Failure to Enforce Smoking Policy and Provide Required Safety Equipment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement its smoking policy by allowing residents to smoke near the main entry door and by not providing metal containers with self-closing cover devices in designated smoking areas. Observations revealed that cigarette butts were found on the ground near benches close to the main entry door, as well as in the designated smoking areas on both the left and right sides of the building. The facility's policy specifies that smoking is only permitted in designated outdoor areas and that metal containers with self-closing covers must be available in these areas. Interviews with staff confirmed that residents were not consistently using the designated smoking area and that staff were aware of the issue but had not ensured compliance. Four residents who smoke were identified, and at least one resident admitted to sometimes smoking in non-designated areas. Staff acknowledged that residents were being told to use the designated area, but enforcement was lacking, and the required safety equipment was not present in the smoking areas.