15A NCAC 18A .2820. STORAGE

(a)  In child care centers, adequate space shall be provided for the storage of equipment, furniture, toys, clothes, linens, backpacks, book bags, diaper bags, beds, cots, mats, and supplies and shall be kept clean.  Shelving or other storage areas shall be provided and constructed in a manner to facilitate cleaning.  Soiled laundry shall be handled and stored separately from clean laundry using separate cleanable containers.

(b)  All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled shall be kept in its original container or in another labeled container, used according to the manufacturer's instructions and stored in a locked storage room or cabinet when not in use.  Locked storage rooms and cabinets shall include those which are unlocked with a combination, electronic or magnetic device, key, or equivalent locking device.  These unlocking devices shall be kept out of the reach of a child and shall not be stored in the lock.  Toxic substances shall be stored below or separate from medications and food.  Any product not listed above, which is labeled "keep out of reach of children" without any other warnings, shall be kept inaccessible to children when not in use, but is not required to be kept in locked storage.  The product shall be considered inaccessible to children when stored on a shelf or in an unlocked cabinet that is mounted a minimum vertical distance of five feet above the finished floor.

(c)  Non-aerosol sanitizing, disinfecting, and detergent solutions, hand sanitizers, and hand lotions shall be kept out of reach of children when not in use, but are not required to be in locked storage.  These solutions shall be labeled as sanitizing, disinfecting, or detergent (soapy water) solutions.  Hand soap other than that which is in bulk containers is not required to be kept out of reach of children or in locked storage.

(d)  Medications including prescription and non-prescription items shall be stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container and shall not be stored above food.  Designated emergency medications shall be stored out of reach of children, but are not required to be in locked storage.  Non-prescription diaper creams and sunscreen shall be kept out of reach of children when not in use, but are not required to be in locked storage.

(e)  Individual cubicles, lockers, or coat hooks shall be provided for storage of coats, hats, or similar items.  Coat hooks not in individual cubicles or lockers, shall be spaced at least 12 horizontal inches apart.  Combs shall be labeled and stored individually.  Toothbrushes shall be individually identified, allowed to air dry and protected from contamination.  When a container of toothpaste is used for multiple children, the toothpaste shall be dispensed onto an intermediate surface such as waxed paper.

(f)  Employee purses and other personal effects shall be kept out of reach of children.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 110-91;

Eff. July 1, 1991;

Amended Eff. July 1, 2006; January 1, 2006; April 1, 1999; February 1, 1995.