N.J. Admin. Code § 5:27A-15.3

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 5:27A-15.3 - Resident environment

(a) The following housekeeping and sanitation conditions shall be met:

1. The facility and its contents, including all environmental surfaces, shall be clean to sight and touch and free of dirt and debris;

2. All rooms shall be ventilated to help prevent condensation, mold growth, and noxious odors;

3. All resident areas shall be free of noxious odors;

4. All facility furnishings shall be clean and in good repair, and facility mechanical equipment shall be in working order. Broken or worn items shall be repaired, replaced, or removed promptly;

5. All equipment and materials necessary for cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing, and sterilizing (if applicable) shall be provided;

6. Thermometers which are accurate to within three degrees Fahrenheit shall be maintained in refrigerators, freezers, and storerooms used for perishable and other items subject to deterioration, in accordance with Chapter XII of the New Jersey Sanitary Code, N.J.A.C. 8:24, copies of which are available by contacting the Residential Health Care Evaluation Program of the Department at (609) 633-6251;

7. Sufficient and adequately lighted storage space shall be provided in the facility for the proper storage of residents' clothing, linens, drugs, food, cleaning and other supplies;

8. Articles in storage shall be elevated from the floor and away from walls (if moisture is present), ceilings, and air vents;

9. Unobstructed aisles shall be provided in storage areas;

10. Effective and safe controls shall be used to minimize and eliminate the presence of rodents, flies, roaches and other vermin in the facility. The premises shall be kept in such condition as to prevent the breeding, harborage, or feeding of vermin. All openings to the outer air shall be effectively protected against the entrance of insects;

11. Items that come in contact with open skin or mucous membranes shall be sterilized, or, at a minimum, receive high-level disinfection;

12. Items that come in contact with intact skin, such as bedpans, toilets and sinks, shall be disinfected, using a process for disinfection established by the facility as specified above, at N.J.A.C. 5:27A-15.2; and

13. Toilet tissue, soap, paper towels or air dryers, and waste receptacles shall be provided in each bathroom at all times. Resident's personal cloth towels may be used instead of paper towels in private or semi-private bathrooms. A self-draining dish or device shall be provided for storage of bar soap, if bar soap is used.

(b) The following safety conditions shall be met:

1. Scatter rugs shall not be permitted, except that residents may have the option to use scatter rugs which have non-skid backing in individual resident bedrooms. The facility shall ensure that scatter rugs are only used in a manner that does not jeopardize resident safety. Floors shall be coated with slip-resistant floor finish. Carpeting shall be kept clean and odor free and shall not be frayed, worn, torn, or buckled;

2. Pesticides shall be applied in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:30;

3. All household, cleaning and personal care products in the facility shall be identified and labeled. All poisonous and toxic materials shall be identified, labeled, and stored in a locked cabinet or room. The facility shall ensure that all household and cleaning products in a resident's possession are stored in the resident's locked room or other secure location. The telephone number of the poison control center shall be conspicuously posted in the facility;

4. Combustible materials shall not be stored in heater rooms or within 18 inches of any heater;

5. Paints, varnishes, lacquers, thinners, and all other flammable materials shall be stored in closed metal cabinets or containers and away from open flames and other sources of heat;

6. Wastebaskets and ashtrays shall be made of noncombustible materials;

7. If pets are allowed in the facility, the facility shall provide safeguards to prevent interference in the lives of residents. (See recommendations concerning pet facilitated therapy, chapter Appendix C).

8. The use of open fireplaces shall be restricted to the living and recreation rooms of the building;

i. When a fireplace is in use it shall be protected by a metal screen or glass enclosure;

ii. When a fireplace is in use it shall be under the supervision of a responsible employee;

iii. All ashes shall be kept in metal containers;

9. An electrician licensed in accordance with N.J.A.C. 13:31 shall annually inspect and provide a written statement that the electrical circuits and wiring in the facility are satisfactory and in safe condition;

i. The written statement shall include the date of inspection, and shall indicate that circuits are not overloaded, that all wiring and permanent fixtures are in safe condition, and that all portable electrical appliances, including lamps, are Underwriters Laboratories (U.L.) approved;

ii. The written statement shall be forwarded annually to the Residential Health Care Evaluation Program, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Bureau of Rooming and Boarding Home Standards, PO Box 804, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0804; and

10. All partitions in the basement shall be constructed of noncombustible material.

N.J. Admin. Code § 5:27A-15.3

Amended by 49 N.J.R. 3821(a), effective 12/18/2017