Ala. Admin. Code r. 420-3-21-.03

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 420-3-21-.03 - Facility Construction And Operation

(1) Location

(a) Camps shall not be located in areas, which constitute health or safety hazards.

(b) Each camp shall be accessible at all times during the designated camping season by a road which may be traveled without difficulty by conventional motorized vehicles.

(c) The premises of each camp shall be kept free of accumulations of refuse and debris.

(2) Building

(a) All permanent structures used for living and/or sleeping purposes shall be kept clean and in good repair.

(b) All gas or oil burning heating, and/or cooking facilities provided shall be properly vented and maintained according to State Fire Marshal requirements. No open-faced gas and/or oil burning heaters shall be allowed under any circumstances.

(c) All suspected violations of the State Fire Code shall be reported to the State Fire Marshal for investigation and enforcement for applicable Fire Code standards.

(d) The number of sleepers per permanent structure shall be such that each sleeper is provided with at least thirty (30) square feet of floor space. Beds shall be located at least thirty inches (30") apart side and ends, and not more than one person shall occupy each bed.

(e) Where bedding is furnished, it shall be kept clean and in good repair. If sheets are furnished, they shall be changed at least weekly and/or for each new user of the bed.

(f) Adequate lighting shall be provided at the entrance and inside permanent structures, including all toilet and bathing facilities. Toilets and first aid stations shall be properly lit for night access during normal sleeping hours.

(g) Window space in all sleeping areas shall be at least one-tenth (1/10) of the total floor space of such areas. Windows shall be screened, and shall be maintained in a satisfactory state of repair. Screening material shall not be less than 16 mesh to the inch.

(h) All permanent structures shall be maintained in such manner as to prevent infestation of insects, rodents and other vermin.

(3) Toilet, Lavatory, and Bathing Facilities

(a) Each camp shall be provided with adequate toilet and bathing facilities, provided that operators of existing facilities take such measures as are necessary to effect compliance within a given time frame approved by the Health Officer. For facilities constructed after the effective date of these rules, the ratio of toilets, lavatories, urinals, drinking fountains, bathing facilities, and other fixtures for occupants of resident camps shall be follows:

See Table at http://www.alabamaadministrativecode.state.al.us/docs/hlth/index.html

(b) All toilets, lavatories, and bathing facilities shall be maintained in a state of good repair and shall be kept clean.

(c) Toilets and bathrooms shall be so located and distributed as to be reasonably accessible.

(d) Privies, if provided in any camp, shall be of approved design and construction and maintained in compliance with applicable rules.

(e) Toilet tissue shall be provided at each privy or toilet seat at all times.

(f) Plumbing fixtures, when connected to a sanitary drainage system shall be provided with water-sealed traps, and shall comply with any local codes and recommendations of the Health Officer. Readily accessible clean-outs shall be provided in all sewers and waste lines installed after the effective date of these rules and in existing sewers and waste lines when repair or alterations are made.

(g) All fixtures shall be vented in accordance with local codes, if any, and vents shall be installed so that no drainage of any fixture may be deposited in or conveyed through said vent.

(h) All toilet and bathing facilities shall be ventilated in a manner approved by the Health Officer.

(i) A covered container shall be provided at or near each commode in women's toilet facilities.

(4) Swimming Areas

(a) Current recommendations and/or rules of the Alabama State Department of Public Health and/or rules of the county in which the camp is located shall be applicable in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of camp swimming pools; however, all swimming pools shall be constructed, operated, and maintained in accordance with the following minimum requirements:

1. Water Supply: All water used in swimming pools shall be from sources approved by the Health Officer. No piping arrangements shall exist which, under any conditions, will permit sewage, waste water, or water from an unapproved source to enter the swimming pool water system or water from the swimming pool to enter the make-up water supply. Fresh water inlets shall be at an elevation above the deck level of the pool.

2. Construction: All swimming pools shall be structurally sound and constructed of an inert and enduring material, nontoxic to man, preferably concrete and tile.

3. Pool Inlets and Outlets: Pool inlets and outlets shall be provided and arranged to produce a uniform circulation of water so that a uniform disinfectant residual is maintained throughout the pool.

4. Recirculation and Filtration: All swimming pools shall have and maintain adequate recirculation and filtration equipment approved by the Health Officer for water purification.

5. Water Treatment: Satisfactory means of disinfecting which provides a residual of disinfecting agent in the pool water shall be used. Adequate, dependable automatic feeding equipment and equipment for testing residual and pH must be provided. Chlorinating equipment shall be operated at such a rate and for such time as is necessary to maintain a free chlorine residual of not less than .4 ppm when the pH measures 7.2 to 7.6. If the pH is greater than 7.6, the free chlorine residual shall be no less than 1 ppm. At no time shall the pH read less than 7.2. If other halogens are used, residuals of equivalent strength shall be used. Daily records of test results shall be recorded and shall become a permanent file of the pool, and shall be made available to the Health Officer upon his/her request.

6. Algae Accumulations: Walls and floors of pools and surrounding walks and scum gutters shall be kept free from algae and other accumulations. However, no compounds shall be used for algae control, which may be injurious to the bather's health under use conditions.

7. Safety Features: Every camp swimming area shall be attended by a life guard properly certified by a nationally recognized organization such as the Red Cross, Y.M.C.A. or Boy Scouts of America during all hours in which the pool is open for swimming. Each camp swimming pool shall be fenced on all sides, with one gate, to prevent the entrance of small children unaccompanied by an adult. One shepherd's crook and at least two approved life buoys shall be provided. Life buoys must have sufficient rope attached to reach at least one-half the width of the pool. All life saving equipment shall be readily accessible to the pool.

(b) Natural Waters: Due to natural waters being subject to abrupt changes of quality parameters, the provision of these rules pertaining to water quality does not apply to natural waters.

(5) Food Service - Camps which operate a food service establishment shall do so in full compliance with the Alabama State Board of Health's Rules for Food Service Sanitation, Chapter 420-3-22.

(6) Restriction of Animals

(a) No stray dogs, cats, fowls or other domestic animals shall be permitted to run at large within the limits of any camp premises.

(b) All dogs, cats, horses, and other warm-blooded animals owned or under the supervision of an occupant of any camp shall be currently vaccinated against rabies in compliance with Alabama Law and shall be the responsibility of the permit holder.

(c) Horses and other animals maintained in any camp for camp use shall be quartered at least 300 feet from any sleeping, living, eating or food preparation area.

(d) Stables and corrals shall be located on a well-drained, sloping area and so situated as to prevent contamination of any water supply.

(e) Manure shall be removed from stalls and corrals as often as necessary to prevent a fly problem and/or offensive odor and shall be disposed of in such manner as is approved by the Health Officer.

(7) Health, Communicable Diseases

(a) No person known to have a disease or to be a carrier of a disease, which could be spread through food, water, or air, shall attend or shall be employed in the operation or maintenance of any camp.

(b) In the event of an outbreak of an infectious disease in any camp, such place or places shall, upon the order of the Health Officer, be immediately closed.

(c) Nothing in these rules shall be construed to prevent the Health Officer or State Epidemiologist from imposing additional requirements to protect against health hazards related to employee health when, in his/her medical opinion, such additional requirements are necessary to protect public health. Nothing in these rules shall be construed to prevent the Health Officer or State Epidemiologist from waiving or modifying requirements of these rules relating to employee health when, in his/her medical opinion, no public health hazard will result.

(8) Approval of Plans

(a) Any person or persons contemplating construction, alteration, addition to, or change in the construction of any camp shall, prior to the initiation of such construction, submit to the Health Officer a plot of the proposed camp, additions, alterations, or change in construction which shall show:

1. Area and dimensions of the site.

2. The number, size, type, and location of all permanent and/or semi- permanent structures and facilities.

3. The location of any privately-developed water supply and sewage disposal system.

4. The location of water and sewer lines.

(b) In camps where central food preparation and food service buildings are proposed, plans and specifications shall be submitted to the Health Officer as required by the Alabama State Board of Health's Rules for Food Service Sanitation, Chapter 420-3-22.

(c) In camps where artificially constructed swimming pools are contemplated, plans and specifications shall be submitted to the Health Officer for review and approval prior to construction.

(d) Plans for development of water supplies which require treatment other than chlorination shall be submitted to the Health Officer and A.D.E.M. for review and approval prior to construction.

(e) Plans and specifications for sewage treatment and disposal facilities shall be in accordance with applicable rules for on-site sewage disposal systems and shall be submitted to the Health Officer for review and approval prior to construction.

(f) Plot plans and all plans and specifications shall be submitted and shall be to a scale of not less than 1": 100'.

(g) Final approval of plans by the Health Officer shall constitute permit to proceed with construction.

(9) Approval of Plans - Existing Camps.

(a) In accordance with applicable state and local laws, ordinances and regulations, plans and specifications for the construction, reconstruction or extensive alteration of any plumbing system, water supply, sewage system, garbage or refuse disposal system, kitchen food service or dining facilities, swimming and/or diving areas at any camp shall be submitted to the Health Officer at least 60 days prior to the initiation of construction, to be returned by the Health Officer within 30 days. This review is to determine that the facility meets all rules and regulations stipulated for camps permitted in Alabama.

(10) Camp Manager - Each camp shall have a person designated as Camp Manager who has authority to execute or have executed corrective or preventive measures as the Health Officer may direct which affect the health, safety, and well-being of the camp staff and camp occupants.

Authors: Ronald Dawsey, Timothy Hatch

Ala. Admin. Code r. 420-3-21-.03

Filed December 19, 1985. Amended: Filed March 21, 2005; effective April 25, 2005.

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 22-2-2(6), 22-20-5, 34-15-3.