Improper Containment and Disposal of Cigarettes in Smoking Area
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency related to accident hazards and inadequate supervision in the facility’s management of resident smoking and cigarette disposal. During observation of the south 300 resident community room, four extinguished cigarette butts were found on the carpeted floor. A plastic trash can located inside the building near the exit door to the designated independent smoking area contained multiple paper and styrofoam items along with multiple extinguished cigarettes. Additional observation outside the community room exit door revealed more than 17 extinguished cigarettes on the ground in close proximity to the combustible wood exterior of the building. On-site verification of these conditions was conducted with a Unit Manager LPN, who confirmed the presence of the discarded cigarettes in the community room, in the plastic trash can, and outside the designated independent smoking area. The Administrator later provided a list identifying 17 residents as independent or unsupervised smokers and an additional 32 residents residing on the south end of the building, the area where the unsafe cigarette disposal practices were observed. The facility census at the time was 79 residents.
We Help Long-Term Care Teams Stay Survey-Ready
We process and analyze inspection reports and plan of correction using AI to extract insights and trends so providers can improve care quality and stay ahead of compliance risks.