N.J. Admin. Code § 3A:52-7.8

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 3A:52-7.8 - Personal hygiene requirements

(a) Handwashing requirements are as follows:

1. The center shall ensure that children wash their hands with soap and running water:

i. Before intake of food;

ii. Immediately after using the toilet or having diapers changed;

iii. Immediately after coming into contact with blood, fecal matter, urine, vomit, nasal secretions, or other body fluids or secretions;

iv. Immediately after coming in contact with an animal's body secretions; and

v. Immediately after outdoor play.

2. For children under three months of age or for those children three months of age and older wherein hand washing with soap and running water may not be developmentally appropriate, the center may use an alternate means for hand washing, including, but not limited to, disposable baby wipes.

3. When cloth towels are used by children, the towels shall be designated solely for the individual child's use.

4. Staff members shall wash their hands with soap and running water immediately:

i. Before preparing or serving food;

ii. After toileting;

iii. After assisting a child in toileting;

iv. After caring for a child who appears to be sick;

v. After coming in contact with an animal's body secretions; and

vi. After coming into contact with blood, fecal matter, urine, vomit, nasal secretions, or other body fluids or secretions.

(b) Staff members shall use disposable rubber gloves, which shall be discarded after each use, when coming into contact with blood or vomit.

(c) Centers that encourage children to brush their teeth while at the center shall individually store toothbrushes in a manner that prevents the toothbrushes from touching each other during storage.

(d) For early childhood programs, the following shall apply:

1. Diapering requirements for centers serving children who are not toilet trained are as follows:

i. Staff members shall ensure that:

(1) Each child's diaper is changed when wet or soiled;

(2) Each child's bottom is washed and dried during each diaper change with an individual disposable wash cloth, paper towel or disposable diaper wipes; and

(3) The staff members' hands are washed after changing each diaper.

ii. Diapering area and surface requirements are as follows:

(1) Diapering shall not take place in an area or on a surface used for food preparation, service or eating.

(2) The diapering area shall be within 15 feet of a sink that is not used for food preparation.

(3) The diapering surface shall be flat, smooth, clean, dry, non-absorbent, and in good repair.

iii. Diapering supply requirements are as follows:

(1) A supply of clean diapers shall always be available.

(2) Diapering supplies, including diapers, shall be stored in an area out of the children's reach but easily accessible to staff members during a diaper change.

(3) Equipment used for cleaning the diapering surface shall be restricted for use in this area only and shall be disposable or laundered in hot soapy water.

(4) Staff members who use disposable gloves during a diaper change shall dispose of these gloves after each use and shall wash their hands.

iv. Soiled diapers shall be disposed of as follows:

(1) Soiled disposable diapers shall be placed in a closed container that is lined with a leakproof or impervious lining. Such diapers shall be removed from the center daily and placed in a closed garbage receptacle outside the building.

(2) Soiled non-disposable diapers shall be placed in a sealed plastic container that has been labeled with the child's name. Such diapers shall be returned to the child's parent at the end of that day.

2. Clothing requirements are as follows:

i. A child's clothing shall be changed when wet or soiled.

ii. The center shall ensure that a change of clothing is provided for each child.

iii. Soiled clothes shall be:

(1) Placed in a sealed plastic container that has been labeled with the child's name and returned to the child's parent at the end of that day for laundering; or

(2) Laundered at the center in a washing machine.

iv. For clothing soiled with fecal matter, the stool shall be emptied into the toilet.

N.J. Admin. Code § 3A:52-7.8

Administrative Change, 49 N.J.R. 98a.

Amended by 49 N.J.R. 413(a), effective 3/6/2017