Grand Jury County of Humboldt

Conclusions 3

• CL1 Page 46
  The driveway to the carport is not long enough to allow adequate room to enter from the street before backing into the carport. This has resulted in vehicles making contact with the building.
• CL2 Page 46
  The unloading of bodies in the carport is in full public view from the adjacent sidewalk and street.
• CL3 Page 45
  The claim of lack of funds as a response to the prior 2008/2009 Grand Jury's recommendations (Appendix A), is not acceptable. This is a dangerous and potentially litigious situation. More funds will be spent under these circumstances than if spent on the corrections. After several 4 visits, the Jails Committee was told by a county official that some of the I recommendations are in the process of being corrected and others are I being considered. At the time of our last visit nothing had been accomplished. Appendix 'A" 2008/2009 Civil Grand Jury Report Finding 1: The driveway to the carport is not long enough to allow adequate room to enter from the street before backing into the carport. This has resulted in vehicles making contact with the building. Recommendation 1: The Grand Jury recommends extending the driveway into the vacant area to the north. Board of Supervisors Responses to finding 1 and recommendation 1 The Board of Supervisors agrees with the finding. The Board will work with the Coroner/Public Administrator to extend the driveway when funding is available upon the completion of facility improvements and deferred maintenance projects that are currently either under progress or of a more pressing matter. Finding 2: The unloading of bodies in the carport is in full public view from the adjacent sidewalk and street. Recommendation 2: The Grand Jury recommends extending the carport to shield the process of handling bodies from public view. 5 ,---- -- ~- ------ Board of Supervisors Responses to finding 2 and recommendation 2 The Board of Supervisors agrees with the finding. The Board will work with the Coroner/Public Administrator to extend the driveway when funding is available upon the completion of facility improvements and deferred maintenance projects that are currently under progress or of a more pressing matter. Appendix 'BJ 2009/2010 Civil Grand Jury Report. The Grand Jury toured the Coroner's facility and observed the following problems: Findings 1: The unloading entrance, where human remains are received, is open to public view. Decency demands that handling of human remains be done with due respect for the sensitivities of neighbors, passing motorists and pedestrian traffic. A second, more serious problem exists at the loading entrance to the Morgue. The pavement between the street and the building is tilted sharply sideways. so that the single officer, unloading remains onto a gurney, is in a very awkward and unsafe situation. There have been regrettable accidents, thus far without employee injury. Gas vapors and chemical smells associated with the present of cadavers accumulate inside the poorly-ventilated offices, creating an unpleasant atmosphere and possible health hazard to employees. The same products are currently being expelled through an inadequate outside ventilator which send the odors to the vicinity of open windows of the Mental Health facility (on the second floor of the 6 same building), to the distress of the residents and staff there. The Grand Jury regards this as unacceptable. There is a problem with the building that stands in the way of making any improvements. The building is not ADA=certified. That is, it is not equipped to satisfy the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act-ramps, wheelchair access, and bathroom upgrades, for example. Bringing the entire building up to standards would be extremely expensive. A licensed contractor, if employed to make an upgrade, is required to report the non-compliance to the State, or risk losing his license. Therefore, upgrades are impossible, a Catch-22 that we hope some aggressive County intervention can solve. Board of Supervisors Responses to finding and recommendations. The Coroner's Office is a specialized medical facility which would require great care and caution if this facility were to be moved. This facility cannot be easily, or cheaply, replicated. Again, facilities are a priority for the Board, however, a facility as unique as the Coroner's Office cannot be moved quickly without careful consideration. The Board of Supervisors has implemented the recommendation to improve the indoor and outdoor ventilation for the Coroner and Mental Health staff. On October 9, 2009 the Board authorized a project award to O&M Industries for the Mental Health Branch Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. The project scope was expanded to include ventilation upgrades to the Coroner's Office, as the Mental Health Branch and the Coroner's Office share the same building. The Board reasonably believes that upon completion of this project (July 2010) that this will improve air flow in the Coroner's Office and remedy the fumes that are sometimes experienced due to the storage of human remains. 7 In summary, the Board does recognize and acknowledge the need for equipment and structural and facility upgrades in County departments and buildings. The Grand Jury commends the Coroner for advancing the professionalism and efficiency of the department by developing a rigorous Procedures Manual, by bringing all sworn staff up to California Peace Officer certification, with mandated training, and instituting a successful program of volunteer assistant pathologists, which relieves deputies for duty elsewhere. 8 GRAND JURY REPORT-2011-JAILS-02 County jails and holding facilities

Agency Responses 2

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.

No Responses Found 1

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.