Recurring Space Heater Violation in Facility
Summary
During a Life Safety Code survey, a portable electric space heater was found operating in the basement of a facility, specifically in the Environmental Services Office. The heater was not documented to ensure its heating element did not exceed 212 degrees Fahrenheit, violating the 2012 edition of the National Fire Protection Association 101: Life Safety Code. The Director of Facilities Maintenance was unaware of the heater's presence and stated that space heaters were not allowed in the facility. The Housekeeping/Laundry Supervisor, who shared the office, also denied knowledge of the heater's use, suggesting it might have been turned on by an employee who used the office earlier. Upon a revisit, another portable electric space heater was found plugged in and ready for use in the same office, with a second heater nearby. The heater was improperly placed close to flammable materials, and no documentation was available to confirm the heating element's temperature compliance. The Director of Environmental Services denied ownership of the heaters and had not received formal education on space heater policies since the initial survey. The Administrator was unaware of the new heaters and acknowledged that audits should have been conducted to prevent such occurrences. The facility's Plan of Correction included removing the heater and conducting in-service training on the prohibition of space heaters. However, interviews with staff revealed a lack of formal education on the matter, and the audit process was insufficiently documented. The Maintenance Director, responsible for implementing the Plan of Correction, was on leave, leaving the Administrator to oversee the process. Despite weekly audits, the Environmental Services office was not consistently checked, contributing to the recurrence of the deficiency.
Plan Of Correction
Plan of Correction: N/A Corrective action for this deficient practice was to remove the portable space heater from the Environmental Services office. A full-house audit will be conducted to check for portable space heaters. An in-service on the prohibition of portable space heaters will be conducted to staff who have offices. Ongoing compliance will be monitored by the Director of Maintenance/designee. The results of the weekly audit will be reported to the Monthly QA committee. Administrator will provide education. Weekly audits will be completed for 3 months. Audits will be reviewed Monthly in QA for 3 months. Responsible Designee - Maintenance Director
Penalty
Trusted data from CMS and state health departments
Every citation, penalty and Plan of Correction is sourced from public CMS records (latest release June 24, 2026) and official state health department websites — never guesswork.
Trusted by long-term care providers and associations.
