Excessive Hot Water Temperatures in Resident Bathroom Sinks
Summary
The facility failed to provide a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment related to resident hot water temperatures in resident bathroom sinks, affecting all 75 residents in the building. During multiple observations on the same morning, surveyors found that the hot water at several resident room sinks, including shared bathrooms, was immediately too hot to place hands under without discomfort or redness. Subsequent temperature checks conducted with the Maintenance Director showed hot water temperatures at the point of use as high as 132°F, 127°F, and 123°F when the hot water was first turned on, with later readings at the same sinks dropping into the 110–120°F range after the water had been allowed to run. These findings demonstrated that residents could initially be exposed to excessively hot water at their sinks. In interviews, the Maintenance Director stated he checked water temperatures once a week, allowing the water to run for two to three minutes until it reached a steady temperature, and that he understood the regulatory range to be 100–120°F. He reported that water temperatures fluctuated, that a new mixing valve had recently been installed, and that although the temperature at the mixing valve was appropriate, the water was hotter coming out of the lines and he did not know why. The Administrator reported that no residents had been burned and that she was not aware of residents being instructed to let the water run for a few minutes before placing their hands under it. She also noted that staff assisted residents on the dementia unit with handwashing, but those residents had individual bathrooms accessible to them, and there were no signs in bathrooms advising residents to wait before using the hot water. The facility’s Resident Rights policy stated that residents have the right to a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment, including receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Penalty
Resources
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