Failure to Ensure Trained Staff for Manual Power Transfer During Outages
Summary
The facility failed to provide a detailed emergency power plan in accordance with the Florida Administrative Code (FAC) requirements. During a record review conducted between 9:15 AM and 10:15 AM with the Director of Maintenance (DOM), it was found that the facility could not provide evidence that an on-site and trained individual was available during all shifts to manually transfer power from the public utility to the generator using the generator's manual transfer switch in the event of a power outage. In an interview conducted concurrently with the record review, the DOM stated that he had only been responsible for the facility for a few months and was not aware that staff were not trained for the task of manually transferring power. This lack of awareness and training among staff directly contributed to the facility's inability to meet the regulatory requirement for emergency environmental control. The deficiency was cited under FAC 59A-4.1265(6)(a), which mandates that nursing homes develop and implement written policies and procedures to ensure effective and immediate activation, operation, and maintenance of the alternate power source. The facility's failure to ensure that staff were trained and available to perform the manual transfer of power during all shifts led to noncompliance with this regulation.
Plan Of Correction
Education was completed with facility staff regarding the manual transfer of power during a power outage through the generator manual transfer switch. New employees will be educated on this process as part of the orientation process. Education will be completed with the NHA/designee by the regional plant consultant on manual transfer of generator task education requirement. An audit will be completed by the NHA/designee and will include all new employee files on transfer of power education completion. The audit will be conducted weekly for 4 weeks, then weekly for 2 weeks, and monthly for 2 weeks. Results of the audit will be reported to the QAA&C Committee for comments and recommendations monthly for three months.
Penalty
The facility did not ensure that staff were trained and available on all shifts to manually transfer power to the standby generator, which is necessary to maintain safe indoor temperatures during a power outage. The lack of training and absence of a designated individual to perform this task resulted in noncompliance with emergency environmental control requirements.
Failure to Ensure Trained Staff for Manual Emergency Power Transfer
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that emergency power could be transferred to maintain safe indoor temperatures in the event of a loss of primary electrical power. During a review of the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) and the generator/cooling plan, it was found that the facility only had a manual option to transfer power to the standby generator, which is responsible for supplying emergency power to the air conditioning system in designated cool zones. There was no evidence provided that an on-site and trained individual was available during all shifts to perform the manual transfer of power to the standby generator. This gap in staffing and training meant that, in the event of a power outage, there was no assurance that the generator could be activated promptly to maintain required temperatures for resident safety and comfort. Interviews with the Administrator and the Human Resource officer confirmed that staff had not been trained to perform the manual transfer of power. Additionally, it was stated that this training was not included as part of the emergency plan for new employee orientation. This lack of training and preparedness directly contributed to the facility's inability to meet the licensure requirement for emergency environmental control.
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