F0689

D

Unsecured Disposable Razor Left on Hallway Linen Cart

Brownsville, Texas Survey Completed on 03-06-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

Surveyors identified a deficiency when a disposable razor was found left on top of the 600 hallway linen cart, rather than being secured or disposed of properly. During an evening observation, the surveyor saw the razor on the cart, and a CNA on duty acknowledged she had not noticed it and stated it had been left there by the previous shift. The CNA further stated the razor should have been disposed of in a sharps container because any resident could grab it and get hurt. An LVN also confirmed that the razor should not have been on top of the linen cart and should have been disposed of in a sharps container. The DON later stated that razors are supposed to be kept under lock and key in the supply room for CNAs and acknowledged that any resident could grab the razor and cause harm. Facility policy on Safety and Supervision of Residents, revised July 2017, states that the facility strives to make the environment as free from accident hazards as possible and that resident safety, supervision, and assistance to prevent accidents are facility-wide priorities.

This deficiency reflects the facility’s failure to ensure the resident environment remained as free of accident hazards as possible by allowing a disposable razor to be left unsecured on a linen cart in a resident hallway, contrary to staff statements and written policy regarding safe handling and storage of razors.