Failure to Maintain Safe, Functional Kitchen Refrigeration and Ovens
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain essential kitchen electrical equipment, including a walk-in refrigerator and ovens, in safe operating condition. Surveyors observed that the walk-in refrigerator temperature log showed readings above 41°F beginning on 02/04/26, with temperatures documented at 50°F, 56°F, 54°F, and 58°F on various dates, and missing entries on some days. Staff interviews revealed that when a staff member noticed the walk-in felt warmer than the kitchen and reported temperatures in the 50s, the Dietary Manager instructed staff via text to move perishable items to a reach-in refrigerator but did not direct staff to take food temperatures or discard any items. The Dietary Manager stated she deleted the text messages and could not recall who notified her, and she had no paperwork or identification for any service person who allegedly came to check the unit. The Administrator and Maintenance staff both reported that they were not informed of the refrigerator problem until several days after the first elevated temperature was recorded, and they confirmed there was a multi-day delay between the initial temperature issue and their awareness and response. The facility also lacked a functioning kitchen oven system for an extended period. During observation, neither of the two ovens was operational, and it was reported that both became nonfunctioning between 01/30/26 and 02/05/26. One oven, purchased in June 2025, had experienced an internal fire that welded the heating element to the bottom panel, and the other oven, purchased in March 2025, had ongoing operational problems since October 2025, working only intermittently. Maintenance staff described the second oven as a “lemon” and reported that the manufacturer attributed the failures to incorrect electrical wattage supplied by the facility. An invoice showed both ovens were down and had been repaired on 01/30/26, with additional electrical panel troubleshooting on 02/02/26, but by the time of the survey the kitchen still did not have a working oven. These conditions demonstrated that essential electrical kitchen equipment was not maintained in safe and reliable operating condition, with the potential to affect all 38 residents in the facility.
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