Hazardous Chemical Left Unsecured in Resident Room
Penalty
Summary
A gallon jug of Ecolab Lime-A-way, a hazardous chemical, was found underneath the sink in a resident's room during an observation. The sink did not have an enclosure, making the chemical accessible. The Administrator confirmed the presence of the chemical and acknowledged it should not have been left there, suggesting it may have been used for a plumbing issue and then forgotten. The facility had control over the environment and failed to ensure it was free from accident hazards. The resident occupying the room has a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and is care planned as being at risk for falls due to generalized weakness, lack of safety awareness, and use of psychotropic medications. The Safety Data Sheet for Lime-A-way indicates it can cause severe skin burns and eye damage, and provides detailed first aid instructions for exposure. The presence of this hazardous chemical in an unsecured area created an unsafe environment for the resident.