Sewage Backup Contaminated Kitchen, Laundry, and Hallway Areas
Summary
The facility failed to provide a safe, sanitary environment because sewage water backed up into multiple areas of the building, including the kitchen, dishwashing area, utility hallway, clean linen room, laundry areas, and a food storage room. At the entrance conference, the Nursing Home Administrator confirmed the facility was dealing with a drainage pipe problem and a sewage issue. In the kitchen, surveyors observed pooling sewer water over a floor drain, four other floor drains filled with liquid, and three drains with brown-colored liquid and a foul odor. The kitchen manager stated that the drain by the three-compartment sink had started backing up the day before and that water was being continuously evacuated by floor cleaning machines while the kitchen remained in use. In the dishwashing area, the drain below the dishwasher was overflowing with discharged water, and kitchen staff stated that when drains are clogged, water accumulates until the clog is removed. Clean dishes were observed drying on racks near the dishwasher, and the kitchen manager stated she would cover the clean dishes with plastic. The surveyor also observed dishes on a lower rack less than 6 inches off the floor. In the utility hallway adjacent to the kitchen, sewage was flowing from a drain, fecal matter was next to the drain on the floor, and two mattresses were on the floor in at least one inch of sewage water. A food storage room connected to the hallway had carpet saturated by sewage water, although food items were stored on shelves. The surveyor also observed sewage water on the floor of the clean linen room while laundry was being dried and folded. Two carts of freshly folded laundry were left uncovered and exposed to the sewage water on the floor, and a closet-like area with folded linen had pooling water on the floor with the linen uncovered. In the hallway outside a resident room, a floor drain cover had been removed and a foul odor was noted coming from the drain. Brown substance was also observed being tracked down the hallway from the drain that was overflowing in the front entrance area into the residential hallway.
Penalty
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