F0689

D

Use of Portable Space Heaters in Resident Rooms Without Policy or Controls

Dallas, Texas Survey Completed on 01-29-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

Surveyors identified a deficiency related to accident hazards and inadequate environmental safety on the secure unit when portable space heaters were found in resident rooms despite the central heat functioning. During observation with a CNA, one resident room contained a portable space heater plugged into the wall and turned on, sitting on a nightstand with a digital temperature display reading 85 degrees Fahrenheit, while neither the resident nor the roommate were present in the room. Another resident room contained a portable space heater plugged into the wall on the nightstand; this heater was not turned on, and the resident was in bed without a roommate. The CNA reported not knowing how long the heaters had been in the rooms and confirmed that the heat was working and both rooms were warm.

Interviews with the DON, Maintenance Director, and Administrator revealed that the facility did not have a policy on portable or space heaters in resident rooms, and each acknowledged that such heaters were considered a safety hazard and could result in injury. The Maintenance Director stated that space heaters had been placed on the secure unit on a specific date when reports were received that heaters were not functioning properly, and that an HVAC company had been contacted and repairs to a valve were completed within a couple of hours that same day, after which the heat was working. Despite this, space heaters remained in at least two resident rooms on the secure unit. Review of the facility’s Loss of Central Services Policy for heat loss showed procedures focusing on clothing, blankets, hot beverages, activities, and environmental measures such as closing windows and drawing curtains, with no mention of using portable or space heaters.