7 AAC 50.520. 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 residential child care facility for more than 10 children. Compliance with these environmental health and safety requirements, as applicable, is required before the division will issue a license to these facilities.

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

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

(1) maintaining the 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 equipment that is durable, safe, and kept in good repair;

(6) maintaining proper disposal of sewage, with no evidence of sewage running on the ground or of a septic tank overflowing;

(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 accessibility for caregiver hand washing.

(e) A facility with more than one child in care using bottles and pacifiers shall label the bottles and pacifiers with each child's name; a 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 center are prohibited under AS 11.61.195 . Firearms are prohibited in a residential group home. Ammunition is prohibited in a center and a residential group home. A foster home shall ensure that firearms are unloaded and reasonably inaccessible to children and that ammunition is stored separately from the firearms in a place that is reasonably inaccessible to children.

(g) Before a foster home allows a child to handle a firearm, the home shall submit a firearm safety plan acceptable to the licensing representative that addresses the firearm safety instruction approach that will be used.

(h) Deleted 7/1/2000.

(i) Smoking in a residential child care facility is prohibited. Smoking in a foster home is prohibited in a room in which foster children under 30 months of age are present. A foster parent may allow smoking in the presence of children over 30 months of age only after submitting a plan acceptable to the licensing representative that addresses protecting children from second-hand smoke.

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

History: Eff. 1/1/96, Register 136; am 3/1/98, Register 145

Authority: AS 44.29.020

AS 47.35.010

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