Under-Sink Cabinet Storage

Do Joint Commission standards prohibit use of under-sink cabinets for storage?


From October 2011 EC News:
No, the standards do not specifically address under-sink storage; however, they do expect such storage to be used wisely, with an eye toward risk prevention. Organizations should include under-sink storage as part of any storage risk assessments they conduct. Several questions to consider in this evaluation include the following:

    ■ Could infection control issues be created by possible sink drain leaks?
    ■ Could a leak or condensation on plumbing affect sterile supplies or patient items?
    ■ Is under a sink the proper storage location for hazardous materials or chemical storage?
    ■ Does under-sink storage provide privacy and security for paper records? 

State and local requirements may be more stringent; therefore, organizations should also check with applicable agencies. Safety officers and building engineers may be a resource for information regarding local and state codes.

Storage of reagents and chemicals in under-sink cabinets, in quantities allowed by both the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and the fire protection authorities having jurisdiction, would be permissible per Joint Commission standards as long as the reagents and chemicals could not react with each other or with moisture. If further enclosure of these chemicals is necessary to ensure nonreaction, then those steps should be taken.