HospitalInspections.org

Based on observation and interview the facility failed to maintain comfortable working conditions in the dietary services area.

This deficient practice had the potential to create an unsafe working environment for staff and compromise the cleanliness of the dietary Department.


Findings:

During an observation on 8/18/2020, at 10:39 a.m., walking through the cafeteria (with the newly ventilated system) into dietary services area, it was uncomfortably warm in the kitchen. The portable air-conditioning unit placed in the kitchen expelled cool air that diminished less than 2 feet from the unit.

A couple of stand-alone fans: one by the air conditioning unit, one in the food preparation area, and one in the dietary office were observed. There were miniature desk fans on each of the three staff desks.

During an observation on 8/18/2020, at 10:41 a.m., using a non-contact thermometer, the temperature ranged from 81.4 - 85.7 Fahrenheit in the kitchen.

During an interview on 8/18/2020, at 10:53 a.m., with Dietary Staff 2 (DS2), Dietary Staff 3 (DS3), Dietary Staff 4 (DS4), Dietary Staff 5 (DS5) and Dietary Staff 6 (DS6), all stated it was hot and uncomfortable in the kitchen. DS6 was visibly sweating. DS6 stated that during the afternoon it gets even hotter and the kitchen thermometer has read 103 Fahrenheit. The Director of Dietary Services (DS1), confirmed that the kitchen does get hotter during the afternoon.

A policy was requested addressing tempertures in the workplace. The facility indicated that thy had no policy concerning workplace temperatures.