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.
Making the Energy Efficiency Case to the C-Suite
How to Avoid HAIs This Flu Season
Design Phase Set to Begin for Hospital Annex at SUNY Upstate Medical
Building Hospital Resilience in an Era of Extreme Weather
Ennoble Care Falls Victim to Data Breach