W. Va. Code R. § 64-12-6

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 64-12-6 - Operations Services

6.1. Safety, Sanitation, Housekeeping and Maintenance.

6.1.1. The hospital's water supply shall comply with the Department of Health Legislative Rule, Public Water Systems, 64CSR3, and Cross-Connection Control and Backflow Prevention, 64CSR15.

6.1.2. Sewage disposal shall comply with the Department of Health Legislative Rule, Sewer Systems, Sewage Treatment Systems, and Sewage Tank Cleaners, 64CSR9.

6.1.3. The overall condition of the physical plant shall be maintained to assure and promote safe, clean, and sanitary conditions.

6.1.4. Accumulated waste material shall be removed daily or more frequently as necessary.

6.1.5. The grounds shall be kept in a sanitary, safe, and presentable condition.

6.1.6. The premises shall be kept free from rodent and insect infestation.

6.1.7. There shall be sufficient supplies and equipment, properly stored and conveniently located, to permit frequent cleaning of floors, walls, woodwork, windows, and screens, and to facilitate all necessary building and ground maintenance.

6.1.8. Stairwells and corridors shall be kept free from obstruction at all times.

6.1.9. All garbage shall be stored and disposed of in a manner that shall not permit the transmission of disease, create a nuisance, or provide a breeding place for insects and rodents.

6.1.10. All garbage containers shall be watertight, nonabsorbent, rodent proof, and have tight-fitting covers.

6.1.11. Garbage containers shall be emptied at frequent intervals and those containers that do not use an auxiliary liner shall be thoroughly washed and sanitized each time they are emptied.

6.1.12. The hospital shall comply with the Department of Health Legislative Rule, Infectious Medical Waste, 64CSR56.

6.2. Lighting.

6.2.1. All rooms and areas in the hospital shall be provided with sufficient artificial illumination to enable personnel to properly carry out procedures normally performed.

6.2.2. Emergency lighting shall be provided for exits, stairs, corridors, nurseries, emergency rooms, delivery rooms, operating rooms, soiled utility rooms, medication preparation areas, and other areas necessary for safe effective patient care.

6.2.3. Emergency lighting shall be supplied by an automatic emergency generator or the equivalent and each shall be tested routinely.

6.2.4. The dates on which the testing is conducted shall be recorded in a permanent log for a minimum of five years.

6.3. Medical Gas Systems and Indoor Air Quality

6.3.1. All hospitals shall provide medical gas systems in accordance with the 2012 edition of N.F.P.A. 99 and section 5 of this rule.

6.3.2. Medical gas systems shall be inspected and tested routinely as defined by hospital policy.

6.3.3. All hospitals shall provide air systems that are virtually free of dust, dirt, odor, chemical, and radioactive pollutants. Standards as set forth in the 2022 edition of the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities, A.A.S.H.R.A.E., American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc., or both shall be used.

6.3.4. Facilities shall have in place a management plan for all indoor air systems which shall provide information about filters, supply sir including outdoor air, return air including exhaust air, pressure relationships between critical areas, space temperatures, and relative humidity levels in critical areas.

6.4. Laundry Services.

6.4.1. The provision of laundry services shall comply with section 5 of this rule.

6.4.2. The hospital shall make provisions for the proper cleaning of linens with special provisions for handling and decontamination of contaminated linens.

6.4.3. Hospitals maintaining and operating a laundry within the hospital building shall provide ventilation for the elimination of steam and odors and proper insulation to prevent the transmission of noise to patient areas.

6.4.4. The laundry shall have:

6.4.4.a. Separation of clean and soiled linen, receiving, storing, and sorting areas with facilities to wash hands;

6.4.4.b. Soiled linen processing areas separate from patient care, food preparation, clean supply, and equipment storage areas;

6.4.4.c. Washing, extracting, drying, and ironing areas equipped with all necessary safety appliances and meeting all sanitary requirements; and

6.4.4.d. A storage area for laundry supplies.

6.4.5. When an off-site commercial laundry service is used, there shall be:

6.4.5.a. A soiled linen collection and storage area separate from patient care areas, food preparation, clean supply, and equipment areas; and

6.4.5.b. A central clean linen storage area.

6.4.6. Contaminated newborn nursery linen shall be separately stored and washed as shall linen contaminated with radioactive material.

6.4.7. A supply of clean linen shall be provided sufficient for the hospital's capacity.

6.4.8. Soiled linen shall be bagged for collection at the site of use in bags that prevent leakage.

6.4.9. All personnel involved in the collection, transportation, sorting, and washing of soiled linen shall:

6.4.9.a. Receive periodic job-related training, as defined by hospital policy;

6.4.9.b. Have access to hand washing facilities; and

6.4.9.c. Use appropriate personal protective equipment.

6.5. Central Sterilization and Supply.

6.5.1. The hospital shall provide for the decontamination and sterilization of reusable equipment and supplies for all areas of the hospital.

6.5.2. If the hospital practices in-house sterilization, it shall have a central sterilizing and supply room to prepare, sterilize, store, and dispense sufficient sterile supplies and equipment to all units of the hospital.

6.5.3. The hospital shall have policies and procedure, using acceptable clinical standards, for the decontamination and reprocessing of supplies.

6.5.4. A cabinet or other suitable enclosed space shall be provided for storing sterile equipment and supplies in a convenient and orderly manner.

6.6. General Storage:

6.6.1. All clean and sterile storage shall be concentrated in one area on each unit to the extent possible. Mechanical maintenance items may be in a separate area.

6.6.2. All soiled storage shall be concentrated in one area on each unit separate from clean storage.

6.6.3. Hand washing facilities shall be in or convenient to work areas.

6.6.4. Separate storage areas shall be provided in each applicable hospital unit for flammable materials such as oxygen gases.

W. Va. Code R. § 64-12-6