Rule 5101:2-12-13 | Sanitary equipment and environment for a licensed child care center.
(A) What are the requirements to provide and maintain a clean environment, furniture, materials, and equipment in a licensed child care center?
(1) Toilet tissue, liquid soap, running water, and individually assigned towels, disposable towels or air dryers shall be provided in all bathrooms. Toilets and bathroom sinks shall be in good working condition. Toilets shall be flushed after each use.
(2) Equipment, furnishings, and materials shall be constructed of materials to facilitate cleaning.
(3) Accumulated trash and garbage are not to be stored in an area that has been approved for child care.
(4) The center shall be cleaned daily and kept in a sanitary condition at all times. Cleaning and sanitizing shall not take place while rooms are occupied by children, except for general cleanup activities such as sweeping, vacuuming, mopping and wiping off tables which are part of the daily routine. The cleaning and sanitizing schedule contained in appendix A to this rule shall be followed.
(5) The premises shall be kept clean to prevent an infestation by insects or rodents.
(6) If the center's water is not publicly supplied, the center shall contact the Ohio environmental protection agency (EPA) to determine if it qualifies as a public water system.
(a) If the water supply qualifies as a public water system, the center shall comply with the Ohio EPA requirements.
(b) If the water supply does not qualify as a public water system, the center shall contact the local health department to have the water tested and follow any additional requirements requested by the health department. The center shall retain a copy of the water test and make it available upon request.
(7) On-site sewage disposal systems shall not present a public health hazard.
(B) What are the handwashing requirements for a center?
(1) Handwashing shall occur in a handwashing sink.
(2) Commercially manufactured non-permanent sinks may be used if fresh water and waste water are inaccessible to children and disposed of in a sanitary manner.
(3) Handwashing requirements for center child care staff members, employees and children are detailed in appendix B to this rule.
(C) What are the requirements for a smoke free environment in a center?
The center shall provide a smoke free environment for the children during the hours that child care is being provided as detailed in appendix C to this rule and be in compliance with the smoking ban pursuant to section 3794.02 of the Revised Code.
(D) What are the requirements for toothbrushing in a center?
Centers who provide toothbrushing shall:
(1) Label each toothbrush with child's name and store with bristles to air dry in such a way that the toothbrushes cannot contact or drip on each other and the bristles are not in contact with any surface.
(2) Ensure that when a single tube of toothpaste is used for more than one child a pea sized amount shall be dispensed onto a clean piece of paper or paper product for each child.
(3) Discard and replace toothbrushes every three months or if the toothbrush becomes contaminated.
Last updated October 29, 2021 at 8:34 AM
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