Obstructed Emergency Exit Doors and Egress Paths
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to keep designated emergency exit doors and their egress paths free from obstruction. During an observation, surveyors noted that Exit Door 2, located in Station 5’s hallway between the dayroom and the Director of Staff Development classroom, was blocked by a signage board that indicated “emergency exit only,” and there were no staff present in that hallway at the time. In a separate observation with an LVN, Exit Door 1, located in Station 2’s hallway between two resident rooms, was found blocked by a wheelchair and a floor cleaner machine. The LVN stated that the hallway leading to the emergency exit door should be clear of any equipment. In a concurrent observation and interview with the Operations Assistant, Exit Door 1 was again observed blocked by a floor cleaner machine, and the Operations Assistant stated that equipment should be kept on one side of the hallway to allow full access to emergency exit doors. During an interview and review of the facility map with the DON, the DON acknowledged that the blocked emergency exit doors had the potential to delay emergency response and pose a danger to staff and residents, and stated that emergency exit doors should be clear and open to the outside for safety during an emergency. Review of the facility’s policy titled “Exits or Means of Egress,” last reviewed on 1/27/2026, showed that the policy required all personnel to keep exits clear at all times and that exit doors are never to be blocked, even briefly, which was not followed in these instances.
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