R432-500-14. Emergency and Disaster

Each facility has the responsibility to assure the safety and well-being of patients in the event of an emergency or disaster. An emergency or disaster may include utility interruption, explosion, fire, earthquake, bomb threat, flood, windstorm, epidemic, and injury.

(1) General Provisions.

(a) The administrator shall be in charge of facility operations during any significant emergency. If not on the premises, the administrator should make every effort to get to the facility to relieve the administrator designee to take charge during an emergency.

(b) The licensee and the administrator shall be responsible for the development of a written emergency and disaster plan, coordinated with state and local emergency or disaster authorities.

(c) The plan shall be made available to all staff to assure prompt and efficient implementation (see R432-500-14(2)).

(d) The administrator and the licensee shall review and update the plan at least annually.

(e) The names and telephone numbers of facility staff, emergency medical personnel, and emergency service systems shall be conveniently posted.

(2) Emergency and Disaster Plan and Drills.

The facility shall have an internal and external emergency or disaster plan including the following:

(a) Evacuation of occupants to a safe place, as specified;

(b) Delivery of emergency care and services to facility occupants when staff is reduced by an emergency;

(c) The receiving of patients to the facility from another location, including housing, staffing, medication handling, and record maintenance and protection;

(d) The person or persons with decision-making authority for fiscal, medical, and personnel management;

(e) An inventory of available personnel, equipment, supplies and instructions and how to acquire additional assistance;

(f) Staff assignment for specific tasks during an emergency;

(g) Names and telephone numbers of on-call physicians and staff at each telephone;

(h) Documentation of emergency events;

(i) Emergency or Disaster drills, other than fire drills shall be held at least biannually, at least one per shift, with a record of time and date maintained. Actual evacuation of patients during a drill is optional;

(j) Notification of the Department if the facility is evacuated.

(3) Fire Emergencies.

The licensee and administrator shall develop a written fire emergency and evacuation plan in consultation with qualified fire safety personnel.

(a) An evacuation plan shall identify:

(i) evacuation routes,

(ii) location of fire alarm boxes and fire extinguishers, and

(iii) emergency telephone numbers including the local fire department.

(b) The evacuation plan shall be posted at several locations throughout the facility.

(c) The emergency plan shall include fire containment procedures and how to use the facility alarm systems, extinguishers, and signals.

(d) Fire drills shall be held at least quarterly on each shift and documentation of the drill shall include a record of the time and date. Actual evacuation of patients during a drill is optional.

(4) Smoking Policies.

Smoking policies shall comply with Title 26, Chapter 38 the, "Utah Indoor Clean Air Act", and Section 31-4.4 of the 1991 Life Safety Code.