Failure to Maintain Safe and Operable Mechanical Lifts
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain full mechanical lifts in safe and operable condition, affecting all eight residents reviewed who required the use of these lifts. Multiple residents reported that the full mechanical lifts were not functioning properly, with issues such as the lifts only lowering and not raising, and the emergency release mechanisms being broken. Staff confirmed that one lift had gray adhesive tape around the gear box housing, which had been present for at least three years, and that the emergency release had also been nonfunctional for a significant period. Staff had to use alternative equipment or borrow lifts from other areas due to these malfunctions. The maintenance director stated that no work orders had been received for the lifts and that there were no routine checks performed on the equipment. Upon inspection, the maintenance director confirmed that one lift would not raise and both lifts had nonfunctional emergency releases. Facility policy required that lifts be tested for proper function, including the emergency release, and that non-working lifts be removed from service until repaired. However, these procedures were not followed, and the lifts remained in use despite ongoing mechanical issues.