Washington Administrative Code › Title 170 - Early Learning, Department of › Chapter 170-300 - FOUNDATIONAL QUALITY STANDARDS FOR EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS › SAFETY › Section 170-300-0165 - Safety requirements

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) An early
				learning provider must keep indoor and outdoor early learning program space,
				materials, and equipment free from hazards and in safe working condition.
				Equipment and toys purchased and used must be compliant with CPSC guidelines or
				ASTM standards, as now and hereafter amended. Playground equipment and surfaces
				must meet the requirements of WAC 110-300-0146.
(2) An early learning provider must take
				steps to prevent hazards to children including, but not limited to:
(a) Making inaccessible to infants and
				toddlers any equipment, material, or objects that may pose a risk of choking,
				aspiration, or ingestion. For the purposes of this section, equipment,
				material, or objects that have a diameter or overall dimension of one and
				three-quarter inches or less shall be considered items that may pose a risk of
				choking, aspiration, or ingestion. Small parts from larger equipment, material,
				or objects that have a diameter or overall dimension of one and three-quarter
				inches or less, that may become detached from the larger equipment, materials,
				or object shall also be considered items that may pose a risk of choking,
				aspiration, or ingestion;
(b)
				Eliminating and not using in the licensed space, pursuant to
				RCW
				   43.216.380, any window blinds or other window
				coverings with pull cords or inner cords capable of forming a loop and posing
				risk of strangulation to children.
(i) Window
				blinds and other window coverings that have been manufactured or properly
				retrofitted in a manner that eliminates the formation of loops posing a risk of
				strangulation are allowed; and
(ii)
				A window covering must not be secured to the frame of a window or door used as
				an emergency exit in a way that would prevent the window or door from opening
				easily.
(c) Making
				inaccessible to children straps, strings, cords, wires, or similar items
				capable of forming a loop around a child's neck that are not used during
				supervised early learning program activities;
(d) Making inaccessible to children plastic
				bags and other suffocation hazards;
(e) Ensuring firearms, guns, weapons, and
				ammunition are not on the premises of a center early learning program.
				Firearms, guns, weapons, and ammunition on the premises of a family home early
				learning program must be stored in a locked gun safe or locked room
				inaccessible to children. If stored in a locked room, each gun must be stored
				unloaded and with a trigger lock or other disabling device. The locked room
				must be inaccessible to children at all times;
(f) Preventing children from walking into or
				through a glass door, window, or other glass barrier, by placing stickers or
				art work at the children's eye level on the glass; and
(g) Cribs, play pens, bassinets, infant beds,
				and indoor climbing structures must not be placed next to windows, to prevent
				harm from shattered glass, unless the window is made of safety glass.