Environment of Care Standard 1.20: The organization maintains a safe environment.

Element of Performance 2: Environmental Tours.

1. The organization conducts environmental tours to identify environmental deficiencies, hazards and unsafe practices.

4. The hospital conducts environmental tours at least annually in all areas where individuals are not served.

5. The organization conducts environmental tours at least annually in areas where individuals are not served.

• Environmental Tours
• Written Documentation

Tours include inspection of areas where hazardous materials are used and stored, hazardous waste are stored including satellite accumulation, and solid and infectious wastes are managed  

Add bullet with guidance on what to look for when inspecting these areas and if appropriate how to conduct the tour.  Is the guidance based on regulatory requirements?

Special attention is paid to areas where corrective action was previously taken due to deficiencies identified

Add a bullet specifying who should be involved in conducting the tour

Add a bullet about how often the tours should be conducted

Tours are documented as written audits

Written audit reports are complete and corrections are made.

Inspection reports from local, state, or federal regulatory agencies are maintained and corrective actions are identified and implemented

Inspection reports from third party insurance agents or other consultants are used to identify environmental compliance action items.

Completed environmental audits have been filed with EPA

Employee incident reports are reviewed and actions are taken to correct and mitigate future problems.

Spill incidences are documented and actions are taken to reduce future incidences

• US Environmental Protection Agency, Audit Policies and Protocols

Appropriate response to deficiencies identified (EC 9.10-.30)

Action taken to prevent deficiencies, e.g. problematic chemicals eliminated.

Purchasing policy and criteria to reduce waste, conserve energy and eliminate hazardous chemicals to prevent deficiencies, hazards and unsafe practices

Inspection reports from third party insurance agents or other consultants are used to identify environmental quality improvement action items

• Practice Greenhealth assessment tool
• Region 2 Env Audit Tool
• Healthy Hospitals: Healthcare without Harm