59A-26.015. Plant Maintenance and Housekeeping

(1) The facility must maintain the interior and exterior of buildings accessible to clients and all equipment, furniture, and furnishings in a clean manner and in such condition such that client safety and well-being are not jeopardized.

(2) Each licensee must establish written policies designed to maintain the physical plant and overall ICF/DD environment in such a manner that the safety and well-being of clients are ensured. The building and mechanical maintenance program must be under the supervision of a qualified person, as determined by the facility. All mechanical and electrical equipment must be maintained in working order, and must be accessible for cleaning and inspecting. All mechanical systems must be tested, balanced and operated prior to being placed into service and maintained in good working order. The facility must have a written plan for maintenance, including record keeping, sufficient staffing, equipment, and supplies. The licensee must:

(a) Maintain the building in good repair, safe and free of the following: cracks in the floors, walls, or ceilings; peeling wallpaper or paint; warped or loose boards; warped, broken, loose, or cracked floor covering, such as tile, linoleum or vinyl; loose handrails or railings; loose or broken window panes and screens; and other similar hazards;

(b) Maintain all electrical, lighting (interior and exterior), signal, mechanical, potable water supply, hot water heaters, heating, air conditioning, fire protection and sewage disposal systems in safe, clean and functioning condition;

(c) Maintain all electrical cords and appliances in a safe and functioning condition;

(d) Maintain the interior and exterior finishes of the buildings as needed to keep them clean and safe, to include painting, washing, and routine maintenance;

(e) Maintain all furniture and furnishings in a clean and safe condition;

(f) Maintain the grounds free from refuse, litter, insect, vermin, and vermin breeding areas; and,

(g) Maintain screens on windows and doors in good repair, free of breaks in construction.

(3) The facility must have a plan for housekeeping including staff, equipment and supplies. As part of the licensee’s housekeeping plan, the licensee must:

(a) Keep the buildings in a clean, safe and orderly condition. This includes all rooms, corridors, attics, basements and storage areas;

(b) Keep floors clean and non-slip to ensure client safety;

(c) Control odors within the housekeeping staff’s areas of responsibility by effective cleaning procedures and by the proper use of ventilation. Deodorants must not be used to cover up odors caused by unsanitary conditions or poor housekeeping practices;

(d) Keep attics, basements, stairways and similar areas free of accumulations of refuse, discarded furniture, discarded equipment, newspapers, magazines, boxes and other similar items;

(e) Not use bathrooms, shower stalls and lavatories for laundering, janitorial or storage purposes; and,

(f) Store all cleaning compounds, insecticides and all other potentially hazardous compounds or agents in locked cabinets or rooms.

(4) The licensee must have a written plan and must supply clean linens to a client based on the weather and climate. Linens must be in good condition to provide proper care and comfort to each client, either through on-site laundry service or a contract with an outside service.

(a) The on-site laundry room must be maintained and operated in a clean, safe and sanitary manner.

(b) Written operating procedures must be developed and implemented to provide for the handling and storage of clean and soiled linens. These operating procedures must be available to all facility staff or Agency representatives upon request.

(c) Laundry personnel must thoroughly wash their hands and exposed portions of their arms with soap and water before starting work, after smoking, eating, using the toilet or handling soiled linens.

(d) Clean linen must be protected from contamination during handling and storage.

(e) Soiled linen must be handled and stored in a manner that protects facility clients and personnel.

(f) If an outside laundry service is used, the facility must ensure that clean linens are protected during transport back to the facility to avoid contamination.

(g) Clients’ personal clothing must be handled and clothing stored in a manner that will not allow contamination of clean clothing by soiled clothing. The licensee must ensure that the personal clothing or linens of each client are returned to that individual client after laundering.

Rulemaking Authority 400.967 FS. Law Implemented 400.967(2)(a), (c) FS. History–New 12-21-15.