Failure to Consistently Monitor and Document Dishwasher Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that standard food safety practices were followed regarding the monitoring and documentation of the low-temperature dishwasher's wash temperature. Observations revealed that the dishwasher temperature logs for two consecutive months showed multiple instances where the recorded wash temperatures were below the required minimum of 120 degrees Fahrenheit, with thirty-six low readings in August and five in July. Additionally, there were numerous undocumented temperature checks, with forty-one missing entries out of ninety-three opportunities in July. Staff interviews confirmed that the dietary supervisor was unaware of the low temperature readings and had not checked the logs due to being preoccupied with training new staff. The dietary aide reported needing to run the dishwasher multiple times before reaching the required temperature, and the maintenance technician was not previously informed of the issue and had not performed recent maintenance on the dishwasher. The administrator was also unaware of the dishwasher's low wash temperature readings and expected kitchen staff to notify the dietary supervisor of any issues. The facility's policy required a minimum wash temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit for low-temperature dishwashers, but this standard was not consistently met or documented. There were no reports of gastrointestinal outbreaks at the time of the survey. The deficiency was identified through observation, record review, and staff interviews, which demonstrated a lack of consistent monitoring and documentation of dishwasher temperatures as required by facility policy.