10A NCAC 09 .1725         SANITATION REQUIREMENTS FOR FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES

(a)  To assure the health of children through proper sanitation, the family child care home operator shall:

(1)           collect and submit samples of water from each well used for the children's water supply for bacteriological analysis to the local health department or a laboratory certified to analyze drinking water for public water supplies by the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health every two years. Results of the analysis shall be on file in the home;

(2)           collect and submit samples of water from each water outlet used for drinking or food preparation for lead analysis to the local health department or a laboratory certified to analyze for lead in drinking water by the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health. Results of the analysis shall be on file in the home. For operators that submit an application for licensure after the effective date of this Rule, water samples shall be collected by the operator and tested during the application process. For all other family child care homes, water samples shall be collected by the operator and tested within 12 months of the effective date of this Rule;

(3)           wash his or her hands prior to caring for children each day;

(4)           ensure that each child's hands are washed upon arrival at the home each day;

(5)           have sanitary toilet, diaper changing, and hand washing facilities as follows:

(A)          diaper changing areas shall be separate from food preparation areas;

(B)          toileting areas shall have toilet tissue available at all times;

(C)          all toilet fixtures shall be cleanable and in good repair;

(D)          handwashing areas shall have soap and paper towels or other drying devices available at all times;

(E)           diapering surfaces shall be smooth, intact, nonabsorbent, and cleanable; and

(F)           potty chairs and diapering surfaces shall be cleaned after each use.

(6)           use sanitary diapering procedures. Diapers shall be changed whenever they become soiled or wet. The operator shall:

(A)          gather all supplies before placing a child on the diapering surface;

(B)          wash his or her hands before, as well as after, diapering each child;

(C)          ensure the child's hands are washed after diapering the child; and

(D)          place soiled diapers in a covered, leak proof container which is emptied and cleaned daily;

(7)           use sanitary procedures when preparing and serving food. The operator shall:

(A)          wash his or her hands before and after handling food and feeding the children; and

(B)          ensure the child's hands are washed before and after the child is fed;

(8)           wash his or her hands, and ensure the child's hands are washed, after toileting or handling bodily fluids;

(9)           handwashing procedures shall include:

(A)          using liquid soap and water;

(B)          rubbing hands vigorously with soap and water for 15 seconds;

(C)          washing all surfaces of the hands, to include the backs of hands, palms, wrists, under fingernails and between fingers;

(D)          rinsing well for 10 seconds;

(E)           drying hands with a paper towel or other hand drying device; and

(F)           turning off faucet with a paper towel or other method without recontaminating hands;

(10)         refrigerate all perishable food and beverages. The refrigerator shall be in good repair and maintain a temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or below. A refrigerator thermometer is required to monitor the temperature;

(11)         have a house that is free of rodents;

(12)         screen all windows and doors used for ventilation; and

(13)         store garbage in waterproof containers with tight fitting covers.

(b)  If reusable, cloth diapers are used, place soiled cloth diaper, after disposing of feces in toilet without rinsing, in a tightly closed plastic bag or other equivalent container approved by the Division, stored out of reach of children and sent daily to the child's home to be laundered or to a laundry service.

(c)  The operator shall not force children to use the toilet and the operator shall consider the developmental readiness of each child when toilet training. The operator shall provide assistance to each child to ensure proper hygiene, as needed.

(d)  The operator shall ensure that clean clothes are available in the event that a child's clothes become wet or soiled. The change of clothing may be provided by the operator or by the child's parents.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 110-85; 110-88; 110-91; S.L. 2021-180; 45 CFR 98.41;

Eff. October 1, 2017;

Amended Eff. January 1, 2024; September 1, 2019.