What must you do if you see a spill on the floor at the nursing facility you work at?

What must you do if you see a spill on the floor at the nursing facility you work at?

• A. Inform housekeeping when you are finished with your rounds
• B. Clean it up as soon as you see it
• C. Inform the administrator
• D. Leave it there

Answer: (B)

Spills create an immediate slip-and-fall hazard for residents and staff, so the priority is to remove the danger right away. Clean it up as soon as you see it using the proper supplies, and wear gloves if indicated by the facility’s safety protocol. After you start cleaning, if the spill is large or involves something you can’t safely handle alone, get help from supervision or housekeeping, but don’t delay the cleanup—the floor should be dry and safe as quickly as possible. If needed, put up a warning sign or barrier to alert others while you finish, and practice good hand hygiene when you’re done. Informing housekeeping only after rounds, or informing the administrator, would delay addressing the hazard, which increases risk to residents. Leaving the spill in place is unsafe and unacceptable.

Spills create an immediate slip-and-fall hazard for residents and staff, so the priority is to remove the danger right away. Clean it up as soon as you see it using the proper supplies, and wear gloves if indicated by the facility’s safety protocol. After you start cleaning, if the spill is large or involves something you can’t safely handle alone, get help from supervision or housekeeping, but don’t delay the cleanup—the floor should be dry and safe as quickly as possible. If needed, put up a warning sign or barrier to alert others while you finish, and practice good hand hygiene when you’re done.

Informing housekeeping only after rounds, or informing the administrator, would delay addressing the hazard, which increases risk to residents. Leaving the spill in place is unsafe and unacceptable.