Q: Do the Joint Commission standards prohibit use of under sink cabinets for storage?
A: No. The Environment of Care and Infection Control standards do not specifically address under sink storage. Organizations should conduct relevant risk assessments regarding the use of under-sink cabinets for storage. Examples of risk assessments could include infection control for sterile supplies or patient items, medical equipment and/or supplies, hazardous materials for chemical storage (see below), or information management 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 OSHA and the fire protection Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), would be permissible per Joint Commission standards as long as the reagents and chemicals couldn't react with each other or with moisture. If further enclosure of these chemicals is necessary to ensure non-reaction, then those steps should be taken.