Unsecured Soiled Utility Closet Containing Hazardous Chemicals
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency related to accident hazards and inadequate supervision when, during an environmental tour, a soiled utility closet on the Somerset unit was found unlocked despite being equipped with a keypad locking mechanism. Inside the unlocked closet, surveyors observed multiple chemical products stored on a shelf, including Tropiclean, Virex TB Ready-To-Use Disinfectant Cleaner, Hang [NAME] Plus Clinging Disinfectant Bowl Cleaner, and Damp Rid Moisture Absorbers. Staff present at the time, including two CNAs, reported that the keypad lock had not been functioning properly and were unable to state how long it had been inoperable. They acknowledged that the door should have been secured because of the hazardous chemicals stored inside and the presence of residents with cognitive impairment on the unit. The Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for each of the chemicals in the unlocked closet described the need for immediate and specific first aid measures in the event of skin contact, eye contact, or ingestion, including flushing skin or eyes with water for extended periods, removing contaminated clothing, not inducing vomiting unless directed, and seeking medical or poison control advice. These documented properties of the chemicals, combined with the unsecured storage area and the known presence of cognitively impaired residents on the unit, formed the basis of the cited deficiency for failing to ensure hazardous chemicals were properly secured and the environment was free from accident hazards.
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