Unsecured Maintenance Toolbox Left Accessible on Resident Hall
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency related to accident hazards on one of four resident halls (Hall 3). During observation, a large maintenance toolbox was found open and unsecured at the end of Hall 3. The open toolbox contained multiple tools, including a cordless drill, screwdrivers, wrenches, and a hammer. At the same time, residents were observed entering and exiting their rooms, and one resident was noted wandering in the hall near the unsecured toolbox. The facility’s written policy on Resident Rights states that residents have the right to a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment, and that the facility must ensure residents can receive care and services safely and that the physical layout does not pose a safety risk. When the Administrator was shown the unsecured toolbox, she acknowledged that maintenance was using it to make repairs and stated that it should not have been left unsecured because it was a safety concern for residents. In a subsequent interview, the Maintenance Director was informed that his toolbox had been left on the hall unsecured. He confirmed that the Administrator had spoken with him about this and acknowledged that the toolbox needed to be secured because it could be a trip hazard and the tools inside could harm a resident. These observations and interviews demonstrated that the Maintenance Director failed to ensure his toolbox was closed and secure from resident access on Hall 3, resulting in an environment that was not as free from accident hazards as possible, contrary to facility policy.
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