchen, before contact with food surfaces, after handling soiled utensils or equipment, after activities that contaminate the hands, and after glove removal. Staff interviews confirmed awareness of these requirements, yet staff admitted to not following them due to being behind, feeling stressed, or having no specific reason. The Dietary Manager and administrator both acknowledged that staff are expected to wash their hands at the required times and that the Dietary Manager is responsible for ensuring compliance. Despite this, staff were observed repeatedly failing to perform hand hygiene between glove changes, after touching the trash can lid, and when moving between tasks, which could lead to cross-contamination. The facility census at the time was 41 residents.