16 Del. Admin. Code § 4447-6.0

Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 7, January 1, 2025

Section 4447-6.0 - General Sanitation - Field Sanitation/Hand Labor Operations

Agricultural employers shall provide the following for employees engaged in field sanitation/hand labor operations, without cost to the employee:

6.1 Potable drinking water.

6.1.1 Potable water shall be provided and placed in locations readily accessible to all employees.

6.1.2 Water shall be suitably cool and in sufficient amounts, taking into account the air temperature, humidity and the nature of the work performed, to meet the needs of all employees.

6.1.3 Water shall be dispensed in single-use drinking cups or by fountains. The use of common drinking cups or dippers is prohibited.

6.2 Toilet and handwashing facilities.

6.2.1 One toilet facility and one handwashing facility shall be provided for every 20 employees or fraction thereof.

6.2.2 Toilet facilities shall be adequately ventilated, appropriately screened, have self-closing doors that can be closed and latched from the inside, and shall be constructed to insure privacy.

6.2.3 Toilet and handwashing facilities shall be accessibly located in close proximity to each other. The facilities shall be located within a one-quarter-mile walk of each hand laborer's place of work in the field.

6.2.4 Where due to terrain it is not feasible to locate facilities as required above, the facilities shall be located at the point closest vehicular access.

6.2.5 Toilet and handwashing facilities are not required for employees who perform field work for a period of three (3) hours or less, including transportation time to and from the field, during the day.

6.3 Maintenance. Potable drinking water and toilet and handwashing facilities shall be maintained in accordance with the following:

6.3.1 Drinking water containers shall be constructed of materials that maintain water quality, shall be refilled daily or more often as necessary, shall be kept covered, and shall be regularly cleaned.

6.3.2 Toilet facilities shall be operational and maintained in clean and sanitary condition.

6.3.3 Handwashing facilities shall be refilled with potable water as necessary to ensure an adequate supply and shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition; and

6.3.4 Disposal of wastes from facilities shall not cause unsanitary conditions.

6.4 Reasonable use.

6.4.1 The agricultural employer shall notify each employee of the location of the sanitation facilities and water and shall allow each employee reasonable opportunities during the workday to use them. The agricultural employer shall also inform each employee of the importance of following good hygiene practices to minimize exposure to the hazards in the fields of heat, communicable diseases, retention of urine, and agrichemical residues.

16 Del. Admin. Code § 4447-6.0