SECTION 340:100-6-45. Health and safety

(a)   The group home provider acts immediately to remedy any situation that poses a risk to the health, well-being, safety, or provision of specified services to any service recipient.

(1)   In the event of such a threat, the provider immediately notifies Developmental Disabilities Services Division (DDSD):

(A)   of the nature of the situation; and

(B)   upon resolution of the threatening situation.

(2)   The provider completes and regularly reviews incident and injury reports per OAC 340:100-3-40.

(3)   In the event of the death of a service recipient, the provider complies with OAC 340:100-3-35.

(b)   An evacuation plan must be developed for each group home. Fire drills must be conducted at least quarterly and severe weather drills must be conducted two times annually.

(c)   The group home must have a written plan for temporary living arrangements in case of fire, climatic conditions that warrant evacuation, or other natural disasters that may render the facility unsuitable.

(d)   Dangerous or deadly weapons are not permitted in the home. Provider agency staff is prohibited from assisting any service recipient to obtain or possess dangerous or deadly weapons. Dangerous or deadly weapons include, but are not limited to:

(1)   guns or other firearms;

(2)   crossbows;

(3)   paint guns;

(4)   arrows;

(5)   explosives;

(6)   stun guns; and

(7)   knives, except cooking and eating utensils.

(e)   Illegal substances are not permitted in the group home.

(f)   Adequate enclosed storage space in the group home must be provided for items belonging to service recipients.

(g)   Laundry equipment must be:

(1)   provided in the group home and housed in a safe, well ventilated, and clean area; and

(2)   kept clean with the clothes dryer vented to the outside.

(h)   All group home doors and windows opening to the outside for ventilation must have screens that are well fitted and in good repair.

(i)   Phone service must be available within the group home and accessible to the service recipient in accordance with his or her Individual Plan.

(j)   Linen storage areas must be clean and organized.

(k)   Any bulk cleaning supplies must be stored in a separate, clean area of the group home.

(l)   The address of each group home must be clearly visible from the street.

(m)   Items required to be in operating condition and accessible for use in the group home are:

(1)   flashlights;

(2)   smoke detectors;

(3)   first aid kit;

(4)   fire extinguisher; and

(5)   carbon monoxide detectors.

(n)   Medication administration is performed in accordance with OAC 340:100-5-32.

(o)   Group home staff who assist a resident with bathing or showering must ensure the water temperature is safe and comfortable before allowing a member to enter water by touch or with a thermometer designed to test hot liquids for the resident being bathed, including when an anti-scald or tempering device is used.

(p)   The group home provider ensures that the hot water temperature for the home is set to no more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The group home provider tests the hot water temperature of the home at least annually, after any servicing of the home's water system, and any time the water temperature is believed to have increased above 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The group home provider will maintain documentation of tests performed, and this documentation will at minimum include the date of the test and the temperature of the home's hot water. The documentation is maintained in the home and available for inspection. The provisions within this Subsection will henceforth be known as the Julie Teenor Anti-Scald Protocol.

[Source: Added at 24 Ok Reg 1046, eff 5-11-07; Amended at 26 Ok Reg 922, eff 5-15-09]