Failure to Secure Oxygen Storage Room and Properly Store Oxygen Cylinders
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to maintain a safe oxygen (O2) storage environment on the 200-unit by not securing the oxygen storage room and not properly storing oxygen cylinders. Record review of the facility’s Oxygen Administration Policy dated 06/2020 showed that oxygen cylinders were required to be secured in a cylinder cart or bracket at all times and stored in clean, dry locations. On observation, the oxygen storage room keypad door lock on the 200-unit was without power, nonoperational, and its screen remained blank and did not activate when touched, allowing the door to be opened without entering an access code. Additional observation showed portable medical oxygen cylinders sitting on the floor instead of being stored in the designated oxygen cylinder rack. In interviews, the Central Supply Manager stated that all oxygen equipment, including portable oxygen tanks, must be stored in proper storage areas for safety and that improper storage could create a hazard, and the Administrator stated the oxygen storage room should remain locked at all times when not in use and acknowledged she was not aware the keypad lock was not functioning and that the door could be opened without a code. No specific residents or their medical histories were identified in the report; the deficiency pertained to the general safety of the oxygen storage area accessible to residents, staff, and the public.
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