Failure to Enforce Hair Restraint Policy in Kitchen
Penalty
Summary
Dietary Aide A entered the facility's only kitchen to retrieve snacks without wearing a hairnet, as observed by surveyors. During interviews, Dietary Aide A admitted to forgetting to wear the required hairnet due to being late and acknowledged awareness of the policy and the potential for food contamination if hair is not properly restrained. The Dietary Manager (DM) and Assistant Dietary Manager (ADM) both confirmed that all staff are required to wear hairnets in the kitchen to prevent food contamination, and that this requirement is regularly communicated to staff during meetings. A review of the facility's Food Preparation and Service policy, revised in April 2019, confirmed that food and nutrition services employees are required to wear hair restraints to prevent hair from contacting food. The failure to follow this policy placed all 92 residents who receive meals from the kitchen at risk for food contamination and foodborne illness, as the kitchen is the sole source of meal preparation and distribution in the facility.