Failure to Maintain Clean and Sanitary Resident Smoking Areas
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a safe, functional, sanitary, and comfortable environment in three designated resident smoking areas. Observations revealed that in smoking area 1, the grass and weeds were approximately 24 inches high, and the area was littered with trash such as used gloves, paper, cans, food wrappers, and numerous cigarette butts. This area is shared by the men's locked units E and F. In smoking area 2, located in the women's locked unit from hall C, there was scattered litter including paper, cans, cups, food wrappers, and cigarette butts, with the trash can overflowing and weeds/grass up to 1 foot tall. Smoking area 3, shared by halls A, B, and D, was observed to have trash, used gloves, paper, cans, food wrappers, and cigarette butts throughout. Additionally, this area contained a cat food bowl, a bag of cat food, and two cat houses, one of which had a blanket covered in cigarette butts, grass, and trash. Interviews and record reviews indicated that maintenance staff are responsible for cleaning the outside grounds, including smoking areas, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, while mowing is performed by a contractor who does not address the smoking areas unless specifically requested. The most recent maintenance log check-off for smoking area cleaning was dated several days prior to the observations. The administrator confirmed that mowing was not completed as scheduled due to mechanical issues with the contractor, and that the facility's expectation is to maintain a clean and sanitary environment. The facility's policy for a clean sanitary environment was not provided at the time of exit.