Title 4 . Education and Early Development

Chapter 62 . (Repealed)

Section 520. Environmental health and safety

4 AAC 62.520. Environmental health and safety

(a) The standards for environmental health and safety set out in 18 AAC 30.800 - 18 AAC 30.890 and 18 AAC 30.945 - 18 AAC 30.990 as administered by the Department of Environmental Conservation apply to a child care center. Compliance with these environmental health and safety requirements, as applicable, is required before the Department of Education and Early Development will issue a license to these child care facilities.

(b) At the time of licensing, a licensing representative will inspect a child care facility that is not described in (a) of this section to determine if the child care facility meets applicable requirements of (c), (d), and (g) of this section, unless the child care facility has been previously inspected under 18 AAC 30.945 - 18 AAC 30.990. The licensing representative will request an inspection by the Department of Environmental Conservation if the licensing representative determines that an inspection by the Department of Environmental Conservation is necessary.

(c) A child care facility that is not described in (a) of this section shall ensure that it has an ample supply of potable water from one of the following sources:

(1) a community water supply;

(2) a rain catchment system in which the water is

(A) disinfected; and

(B) stored off the floor and poured or dispensed by a spout or faucet;

(3) a surface water supply that has an acceptable filtration system and is continuously disinfected;

(4) a well with a water sample that passes a laboratory test for bacteriological quality; or

(5) a well with a casing that extends 12 or more inches above the ground, that has a sanitary seal, and that is at least 100 feet from the nearest sewer system.

(d) A child care facility that is not described in (a) of this section shall take the necessary precautions to make the child care facility free of hazards that can cause injury or disease to children both inside and outside of the building, including

(1) maintaining the child care facility in a clean and sanitary condition;

(2) maintaining sanitary facilities for proper care, storage, refrigeration, and preparation of food;

(3) installing and maintaining hot water temperature controls so that hot water delivered to plumbing fixtures accessible to a young child in care is not more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit;

(4) storing cleaners, medicines, and other harmful substances in a place inaccessible to young children;

(5) obtaining furniture and play equipment that is durable, safe, easy to clean, and that is kept clean and in good repair;

(6) providing a domestic waste water system that

(A) has been approved by the Department of Environmental Conservation in accordance with 18 AAC 72, or by a municipal government to which the Department of Environmental Conservation has delegated authority under 18 AAC 72.280;

(B) has been installed, in accordance with 18 AAC 72, by a

(i) person that the Department of Environmental Conservation has certified under 18 AAC 72.405 as an installer; or

(ii) homeowner that the Department of Environmental Conservation has approved under 18 AAC 72.410; or

(C) if a requirement described in (A) or (B) of this paragraph was not applicable to the system at the time of installation, is operated and regularly maintained to

(i) provide safe treatment and disposal of sewage; and

(ii) prevent septic tank overflows, the backflow of sewage into the facility, the ponding of fluids on the ground, or the running of sewage on the ground;

(7) storing refuse in containers with tight-fitting lids until it can be properly disposed;

(8) having sanitary toileting facilities; and

(9) having safe and sanitary equipment and supplies for diapering and toileting where infants and toddlers are in care, including easy accessibility for the caregiver to wash the caregiver's hands each time after changing a diaper or assisting a child with toileting.

(e) A child care facility with more than one child in care using bottles and pacifiers shall label the bottles and pacifiers with each child's name; a child care facility that reuses bottles, bottle caps, and nipples shall clean and disinfect them by washing in a dishwasher or by boiling for at least five minutes before filling.

(f) Firearms in a child care center are prohibited under AS 11.61.195 . Ammunition is prohibited in a child care center. All other child care facilities shall ensure that firearms are unloaded and stored in a locked gun safe or other locked place inaccessible to children and that ammunition is stored separately from the firearms in a place that is inaccessible to children. Firearms may not be visible to children. If firearms are stored in a locked cabinet with a glass display, the cabinet must be in a room that is inaccessible to children. The key or combination for the gun safe or locked place must be inaccessible to children.

(g) A child care home and a child care group home shall ensure that its playground is free of hazards that can cause injury, including

(1) selecting and maintaining play equipment so that it

(A) is securely anchored, unless it is portable and self supporting;

(B) is free of entrapment, pinch, or crush points;

(C) is free of sharp points, corners, or edges;

(D) provides clearance between the equipment and any objects that may cause injury; and

(2) covering areas around and under play equipment that is over three feet high with shock absorbing material such as pea gravel, sand, or sawdust; concrete and asphalt may not be used under play equipment.

(h) Smoking in a child care center is prohibited under AS 18.35.305 . A child care home and a child care group home shall maintain a smoke-free environment, including a vehicle used to transport children.

(i) Where young children are in care, a child care facility shall install child proof cover caps in all electrical outlets not in use and that are accessible to children under age five.

(j) A child care center shall maintain at least two readily available first aid kits; at least one kit to be maintained at the center and at least one kit to be taken on field trips and outings away from the center. A child care home and a child care group home shall maintain one first aid kit to be taken on field trips and outings away from the home, except that a home may use an abbreviated first aid kit for a neighborhood walk of 30 minutes or less. First aid kits must be restocked after use and inventory taken at least monthly. The first aid kit must include at least the following items:

(1) disposable nonporous gloves;

(2) sealed packages of alcohol wipes or antiseptic;

(3) scissors;

(4) tweezers;

(5) thermometer;

(6) bandage tape;

(7) sterile gauze pads;

(8) flexible roller gauze;

(9) triangular bandages;

(10) safety pins;

(11) eye dressing;

(12) pen or pencil and note pad;

(13) syrup of ipecac; use only under the direction of a poison control center or with training in its use;

(14) cold pack;

(15) current American Academy of Pediatrics or American Red Cross standard first aid text or equivalent first aid guide;

(16) coins for use in a pay telephone;

(17) insect sting preparation;

(18) poison control center telephone number;

(19) water;

(20) small plastic or metal splints;

(21) soap;

(22) a working flashlight;

(23) for a trip away from the facility, and for each child participating in the trip,

(A) emergency child record information as required by 4 AAC 62.300(a) ; and

(B) parent permission for use of medication as required by 4 AAC 62.440.

History: Eff. 1/1/96, Register 136; am 3/1/98, Register 145; am 2/8/2002, Register 161; am 10/3/2002, Register 163; am 11/13/2002, Register 164

Authority: AS 14.37.020