In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about under-sink storage.
Q: Is there a Life Safety Code requirement for cabinet doors to be locked underneath sinks in patient rooms in a hospital?
A: No, there is no Life Safety Code standard or requirement requiring doors underneath sinks to be locked. However, there is an infection control concern that anything stored underneath a sink may become contaminated by soiled water that leaks from the sink drain. Therefore, many accreditation organizations require hospitals to either restrict clean items from being stored underneath sinks or at least conduct a risk assessment to evaluate the risks associated with that.
Why New Era of Care Demands an Ambulatory Facilities Approach
ClearSky Health Plans New Medical Rehabilitation Hospital in North Carolina
Bacon County Health Services Reports Data Breach
Building Around Care: Lessons in Modernizing Active Healthcare Environments
St. Luke's Heart Hospital Opens at Anderson Campus in Pennsylvania