5101:2-12-15 Safe and sanitary equipment and environment in licensed child care centers.

 

 

 

5101:2-12-15               Safe and sanitary equipment and environment in licensed child care centers.

 

 

 

(A)      Safety:  the  The  center  shall  provide  furniture,  materials,  equipment,  and  an environment which are safe.

 

(1)  Fire arms and ammunition materials shall not be on the premises.

 

(2)    The center shall maintain an indoor temperature which will not fall below sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit.

 

(3)    If the center's indoor temperature goes above eighty-five degrees, ventilation that produces air movement or air conditioning shall be provided.

 

(4)   Equipment, materials, and furniture shall be sturdy and safe, easy to clean and maintain, and free of sharp points or corners, splinters, protruding nails, loose or rusty parts, paint which contains lead or other poisonous materials, or other hazardous features as determined by the director's representative department.

 

(5)     Children in care shall be protected from any items and conditions which threaten their health, safety, and well being, including but not limited to: protecting children from stoves, bodies of water, window covering pull cords, telephone cords, electrical cords, /extension cords, lead hazards, asbestos, wells, traffic, employees' personal belongings and other hazards. If area rugs are used, they shall are to have a nonskid backing., and floor Floor surfaces

shall  be  maintained  so  as  to  prevent  injury

not  cause  a  tripping  hazard.

Lawnmowers, power tools and other equipment shall not be used or stored in areas where when children are playing in the outdoor area may have access to them.

(6)    Furniture, equipment and materials which are not usable due to breakage or hazards shall be removed immediately and stored away from children until repaired.

(7)   Toys or other materials small enough to be swallowed shall be kept out of the reach of infants and toddlers.

(8)   Cleaning equipment and supplies shall be stored in a space that is inaccessible to children. Cleaning agents, aerosol cans and all other chemical substances shall be stored in a designated area in their original containers and/or clearly labeled.

(9)Mercury thermometers shall not be used or stored where children have access to them.

(10) Renovations and remodeling to areas in which child care is provided shall be conducted in a safe manner to ensure that lead poison hazards are not introduced into the environment as required by section 3742 of the Revised Code.

(9)(11) A pet or animal shall be is permitted if it presents no apparent threat to the safety or health of the children. All pets shall be properly housed, cared for, and inoculated. Verification of inoculations, for each pet requiring such inoculations, shall be on file at the center for review by the director's representative department. Children shall not be directly exposed to animal urine or feces.

(10)(12) Electrical outlets, including surge protectors, within the reach of children shall have child proof receptacle covers when not in use, except for programs which serve school children exclusively.

(11)(13) The center's air Air conditioners, heat pumps, electric fans, and heaters shall be mounted or placed out of the children's reach or have safeguards which prevent children from being injured. Only space heaters approved, in writing, by the fire department and/or the building department shall be used.

(12)(14) Unless toilets and sinks are of suitable height for use by the children, the center shall provide a sturdy, nonslip platform on which the children may stand.

(13)(15) All areas used by children shall be ventilated, providing for and shall provide protection from rodents, insects and other hazards.

(14)(16) Indoor swings, (excluding infant swings), slides, climbers, and climbing apparatus shall not be placed over concrete, tile, or any similarly hard surface. There shall be shock absorbent protective covering under and around this equipment. If climbing equipment is over three feet high, landing mats at least one and one half inches thick shall be used. The protective covering shall be used and placed according to manufacturers' guidelines.

(15)(17) Any children's equipment equipped with straps shall be used in accordance with manufacturers' guidelines.

(16)(18) Spray aerosols shall not be used when children are in attendance.

(19) In accordance with section 2923.1212 (A)(8) of the Revised Code, the center shall post a sign that contains a statement in substantially the following form:

"Unless otherwise authorized by law, pursuant to the Revised Code, no person shall knowingly possess, have under the person's control, convey or attempt to convey a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance on these premises."

(B)   Sanitation: the The center shall provide a clean environment and furniture, materials, and equipment which are maintained in sanitary condition.

(1)   Toilet tissue, soap, running water, individually assigned or disposable toweling or air dryers, shall be provided in all restrooms. Toilets shall be flushed after each use. Employees All employees shall wash their hands with soap and running water upon arriving at the center and in accordance with the handwashing requirements of rule 5101:2-12-43 of the Administrative Code, including after toileting, after helping with toileting, before eating/preparing food, and after contact with body fluids. Children shall be instructed to wash their hands after toileting and before eating food.

(2)     Equipment, furnishings, and materials shall be constructed of materials to facilitate cleaning and shall be kept clean and in good repair.

(3)   Washable equipment and furniture shall be cleaned with soap and water at least monthly. Any item soiled during daily use shall be cleaned immediately with soap and water and then disinfected with an appropriate germicide.

(4) Any item soiled during daily use shall be cleaned immediately with soap and water and disinfected with an appropriate germicide

(4)(5) Toys and other items mouthed by children shall be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected with an appropriate germicidal solution and rinsed with water daily. These items shall be washed and disinfected immediately if soiled with blood, feces, urine or vomitus.

(5)(6) All used blankets and sheets shall be laundered or sent home to be laundered weekly. If a blanket or sheet is used by a different child, it shall be laundered between uses.

(6)(7) Cots, pads or mats used for napping shall be thoroughly cleaned with soap and water and disinfected at least every three months. Cots which become soiled during daily use shall be cleaned immediately with soap and water and disinfected with an appropriate germicide.

(7)(8) Inside the center, trash, rubbish and garbage shall be contained in receptacles that are emptied daily.

(8)(9) The facility shall be cleaned daily and kept in a sanitary condition at all times. Cleaning shall not take place while rooms are occupied by children except for general clean up activities which are part of the daily routine, and do not interfere with staff's the supervision of children.

(9)(10) Water that is not Running water shall be publicly supplied or supplied by a well meeting local zoning standards. Water that is not publicly supplied shall be sampled by the local health department and determined to be safe by an approved laboratory prior to initial licensure approval and at least annually thereafter. A copy of the test results shall be maintained on file at the center for review by the director's representative.

(C)   No smoking environment: the The center shall provide for a smoke free environment for the children and adhere to the following stipulations:

(1)    Smoking can only be allowed at the center during its hours of operation if persons who are smoking cannot be seen by the children, and if they smoke in either of the following:

(a)    An indoor area that is separately ventilated from the rest of the center. "Separately ventilated" means stand alone ventilation, separate from the building's heating and cooling source;

(b)   An outdoor area that is so far removed from the children being cared for that they cannot inhale any smoke.

(2)     If smoking is permitted in the center during hours that the center is not operating, the administrator shall provide written notice to the parent, custodian, or guardian of each child enrolled that smoking occurs at the center outside of center operating hours.

(3)   The administrator shall post in a conspicuous place at the main entrance of the center a notice stating that smoking is prohibited.

Effective:                                                     09/01/2005

R.C. 119.032 review dates:                         03/31/2005 and 01/31/2010

CERTIFIED ELECTRONICALLY

Certification

07/25/2005

Date

Promulgated Under:                           119.03

Statutory Authority:                           5104.011

Rule Amplifies:                                  5104.011, 5104.015, 2923.1212

Prior Effective Dates:                         3/1/81, 6/1/84, 9/1/86, 1/2/92 (Emer.), 4/1/92, 4/1/03