Failure to Maintain Safe and Comfortable Air Temperatures in Common Areas
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain air temperatures within comfortable ranges in multiple common areas, affecting all 33 residents. Observations revealed that temperatures in the main entrance, administration offices, dining room, hallways, chapel, and common gathering rooms were consistently below the facility's policy range of 71-81 degrees Fahrenheit, with some areas as low as 48.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Residents were observed wearing winter coats, sweatshirts, hats, and blankets in an attempt to stay warm. The Secured Behavioral Unit and other common areas also had low temperatures, and portable heaters were either insufficient or malfunctioning. The main boiler system, which provided heat to these areas, was found to be permanently shut off and non-functional, with exposed wires in the boiler room. Interviews with the Maintenance Director and Administrator confirmed the ongoing low temperatures and the non-functioning boiler. The facility had installed PTAC units in resident rooms, allowing residents to control their own room temperatures, but these units were not always working correctly, as evidenced by discrepancies between thermometer readings and PTAC displays. The Administrator acknowledged that common areas were not prioritized for heating, and the dining room had been closed for at least two years due to the boiler issue. Facility policy required maintaining safe and comfortable temperatures in all resident rooms and areas, but this was not achieved in the common spaces.