Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
Each hospital shall have an organized housekeeping department
with a qualified person designated as responsible for all housekeeping
functions. The designated supervisor of housekeeping shall be responsible for
developing written policies and procedures for coordinating housekeeping
services with other departments, developing a work plan and assignments for
housekeeping staff, and developing a plan for obtaining relief housekeeping
personnel.
(1) A sufficient number of
housekeeping personnel shall be employed to fulfill the responsibilities of the
housekeeping department seven days a week.
(2) When housekeeping services are provided
by a third party, the hospital shall have a formal written agreement with the
third party provider on file.
(3)
The designated supervisor of housekeeping shall develop, implement, and
maintain an effective housekeeping plan to ensure that the facility is
maintained in compliance with the following:
(a) The facility and its contents shall be
kept free from dust, dirt, debris, and noxious odors;
(b) All rooms and corridors shall be
maintained in a clean, safe, and orderly condition, and shall be properly
ventilated to prevent condensation, mold growth, and noxious odors;
(c) All walls and ceilings, including doors,
windows, skylights, screens, and similar closures shall be kept
clean;
(d) All mattresses, pillows,
and other bedding; window coverings, including curtains, blinds, and shades,
cubicle curtains and privacy screens; and furniture shall be kept
clean;
(e) Floors shall be kept
clean and free from spillage, and non-skid wax shall be used on all waxed
floors;
(f) Articles in storage
shall be elevated from the floor;
(g) Aisles in storage areas shall be kept
unobstructed;
(h) All garbage and
refuse from patient areas shall be collected daily and stored in a manner to
make it inaccessible to insects and rodents;
(i) Garbage or refuse storage rooms, if used,
shall be kept clean, shall be vermin-proof, and shall be large enough to store
the garbage and refuse containers that accumulate. Outside garbage or refuse
storage areas or enclosures shall be large enough to store the garbage and
refuse containers that accumulate, and shall be kept clean. Outside storage of
unprotected plastic bags, wet strength paper bags, or baled units containing
garbage or refuse is prohibited. Garbage and refuse containers, dumpsters, and
compactor systems located outside shall be stored on or above a smooth surface
of non-absorbent material, such as concrete or machine-laid asphalt, that is
kept clean and maintained in good repair; and
(j) Garbage and refuse shall be removed from
both interior and outside storage areas as often as necessary to prevent
sanitary nuisance conditions. If garbage and refuse are disposed of on the
facility premises, the method of disposal shall not create a sanitary
nuisance.
(4) The
designated supervisor of housekeeping shall ensure that:
(a) There is a sufficient quantity of linen,
including at least sheets, pillow cases, drawsheets or their alternative,
blankets, towels and washcloths to provide comfortable, clean and sanitary
conditions for each patient at all times;
(b) Written policies and procedures for linen
and laundry services, including methods of collection, storage, and
transportation are developed, implemented, and maintained in conjunction with
the policies and procedures developed by the infection control
committee;
(c) Soiled linen and
laundry are collected in a way that minimizes microbial dissemination into the
environment;
(d) Separate
containers are used for transporting clean linen and laundry, and soiled linen
and laundry;
(e) Soiled linen and
laundry are stored in a ventilated area separate from any other supplies, and
are not stored, sorted, rinsed, or laundered in patient rooms, bathrooms, areas
of food preparation or storage, or areas in which clean material and equipment
are stored; and
(f) When linen and
laundry services are provided by a third party, the third party provider shall
be required to maintain the standards contained herein, and shall ensure that
clean linen is packaged and protected from contamination until received by the
facility.
(5) Effective
control methods shall be employed to protect against the entrance into the
facility and the breeding or presence on the premises of flies, roaches,
rodents, and other vermin.
(6) The
designated supervisor of housekeeping shall develop and implement, in
coordination with the infection control committee, written procedures for the
cleaning of the physical plant, equipment, and reusable supplies. Such
procedures shall include:
(a) Special written
procedures for cleaning all infectious disease areas;
(b) Special written procedures for cleaning
all operating room suites, delivery suites, nurseries, intensive and other
critical care units, the emergency suite, and other areas performing similar
functions; and
(c) Special written
procedures for the separate handling and storage of both clean and dirty linen,
with special attention being given to identification, separation and handling
of linens from isolation or infectious disease
areas.
Rulemaking Authority 395.1055 FS. Law Implemented 395.1055
FS.
New 8-15-18.
