ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS FOR GROUP CHILD CARE HOMES
(A) Food Sanitation. The following standards shall be met for food sanitation:
1. Food shall be in sound condition, free from spoilage, filth, or other contamination; food shall be obtained from sources that comply with all laws relating to food and food labeling. The use of hermetically sealed containers (home canned food) is prohibited.2. All milk including dry milk powder shall be from a Grade A pasteurized source.3. Raw fruits and vegetables shall be washed before use.4. Stuffings, poultry, and pork products shall be cooked to heat all parts of the food to at least 150°F.5. If a family style feeding process is used, all leftover food from the eating table shall be discarded. Milk and food used in family style feeding shall not be placed on eating table longer than 15 minutes prior to beginning of meal.6. Potentially hazardous foods requiring cold storage shall be maintained at 45°F or below, and accurate thermometers shall be kept in the refrigerators. Potentially hazardous food requiring hot storage shall be at an internal temperature of 140°F or above. Frozen foods shall be maintained at a temperature of 0°F or below. Thermometers shall be placed in all freezers.7. Milk and other potentially hazardous foods shall be kept in the proper temperature ranges and be protected properly, except during necessary periods of preparation.8. All dry food supplies shall be stored in closed containers and labeled unless its identity is unmistakable. These foods shall be stored in a manner to prevent possible contamination and to allow for proper cleaning of the storage area.9. All food shall be protected from contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, and serving.10. No poisonous or toxic materials except those required to maintain sanitary conditions and for sanitation purposes may be used or stored in a food-service area of a facility.11. Poisonous and toxic materials shall be identified, stored, and used only in such a manner and under such conditions as will not contaminate food or constitute a hazard to the population of a facility.12. All equipment and utensils including plasticware shall be so designed and fabricated of such material and workmanship as to be smooth, easily cleanable, and durable, under conditions of normal use and shall be resistant to denting, buckling, pitting, chipping, and crazing.13. The food-contact surfaces of equipment and utensils shall be easily cleanable, nontoxic, corrosion resistant, and nonabsorbent. Hard maple or equivalently nonabsorbent material may be used for cutting boards, blocks, salad bowls, and baker's tables.14. Multi-use equipment shall be constructed and repaired with safe materials, including finishing materials; and they shall be corrosion resistant and nonabsorbent; and they shall be smooth and easily cleanable.15. Equipment in use at the time of adoption of this standard that does not fully meet all of the design and fabrication requirements shall be deemed acceptable in that establishment if it is in good repair, capable of being maintained in a sanitary condition, and the food contact surfaces are nontoxic.16. All eating and drinking utensils shall be thoroughly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use with the exception of single-service utensils which shall be discarded following use.17. Single-service articles shall be made from nontoxic materials and shall be stored, handled, and dispensed in a sanitary manner.18. All utensils and food-contact surfaces or equipment used in the preparation, transportation, service, display, or storage of potentially hazardous food shall be thoroughly washed, rinsed, and sanitized prior to such use.19. Cooking surfaces of equipment shall be cleaned at least once a day.20. All kitchenware and food-contact surfaces of equipment, exclusive of cooking surfaces of equipment, used in the preparation or serving of food or drink, and all food-storage utensils, shall be washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use.21. Nonfood contact surfaces of equipment shall be cleaned as often as is necessary to keep equipment free of accumulation of dust, dirt, food particles, and other debris.22. Cleaned and sanitized utensils and equipment shall be stored at least six inches above the floor in a clean, dry location in a way that protects them from contamination by splash, dust, and other means.23. In facilities defined by the Department of Human Services as existing, a two-compartment sink can be used for washing and rinsing utensils, provided an additional container or sink is used for sanitation of the utensils. For facilities defined by the Department of Human Services as new, a three-compartment sink with two drain boards or easily movable dish tables of adequate size shall be required when manual dishwashing procedures are utilized for washing, rinsing, and sanitation of utensils. Domestic type dishwashing machines are acceptable provided the temperature at the utensil surface is 160°F after the end of one complete cycle. If 160° is not obtained at the end of one complete cycle, an additional sanitizing rinse for utensils shall be provided in a separate container or sink.
(B) Water Supply. 1. The water supply serving child care facilities shall be provided from a source constructed and operated according to law.2. There shall be sufficient hot and cold water under pressure to supply the daily needs of a group day care home.3. Water from a public supply shall be utilized where available.4. An approved drinking fountain or individual single service paper cups shall be provided in rooms or adjacent to rooms regularly occupied by the residents.5. All facilities shall be clean and in good repair.(C) Sewage Disposal And Plumbing.1. The facility shall be connected to a public sewage disposal system when such a system is available.2. The use of a private sewage disposal system shall have the approval of the local health department and it shall be operating satisfactorily.3. When the private sewage disposal system at an existing facility fails and where a public sewage system is available, the facility shall be connected.4. Plumbing shall be sized, installed, and maintained according to law. There shall be no cross-connection between the potable water supply and any other water supply.(D) Solid Waste.1. There shall be a sufficient number of containers to hold all the garbage and refuse that accumulates.2. Soiled containers shall be cleaned at a frequency to prevent insect and rodent attraction, and maintained in good repair.3. Storage containers, other than bulk, shall be secured properly to prevent spillage.4. Garbage deposited in outside bulk storage shall be in fly-tight containers (i.e., plastic bags).5. All garbage shall be removed from the building daily.6. Garbage and rubbish shall be collected from the premises at least twice weekly.7. At facilities where twice weekly collection is not provided, all garbage and rubbish shall be disposed of in a manner acceptable to the health authority having jurisdiction (supplement collection by individual hauling, acceptable burying, etc.).8. Combustible rubbish may be burned, provided such burning meets all local and state laws and regulations relative to incinerators, incineration, and air pollution.(E) Toilets, Handwashing, And Bathing. 1. One-flush toilet and one handwashing facility for every 12 children shall be provided.2. All facilities shall be approved and in good repair, and clean.3. A tightly covered container with plastic liner shall be used for diaper disposal and stored inaccessible to children. This container shall be emptied by closing the liner and disposing of it into an outside garbage receptacle.4. There shall be soap, hot and cold water under pressure, and individual towels provided wherever a handwashing lavatory is located.5. Personnel shall exercise good handwashing practices following diaper changes, the assistance of children in toilet use, and personal toileting.6. Proper adult supervision shall be exercised for use of toilet and handwashing facilities.7. Toilet tissue shall be provided on tissue holder at each commode.8. Tempered water (90°F - 120°F) shall be provided at all handwashing or bathing facilities used by children.(F) Buildings. 1. Structure. (a) The building foundation, roof, walls, and window frames shall be free of visible cracks and unsealed openings to prevent entrance of insects and rodents.(b) Buildings shall be kept clean, in good repair, and painted when necessary.(c) Gutters and downspouts shall be kept in good repair.2. Floors shall be easily cleanable, clean, and in good repair.3. Walls and ceilings shall be kept clean and in good repair.4. Doors and Windows.(a) All doors and windows shall be kept clean and in good repair (this includes screens when used).(b) Window space shall be equal to at least 10 percent of the floor area except in rooms which are air-conditioned and which have artificial light amounting to at least 25 foot candles.(c) Windows shall be openable unless the room is air-conditioned.(d) All outside doors and windows used for ventilation shall be screened unless building is air-conditioned.5. Bedding.(a) Where provisions are made for staying at a facility overnight, each occupant shall be provided an individual bed with acceptable mattress and waterproof cover, springs, clean linen, and clean cover.(b) Where children are kept at least six hours but not overnight, individual cots or other approved bedding shall be provided and kept clean and in good repair.(c) Spacing between mats or cots shall be adequate to promote freedom of movement (approximately two feet between cots and mats).6. Lighting. (a) Natural and/or artificial lighting shall equal at least 25 foot candles in all areas used by children and staff.(b) Fixtures, shades, blinds, etc., shall be clean and in good repair.7. Heating and Ventilation. (a) All rooms used by children shall be heated by a system capable of maintaining a temperature of 68°F.(b) When the outside temperature is 65°F or below, the temperature at child height within the facility shall be no lower than 65°F nor higher than 75°F.(c) Stoves, hot radiators, steam and hot water pipes, or other objects and electrical outlets in rooms used by the children shall be adequately protected by screens, guards, insulation, or any suitable measures that will protect children from coming in contact with them.(d) Heat and ventilation units shall be clean and in good repair.8. Housekeeping. (a) All parts of the building shall be maintained in clean condition.(b) All rooms shall be maintained in an orderly manner. (G) Insect And Rodent Control. 1. The facility shall be reasonably free from flies, other insects, and breeding sites.2. Approved screens in good repair shall be provided for all doors and windows used for ventilation purposes.3. When air-conditioning is used, doors and windows shall be kept closed.4. The facility shall be free of rodents.5. There shall be no rodent harborage areas.6. Proper supervision and caution shall be exercised according to label instructions when applying approved insecticides and rodenticides.(H) Safety. 1. Pesticides, medicines, polishes, disinfectants, and cleaning compounds shall be stored in a manner approved by the local health authority.2. Sturdy safety rails shall be provided for ramps and steps where there are three or more risers.3. Bathtubs, if used, shall be provided with safety strips or mats.4. Glass in hazardous locations in the facility shall be shielded when safety glass is not used. Broken glass objects shall not be permitted in any part of the building or on grounds.5. All furniture shall be of durable construction, free of sharp projecting corners or surfaces and kept in good repair.6. Grounds shall be kept clean and free of hazards that are likely to cause falls. Grounds shall be kept free of excess growth of grass or weeds.7. Buildings and grounds shall be free of any unprotected, abandoned well, cistern, refrigerator, or similar hazards.8. Fencing or other acceptable barriers shall be provided for hazardous drainage ditches, cliffs, bluffs, or other similar hazards.9. Adequate barriers, such as fencing, shall be provided and supervision exercised to prevent children from running on driveways, streets, or highways where a traffic hazard exists.10. Grounds shall have adequate drainage.(I) Swimming Pool.1. Facilities shall comply with state law and regulations for public swimming pools.2. Facilities utilizing a swimming pool on-site shall have an approved lifeguard on duty or twice the number of adults required in the home. Facilities using an off-site pool shall be assured of the number of lifeguards required on duty.3. A fence four feet high shall surround the pool.Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240, 1240-04, ch. 1240-04-01, 1240-04-01-.11, app E