Governing Body Failure to Ensure Safe Biohazard and Garbage Management
Penalty
Summary
The governing body failed to ensure effective implementation and oversight of policies for waste management and overall facility operations, resulting in serious deficiencies in the disposal and management of biohazardous waste and general garbage. The facility assessment stated that the physical environment and resources, including waste and hazardous waste management, were to be reviewed to ensure resident safety and well-being. However, a community complaint reported that large amounts of biohazardous waste were stored in unsecured rooms and that garbage was blocking the entire back side of the facility, including exit doors, making fire exits unavailable for residents in an emergency. Surveyor observations confirmed extensive accumulations of garbage and unsecured biohazardous waste. Photographs from the complainant showed large amounts of trash bags, including bags containing yellow personal protective gowns, blocking exit doors at the back entrance shared with the main kitchen, covering the entire platform, extending to the ground, and obstructing the exit ramp. On-site, surveyors observed a room off the back entrance with the door half open, containing multiple boxes labeled "Infectious Waste" and "Biohazard Medical Waste" overflowing with sharps containers and red biohazard bags, with additional red bags and sharps containers on the floor extending to the doorway and visible from outside the room. The Administrator and Assistant Maintenance Director acknowledged that the room was unlocked, filled with biohazardous waste, and that the contracted biohazard waste removal company had not removed the waste due to non-payment by the facility. Further observations on multiple units, in the presence of the DNS, revealed additional unsecured storage of biohazardous waste and sharps containers. On one unit, a box was overflowing with sharps containers, with several more on top, including one open container with exposed needles and other sharps. On other units, boxes were overflowing with sharps containers, and on one unit fourteen sharps containers were on the floor, with IV lines visibly containing blood hanging from the containers. The DNS acknowledged that these rooms were unlocked and contained biohazardous waste that had not been removed due to non-payment to the waste removal company by the facility owner. Representatives from the contracted biohazard and garbage removal companies confirmed that services had been placed on hold months earlier due to non-payment, and records showed no biohazardous waste removal since May of the prior year and no garbage removal for several weeks. Email communications showed the Administrator had informed the Regional Director of Operations that both accounts were on credit hold, and the Administrator acknowledged that the corporate governing body, which authorizes payments, was aware that these services were suspended due to non-payment.
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