F0925

E

Failure to Maintain Effective Pest Control and Sanitary Flooring in Kitchen and Nourishment Room

Charlotte, North Carolina Survey Completed on 01-28-2026

Penalty

Fine: $26,685

Summary

The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to maintain an effective pest control program and a pest‑free environment in the main kitchen and one nourishment room. Monthly pest control service reports over many months documented repeated findings of broken, loose, or missing floor tiles and baseboards in the kitchen, missing grout, excess and standing water, drainage issues, and dirty floor drains, all identified as potential pest harborage and breeding sites. These reports, some signed by the Maintenance Director, repeatedly noted that the kitchen floor and drains needed cleaning, repair, resealing, or replacement, and stated that the kitchen could never be pest free as long as these major issues existed. Despite these documented concerns, there were no corresponding work orders in the facility’s electronic maintenance request system for broken or missing tiles or pest control treatment requests for the kitchen or nourishment rooms during the review period.

During surveyor observations of the main kitchen, small black flies were seen near the handwashing sink and standing water was observed in areas of missing floor tile under the steamer. Later the same day, a large trash can with food debris was observed next to the handwashing sink in the food service area, and when trash was thrown in, an estimated 20–30 small black flies flew out into the air near the food preparation area and handwashing sink. In the 100‑hall nourishment room, surveyors observed small black flies, standing water under the ice cooler, and several loose or detached floor tiles with water on and under them. On a subsequent tour, small black flies were still visible in both the kitchen and the nourishment room, and standing water remained under loose tiles in the nourishment room and in broken and missing tile areas in the kitchen.

Interviews further described the conditions leading to the deficiency. The Pest Control Technician stated he had documented broken and missing floor tiles and related pooling water in the kitchen for about a year and a half, and that these conditions attracted pests such as roaches, maggots, and small black flies. He reported that the facility’s pest control coverage did not originally include fly treatment and that he had repeatedly encouraged the Maintenance Director to add this service. The Maintenance Director, employed at the facility for a couple of years, stated he was not aware of the broken and missing floor tiles in the kitchen or the loose tiles in the nourishment room and reported that no maintenance requests had been entered or verbally reported to him for these issues. The Dietary Manager, in her role since September 2025, stated she had not been aware of the online maintenance request system and had not entered any requests, but had sent many text messages to the Maintenance Director about broken floor tiles and small flies in the kitchen. The Administrator stated she expected Maintenance and Kitchen staff to follow policies to eliminate pests and to submit maintenance requests for broken items such as floor tiles.