Health Service Executive (HSE) officials who visited a nursing home in Co Wicklow in October found that syringes were stored in an open area and fire escape doors on the building's top and middle floors were not locked.
The regulation breaches are contained in the most recent batch of nursing home inspection reports published this week by the HSE.
Further reports from institutions across the country identify the recurrent problems of broken lights, defective bedside call bells, poor record-keeping and hygiene and sub-standard building maintenance.
Inspectors who visited Atlanta House nursing home in Bray, Co Wicklow, in October, instructed that steps be taken immediately to store syringes, needles and antiseptic creams in a locked area and to make secure all windows and fire escape doors.
The proprietor, Thomas Cahill, said yesterday the syringes and needles were only stored in an open area at the time of the inspection because he was in the process of moving a nursing station from one room to another.
The inspectors' concern had been promptly acted on and a subsequent report would show that the home had been given a "clear bill of health", he said.
In relation to the unlocked fire doors, Mr Cahill said that it had been his impression since the fire brigade had conducted an exercise some years ago, that the two exits - which were "not doors, but windows" - were to be left open so that firefighters could enter the building in the event of an emergency. The inspectors had advised him differently, and he had immediately locked the windows.
Separately, inspectors who visited Darraglynn nursing home in Douglas, Cork, expressed concern over persistent problems.
"The team are concerned by the number of issues which are repeated in this report, which were raised in the last report."
They noted cobwebs in several parts of the premises, indicating "the lack of proper cleaning"; stated that record-keeping in the home required organisation; and pointed out that one resident was wearing two incontinence pads at the time of the visit.
