Failure to Maintain Effective Pest Control and Sanitation in Kitchen Area
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective pest control program and keep the kitchen area free from fruit flies as required by its pest control policy, affecting all 114 residents. During an initial kitchen observation with the Dietary Manager, surveyors observed approximately 15–20 fruit flies near the floor by a smaller three-compartment sink located near a hand-washing sink. On the floor near this sink, there were multiple bait boxes on both sides, an empty one-ounce plastic coffee creamer container, and black debris. The Dietary Manager acknowledged that the area needed cleaning, confirmed there was an ongoing and past problem with fruit flies, and stated that pest control came weekly and sprayed the area. In a subsequent kitchen observation with the Dietary District Manager, surveyors observed an increased number of fruit flies, approximately 50–75, near the floor at each end of the same three-compartment sink. At that time, only one bait box was observed on the floor on the left side of the sink, and no other bait boxes were present, despite prior recommendations from the pest control provider that bait boxes remain under the sink. The Dietary District Manager stated that pest control treated fruit flies weekly and that the area should be clean with food and debris removed, and further stated that the Dietary Manager had only recently added cleaning this area to his weekly cleaning schedule. The Maintenance Director reported that pest control visited weekly and that staff could contact pest control between visits if there was an increase in bugs, but confirmed that pest control had not been contacted despite the increased fruit fly activity, and they were waiting for the regular weekly treatment. The facility’s written Pest Control Program policy stated it was the facility’s policy to maintain an effective pest control program that eradicates and contains common household pests and rodents.
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