SECTION .0600 ‑ SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS

10A NCAC 09 .0601         SAFE ENVIRONMENT

(a)  All child care centers shall provide a safe indoor and outdoor environment for the children in care.

(b)  All equipment and furnishings shall be in good repair. All commercially manufactured equipment and furnishings shall be assembled and installed according to procedures specified by the manufacturer. For equipment and furnishings purchased after September 1, 2017, that include instructions from the manufacturer, those manufacturer's instructions shall be kept on file at the center, unless they are available electronically for review.

(c)  Equipment and furnishings shall be sturdy, stable, and free of hazards that may injure children including sharp edges, lead based or peeling paint, rust, loose nails, splinters, protrusions (excluding nuts and bolts on sides of fences), and pinch and crush points.

(d)  Staff of the center shall immediately remove all equipment and furnishings that do not meet the requirements of Paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Rule from the premises or make the equipment or furnishings inaccessible to the children.

(e)  Each child care center shall provide equipment and furnishings that are child-size or that can be adapted for use by children. Chairs and tables shall be of appropriate height for the children who will be using them.

(f)  Each child care center shall be free of lead poisoning hazards as defined in G.S. 130A-131.7(7) and asbestos hazards.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 110-91(3),(6); 143B-168.3;

Eff. January 1, 1986;

Amended Eff. January 1, 1996; January 1, 1991;

Readopted Eff. October 1, 2017;

Amended Eff. January 1, 2024; February 1, 2021.