North Carolina Administrative Code › Title 15A - Environmental Quality › Chapter 18 - ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH › Subchapter A - SANITATION › Section .2800 - SANITATION OF CHILD CARE CENTERS › Section 18A .2820 - STORAGE

Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 2, July 15, 2024
(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.
Authority
					 G.S.
					 110-91;
Eff. July 1,
					 1991;
Amended Eff. July 1, 2006; January 1, 2006; April 1, 1999;
					 February 1, 1995.