N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 18 § 490.12

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 45, November 2, 2024

Section 490.12 - Disaster and emergency planning

(a) The operator must have a written plan, approved by the department, which details the procedures to be followed for the proper protection of residents and staff in the event of an actual or threatened emergency or disaster which interrupts normal service.

(b) The plan must include but not be limited to:

(1) procedures and designated staff responsibilities for execution of any part of the plan;

(2) procedures for full and partial evacuation of the facility including:

(i) designation of staff responsible for the conduct and supervision of evacuation;

(ii) a schedule and procedures for training all staff in evacuation procedures and responsibility;

(iii) procedures for the conduct of monthly fire drills for staff;

(iv) procedures for the conduct of quarterly fire drills for staff and residents;

(v) specific and current procedures for the evacuation of any resident who needs assistance with evacuation;

(3) preliminary plans for relocation of residents, if necessary;

(4) coordination of the facility plan with such community resources and local disaster and emergency planning organizations as may be available to provide temporary shelter, food and clothing, and other essential services; and

(5) plans for the maintenance of service in the event of reductions in personnel.

(c) The operator must conduct training for each new and current employee and volunteer in both the overall plan and the individual's specific responsibility in its execution, and must review with staff their performance after the conduct of each drill.

(d) Evacuation procedures must be conspicuously posted on every floor and in each wing of the facility.

(e) Emergency contact numbers and procedures must be available to the person(s) with supervisory service responsibilities.

(f) To ensure that staff of each shift have an opportunity to practice their respective responsibilities, the operator must conduct monthly fire drills for staff and volunteers which must:

(1) be conducted at varied times during the day and night;

(2) include both full and partial evacuation of the facility; and

(3) simulate different fire conditions.

(g) At least once in each calendar quarter, residents must participate in a fire drill; each 12 months, at least one of these drills must include total evacuation of the facility.

(h) The operator must arrange, at least annually, to have the local fire authorities, a qualified service agency or department staff observe one fire drill in which residents participate.

(i) The operator must maintain a record of all fire drills, including the date and time of the drill, a description of the drill, the number of residents participating, and the signature of participating staff and volunteers.

(j) The appropriate regional office of the department must be notified by the next business day any time there is a work stoppage, a fire within the facility, failure of any one of the fire prevention or detection systems, lack of hot water, interruption or shut off of essential services or any circumstance necessitating the implementation of the disaster and emergency plan.

(k) The operator of a residence for adults shall obtain from the department's Health Provider Network (HPN), HPN accounts for each residence he or she operates and ensure that sufficient, knowledgeable staff will be available to and shall maintain and keep current such accounts. At a minimum, 24-hour, seven-day-a-week contacts for emergency communication and alerts, must be designated by each residence for adults' in the HPN communications directory. A policy defining the residence for adults' HPN coverage consistent with the residence for adults' hours of operation, shall be created and reviewed by the residence for adults no less than annually. Maintenance of each residence for adults' HPN accounts shall consist of, at a minimum, the following:

(1) sufficient designation of the residence's HPN coordinator(s) to allow for HPN individual user application;

(2) designation by the residence for adults operator of sufficient staff users of the HPN accounts to ensure rapid response to requests for information by the State and/or local Department of Health;

(3) adherence to the requirements of the HPN user contract; and

(4) current and complete updates of the communications directory reflecting changes that include, but are not limited to, general information and personnel role changes as soon as they occur, and at a minimum, on a monthly basis.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 18 § 490.12