Obstructed Fire Extinguishers Compromise Safety Compliance
Summary
The facility failed to maintain portable fire extinguishers in accordance with NFPA 10 standards, as evidenced by observations during a facility tour. Specifically, fire extinguishers were found to be obstructed in two separate locations. In the kitchen, a K fire extinguisher was blocked by a metal cart approximately three feet high and one inch away from the extinguisher. The Maintenance Director stated that the cart was placed there temporarily during dishwashing activities. In another instance, a fire extinguisher next to Room 133 was obstructed by a four-foot-high medical cart, which was about three inches away from the extinguisher. The Maintenance Director explained that the cart was being used to charge a computer. These obstructions affected 54 of 77 residents in two of three smoke compartments. The facility conducts fire extinguisher inspections in-house and has not had a vendor perform inspections or testing. The observed obstructions could result in a delay in accessing a fire extinguisher in the event of a fire, as the extinguishers were not readily accessible or visible as required by NFPA 10.
Plan Of Correction
Corrective Action Maintenance director immediately removed the obstruction (metal cart) in front of the fire extinguisher. The Dietary manager will do an in-service to the kitchen team regarding the importance of keeping the fire extinguister area clean and easily accessible. Maintenance director pulled the med cart away from the fire extinguisher immediately. DSD will in-service the nursing team regarding the importance of keeping the fire extinguishers area clear and accessible all the time. Identify Other Residents Facility will ensure that no other residents are affected by this deficient practice by ensuring that fire extinguishers in the facility are not obstructed by anything. K 353 Maintenance director in conjunction with dietary manager periodically checks the fire extinguisher in the kitchen to ensure that it is not obstructed by any equipment. Maintenance director will make sure that this deficiency is not affected in any other area by checking all other fire extinguishers at the facility. Systemic changes As a systemic change, safety committee members check the fire extinguishers at the facility randomly to ensure that there are no impediments in front of any fire extinguishers. Monitoring Process Administrator and maintenance supervisor will monitor for compliance on a quarterly basis. QA Process This plan of correction is integrated into the facility's monthly QA process. POC will review for the completeness and effectiveness. Completion Date This plan of correction will be completed on 04/18/2025.
Penalty
A portable fire extinguisher next to a resident room was found to be blocked during an observation, and this was confirmed by facility leadership during the exit interview.
The facility did not provide documentation confirming that basement portable fire extinguishers were inspected monthly as required, with no records available for several months. This was confirmed by the Administrator during the survey.
The facility did not provide documentation for annual fire extinguisher maintenance and technician certification, and a fire extinguisher in the main kitchen was found blocked. These deficiencies were confirmed by facility leadership during the survey.
The facility did not ensure portable fire extinguishers were properly inspected and maintained according to NFPA 10, with one extinguisher lacking inspection records and another found overpressurized. These issues were confirmed by the Maintenance Director and could impact 15 occupants.
Surveyors found that 12 out of 18 portable fire extinguishers were installed with the top of the handle positioned above the sixty-inch maximum height allowed by NFPA 101 and NFPA 10, with some as high as sixty-three inches. In one case, a trash can obstructed access to a fire extinguisher cabinet. The Maintenance Director acknowledged these findings during the inspection.
A portable fire extinguisher in the kitchen service hallway was found without the required monthly maintenance and inspection tag, indicating a failure to document compliance with NFPA 10 standards. This was confirmed by the Maintenance Director and Administrator during surveyor interviews.
Blocked Portable Fire Extinguisher Identified
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when, during an observation, a portable fire extinguisher located next to room 425 was found to be blocked. This issue was noted on one of the six levels within the facility. The finding was confirmed during an exit interview with the Administrator, Regional, and local Maintenance Director. No additional details regarding residents, staff, or specific patient conditions were provided in the report.
Plan Of Correction
The facility immediately freed the fire extinguisher next to room 425 from blockage. The maintenance director will re-educate all staff on maintaining clear access to all fire extinguishers. The maintenance director or designated designee will perform weekly audits for 4 weeks and then monthly audits for 2 months to ensure the facility is maintaining clear access to all fire extinguishers. Date of completion: 2/16/2026
Failure to Document Monthly Fire Extinguisher Inspections
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide documentation verifying that portable fire extinguishers located in the basement had been inspected on a monthly basis as required. During a document review, it was found that there was no documentation of monthly inspections for these extinguishers since January 3, 2025. This deficiency was confirmed during an interview with the Administrator, who acknowledged the absence of inspection records for the specified period. No information regarding residents or their medical conditions was included in the report, and the deficiency pertains solely to the lack of required fire extinguisher inspection documentation.
Plan Of Correction
1) The facility is unable to retroactively conduct monthly fire extinguisher inspections. The basement fire extinguisher was added to the master list of fire extinguishers and inspected. 2) The maintenance director conducted a monthly audit to ensure all fire extinguishers were inspected and are on the master list. 3) The maintenance director was re-educated on ensuring that monthly fire extinguisher inspections are completed. 4) The NHA or designee will conduct an audit quarterly × 1 year to ensure that monthly fire extinguisher inspections are completed and on the master list. Results will be submitted to QAPI for review and analysis to determine need of ongoing monitoring.
Failure to Maintain and Inspect Portable Fire Extinguishers
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain and inspect portable fire extinguishers as required. During document review, the facility was unable to provide the annual maintenance report and the certificate for the technician who performed the annual fire extinguisher maintenance and testing. Additionally, an on-site observation revealed that a fire extinguisher located inside the main kitchen, on the kitchen side wall of the dietary office, was blocked. These findings were confirmed during an exit interview with the Maintenance Supervisor and Director of Safety/Security. No information regarding residents or their medical conditions was included in the report.
Plan Of Correction
Fire extinguisher inspection was completed on 3/7/2025. Facility will ensure documentation of inspection and technician's certificate are available for survey team during all inspections. Cart removed from in front of blocked fire extinguisher. Staff will be educated to ensure fire extinguishers are not blocked. Supervisors will audit weekly for 4 weeks to ensure fire extinguisher is not blocked.
Failure to Maintain and Inspect Portable Fire Extinguishers per NFPA 10
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that portable fire extinguishers were selected, installed, inspected, and maintained in accordance with NFPA 10 standards. During an observation on June 25, 2025, a fire extinguisher located in the patio area was found to have no record of inspection. Additionally, another fire extinguisher located behind the 200 wing nurses station was observed to be overpressurized. These deficiencies were confirmed by the Maintenance Director at the time of discovery. The deficient practices could affect 15 occupants in the event of a fire, as noted in the findings.
Improper Installation and Accessibility of Portable Fire Extinguishers
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to install and maintain portable fire extinguishers in accordance with NFPA 101 and NFPA 10 standards. Specifically, 12 out of 18 sampled fire extinguishers were found to be mounted in cabinets with the top of the handle positioned more than sixty inches above the finished floor, with measurements ranging from sixty and a half inches to sixty-three inches. This was noted in multiple locations throughout the facility, including the kitchen, various corridors, near the nurses' station, the rehabilitation suite, and near the maintenance office. In one instance, a trash can was placed in front of a fire extinguisher cabinet, initially obstructing the cabinet door from opening until it was moved. The observations were made during a fire safety tour conducted with the Maintenance Director, who acknowledged the findings at the time. The issue was also reviewed with the Administrator, the Regional Maintenance Director, and the Maintenance Director during the exit conference. The report does not mention any specific residents or staff being directly affected at the time of the deficiency, nor does it provide details about any medical history or conditions related to the deficiency. Additionally, the report notes that the facility failed to maintain smoking areas in accordance with NFPA 101 for both of its designated smoking areas. However, the detailed findings and observations in the report focus primarily on the improper installation height and accessibility of portable fire extinguishers, as well as the temporary obstruction of access to one extinguisher by a trash can.
Plan Of Correction
Corrective Actions On 6/9/2025, the following locations' fire extinguishers were replaced with a shorter extinguisher so that the top of the new extinguisher is less than 60 inches from the floor: A. Kitchen. Two extinguishers. B. East Corridor. Near the Staff Development Office. C. East Corridor. Near the kitchen entrance. D. SE Corridor. Near room 100. E. South Corridor. Near room 100. F. SW Corridor. Near the Nurses Station. G. West Corridor. Near room 126. H. West Corridor. Near the Maintenance Office. I. Rehabilitation Suite. J. North Corridor. Near the exit. K. North Corridor. Near room 213. L. North Corridor. Near room 200. Identification of Others Potentially Affected All fire extinguishers in cabinets were accounted for, so no further evaluation was needed. Systemic Changes The Maintenance Director, or designee, will perform documented monthly inspections for three months of the facility fire extinguishers placed in cabinets to ensure the top of the extinguisher is less than 60 inches from the floor. Quality Assurance Results of the monthly inspections will be presented at the monthly QA meetings for three months. If substantial compliance is not met after three months, results of the ongoing monthly inspections will be brought to QA meetings until substantial compliance is met. K 355 Immediate Corrective Action 1. The Courtyard was cleaned of cigarette butts on the ground on 5/28/2025. 2. The designated smoking area near the
Missing Fire Extinguisher Maintenance Documentation
Penalty
Summary
During an observation on May 13, 2025, at approximately 9:45 AM, it was found that the facility failed to document the required monthly maintenance for a portable fire extinguisher located in the kitchen service hallway. The inspection and maintenance tag, which is necessary to demonstrate compliance with NFPA 10 standards, was missing from the unit. This issue was confirmed by both the Facility Maintenance Director and the Administrator during interviews conducted at the time of observation. The deficiency could potentially affect 16 out of 87 occupants in the event of a fire emergency, as noted in the findings.
Plan Of Correction
The facility added the fire extinguisher inspection tag to document the required monthly maintenance on the portable fire extinguisher located in the kitchen service hallway. The Maintenance Director/Designee has been educated to ensure that fire extinguishers have the fire extinguisher inspection tag to document the required monthly maintenance. The Maintenance Director/Designee will conduct routine rounds to ensure that fire extinguishers have the fire extinguisher inspection tag to document the required monthly maintenance. Negative findings will be corrected and forwarded to the Executive Director, and trends will be forwarded to the QAPI Committee for additional review. The Executive Director is responsible for attaining and maintaining compliance with the regulation.
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