Failure to Maintain Safe and Functional Kitchen Equipment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain essential kitchen equipment in safe operating condition, specifically the gas stove and dishwasher. Observations revealed that two of six gas stove burners did not light automatically and all burners had carbon buildup. Staff reported that the malfunctioning burners had been in this condition for at least 2-3 months, and a lighter was used to ignite them. The Maintenance Director was not notified about the burner issue, although he had previously worked on the oven. Additionally, the facility did not have a policy for the stove available upon request. The dishwasher was also found to be nonfunctional, as it failed to reach the required temperature for proper sanitization, only reaching 108-110 degrees instead of the manufacturer-recommended 120-140 degrees. Staff had reported the dishwasher issue to the Administrator about a week prior, but it had not been fixed or taken out of service. The dishwasher temperature log had not been completed since May, and no new log was provided for June. Interviews with dietary and maintenance staff, as well as the Administrator and Registered Dietician, confirmed that the equipment issues had not been adequately addressed or communicated.