15A NCAC 18A .2820      STORAGE

(a)  In child care centers, adequate space shall be provided for the storage of equipment, furniture, toys, clothes, linens, backpacks, book bags, diaper bags, beds, cots, mats, and supplies. Storage areas shall be kept clean. Laundry that is not clean shall be handled and stored separately from clean laundry using separate containers that are made clean in between uses and kept in good repair.

(b)  Toxic substances, which include corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled shall be kept in the original container or in another labeled container, used according to the manufacturer's instructions, and stored in a locked storage room or cabinet when not in use. Locked storage rooms and cabinets shall include those which are unlocked with a combination lock, electronic or magnetic device, keypad, key, or equivalent locking device. Keys and electronic or magnetic unlocking devices shall be kept out of the reach of a child and shall not be stored in the lock. Toxic substances shall be stored below or separate from medications and food. Any other product that is labeled "keep out of reach of children" and does not have any other warnings on the label shall be kept inaccessible to children when not in use, but is not required to be kept in locked storage. For the purpose of Paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this Rule, a product shall be considered inaccessible to children when stored on a shelf or in an unlocked cabinet that is mounted a minimum vertical distance of five feet above the finished floor.

(c)  Non-aerosol sanitizing solutions, approved disinfectants, detergent solutions, hand antiseptics, and hand lotions shall be kept inaccessible to children when not in use, but are not required to be in locked storage. These solutions shall be labeled as sanitizing, disinfecting, or detergent solutions. Hand soap other than that which is in bulk containers is not required to be kept inaccessible to children or in locked storage. Bulk soaps shall be kept inaccessible to children.

(d)  Medications including prescription and non-prescription items shall be stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container and shall not be stored above food. Designated emergency medications shall be kept inaccessible to children, but are not required to be in locked storage. Non-prescription diaper creams and sunscreen shall be kept inaccessible to children when not in use, but are not required to be in locked storage.

(e)  A locked kitchen is not considered to be a locked storage room or cabinet for the purposes of this Rule; however, for child care centers that are located within a school and that use the school cafeteria's kitchen to meet the kitchen requirements of the rules of this Section, it shall not be a violation of this Rule to store products described in Paragraphs (a)-(d) of this Rule unlocked in the cafeteria's kitchen, provided that the kitchen is kept locked and children are not permitted in the kitchen for any purpose.

(f)  Individual cubicles, lockers, or coat hooks shall be provided for storage of coats, hats, bags, or other items and accessories. Coat hooks not in individual cubicles or lockers, shall be spaced at least 12 horizontal inches apart. A child's coats, hats, bags, and other items or accessories belonging to a child that are stored using cubicles, lockers, or coat hooks shall not come into contact with stored items belonging to other children. Combs shall be labeled with the name of the child to whom the comb belongs and stored separately from combs or other items that belong to a different child. Toothbrushes shall be labeled with the name of the child to whom the toothbrush belongs, allowed to air dry after use, protected from contamination, and stored in a designated area. When a container of toothpaste is used for multiple children, the toothpaste shall be dispensed onto an intermediate surface such as waxed paper and shall not be dispensed directly onto each child's toothbrush.

(g)  Purses and other personal effects belonging to child care center employees shall be kept inaccessible to children and shall be stored in accordance with this Rule, as applicable.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 110-91;

Eff. July 1, 1991;

Amended Eff. July 1, 2006; January 1, 2006; April 1, 1999; February 1, 1995;

Readopted Eff. July 1, 2023.