Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 9, September, 2024
AUTHORITY
The following Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Outdoor Mass
Gatherings are duly adopted and promulgated by the Arkansas State Board of
Health pursuant to the authority expressly conferred by the laws of the State
of Arkansas including, without limitation, Act 96 of 1913 (Ark. Code Ann.
§
20-7-109).
SECTION I. DEFINITIONS
The following terms are defined for the purpose of these
Regulations:
A. Department
The Arkansas Department of Health
B. Outdoor_Mass Gatherings
An actual or reasonably anticipated assembly of more than 1,000
persons who will remain at the location of the gathering for a continuous
period of 24 hours or more. This definition does not apply to stadiums,
athletic fields, arenas, coliseums, amusement parks, or government sponsored
fairgrounds.
C. Sponsor
Any person, group of persons, association, partnership, firm,
corporation or other legal entity that organizes, promotes, manages or holds an
outdoorjnass gathering.
SECTION II. COMPLIANCE
Before any person, firm, corporation or governmental agency
proposes or advertises to create or hold an outdoor_mass gathering for
entertainment, music, exhibition or other assemblies which will continue for 24
hours or more, the sponsors shall receive the approval of the Department. A
Preliminary Notice of Intent shall be submitted at least 90
days before the outdoor mass gathering is to be held and a
detailed plan of sanitation and medical care shall be submitted at least 45
days before the outdoor mass gathering is to be held. The sponsors shall be
responsible for compliance with these Regulations. Requests for waivers or
exceptions to these regulations will be considered on a case-by-case basis and
approval will be at the discretion of the Department.
SECTION III. PRELIMINARY NOTICE OF INTENT AND
PLANS TO BE SUBMITTED
A. The Preliminary
Notice of Intent shall include the following items of information:
1. The full names and addresses of the
persons responsible for the installation, maintenance and operation of the
sanitary facilities, solid waste disposal, food service and emergency medical
facilities.
2. The name, location,
dates and time of the outdoor mass gathering.
3. A narrative statement as to the purpose of
the gathering, and expected attendance.
4. The maximum number of persons the sponsor
will allow to attend the outdoor mass gathering.
B. The detailed plans shall include:
1. A map ofthe site and surrounding vicinity
which shows all pertinent dimensions and topographical features;
2. A layout ofthe site showing streets, roads
and routes of ingress and egress;
3. A layout ofthe site showing the location
and description ofthe sanitary and medical facilities;
4. Detailed engineering plans and
specifications for the water supply and sewage disposal facilities.
5. The plan the sponsor intends to use to
limit attendance to the maximum number stated in the Notice of
Intent.
C. A narrative
description shall be submitted setting forth methods of operation and equipment
necessary to comply with the provisions and requirements included
herein.
D. A list ofthe food
service establishments with names and addresses ofthe owners shall be
submitted.
E. A written plan,
accompanied by suitable maps, for the evacuation of sick or injured persons
shall be provided. This plan should include routes and alternate routes of
evacuation and the name and location ofthe hospital(s) to be
utilized.
SECTION IV.
WATER QUALITY
A. Quality
All water provided shall be in accordance with the physical,
chemical and bacteriological requirements ofthe U. S. Public Health Service
Drinking Water Standards, or the latest revision thereof. Where a public water
system is available, a connection must be made thereto. If a source other than
a public water supply is used, it shall meet the requirements ofthe Rules and
Regulations ofthe State Board of Health for Public Water Supplies, and shall be
chlorinated adequately.
B.
Quantity
A minimum of one gallon per day per person shall be provided
for the anticipated attendance. D. Distribution and Storage
1. All water should be delivered under
pressure through a system of distribution lines to water outlets of approved
design. The minimum pressure at any point in the system shall be twenty pounds
per square inch.
2. Storage
facilities equal to one-half of one day's total water usage is
recommended.
3. Hydrants equipped
with self-closing faucets shall be provided at a ratio of not less than one for
every 1000 persons or fraction thereof.
4. Each faucet shall be mounted on a minimum
thirty-six inch riser. The riser is to be securely mounted to a supporting
structure equal in strength to a four by four inch timber that is which is
securely anchored in the ground. Each faucet or hydrant shall have a seepage
pit located directly beneath the outlet. Each pit shall contain at least two
and one-half cubic feet of clean coarse gravel.
5. If drinking fountains are provided, the
water shall be dispensed at an angle and the orifice must be protected by a
mouth guard.
6. If camping and
activity areas are separately designated, forty percent of the total required
faucets shall be located in the activity area(s) and sixty percent of the total
number of required faucets shall be located in the camping area{s).
7. A minimum of one faucet shall be located
not more than twenty-five feet from each food service facility and a minimum of
one faucet shall be located not more than twenty-five feet from any emergency
medical facility.
SECTION
V. WATER SUPPLY DESIGN AND OPERATION
A. The water supply shall be designed and
operated in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the State Board of
Health Pertaining to Public Water Supplies.
B. Prior to placing the water supply system
into use, all portions of the system shall be disinfected by adding a chlorine
solution of not less than 50 ppm and retaining the mixture within all portions
of the system for at least 24 hours. Following disinfection, the system is to
be flushed thoroughly of the chlorine solutions, and then bacteriological water
samples shall be collected daily and submitted to the State Department of
Health until two consecutive samples show the water to be safe for
drinking.
C. During normal
operation conditions, a chlorine residual of at least 0.2 ppm shall be
maintained at all times throughout the distribution system.
SECTION VI. TOILET FACILITIES
A. Toilet facilities, separate for each sex
and plainly marked "MEN" or "WOMEN" shall be provided at rate of at least one
toilet for each 100 persons, or fraction thereof, in attendance.
B. Portable toilets, if provided, shall have
the waste collected at intervals of such frequency as to preclude overflow and
shall be disposed of by a licensed septic tank cleaner. Portable toilets shall
be located such that service trucks have access for collection in all weather
conditions.
C. If camping and
activity areas are designated separately, forty percent of the required number
of toilets shall be located in the activity area and sixty percent of the
required number of toilets shall be located in the designated camping
areas.
D. When water carried sewage
disposal facilities are provided, disposal permits shall be obtained from the
Department of Environmental Quality and the Department.
E. When portable toilets are provided, hand
washing stations shall be provided at a ratio of one per ten portable toilets
or fraction thereof. Soap, water, and single use hand drying devices shall be
provided at each hand washing station. Where conditions preclude the use of
soap and water, the Department may allow the use of sanitizing gel in place of
soap and water. Sanitizing gel shall not be used in place of soap and water at
hand washing sjations used by food service workers.
SECTION VII. SOLID WASTE FACILITIES
A, Containers for refuse and solid waste collection shall be
provided in such numbers to preclude indiscriminate disposal at the site. All
solid waste collection containers shall be emptied daily or at intervals
frequent enough to prevent overflow or create unsanitary conditions.
B, Solid waste storage containers shall be constructed of
impervious material and have tight fitting lids and closures. Such containers
shall be located conveniently throughout the area in such manner as to
facilitate collection of the solid waste. Storage containers shall be provided
at a minimum ratio of one cubic yard of storage container volume per each one
hundred twenty-five persons or fraction thereof.
C, All stored solid waste shall be disposed of at such frequent
intervals as may be necessary to maintain sanitary conditions. All stored solid
waste shall be disposed of in a facility which has been approved by the
Department of Environmental Quality.
SECTION VIII. SITE REQUIREMENTS
A. An area of at least one hundred square
feet per person, exclusive of the parking area, shall be provided at the
premises.
B. The site selected for
the outdoor mass gathering shall have good natural drainage. Areas which are
swampy or known to be susceptible to flash flooding are not
acceptable.
C. The sponsor shall
acquire from the local agency(s) having jurisdiction for law enforcement and
fire safety, that the minimum width of the roads complies with state and local
laws, ordinances, and regulations, and is satisfactory with respect to
anticipated crowds and location of the outdoor mass gathering.
1. Roads at the outdoor mass gathering site
shall be provided with culverts, tiles, and ditching wherever needed to prevent
erosion.
2. Non-gravel dirt roads
shall not be considered all weather roads.
3. All roads shall be graded so as to be self
draining and shall be at all times maintained in such condition that emergency
and other required vehicles can move upon them unencumbered while carrying out
their functions.
4. No road or
portion of any road constructed at the site shall exceed a maximum grade of
twelve percent.
D. The
sponsor of the outdoor mass gathering shall provide a suitable area for parking
motor vehicles.
1. The total area provided
for motor vehicle parking shall be based on a ratio of three hundred square
feet for every four people anticipated.
2. Each motor vehicle parking space shall
have a minimum width often feet and a minimum length of twenty feet.
3. All motor vehicle parking spaces shall be
arranged to prevent blockages and allow vehicles free access to the exits at
all times.
SECTION
IX. FINAL CLEAN-UP
At the conclusion of the mass gathering, the site shall be
cleaned up and all unsanitary conditions corrected. All refuse, litter, and
solid waste generated by the event shall be removed from the site within
twenty-four hours of the events end.
SECTION X. FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS
A. All food service establishments at the
event shall have, on display, a valid Arkansas Food Service Permit.
B. COMPLIANCE All food preparation and
service shall be operated in compliance with the current version of the
Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Retail Food
Establishments.
SECTION
XI. MEDICAL CARE FACILITIES
A.
At any outdoor mass gathering at least one Emergency Aid Station shall be
provided at a location of easy access on the site. It shall be identified
clearly by a prominent sign during the entire time of the mass
gathering.
B. Staffing of the
Emergency Aid Station shall consist of at least the following personnel:
1. An Arkansas licensed paramedic who shall
be present on the site and easily reachable during scheduled events.
2. If an Arkansas licensed Registered Nurse
is designated in charge when the paramedic is not present the Registered Nurse
must have an Arkansas licensed Medical Doctor on call as a backup for standing
orders and emergencies.
C. The Emergency Aid Station shall be housed
in a tent or other weatherproof structure of at least 100 square feet floor
area and shall have adequate head room for standing. The structure should have
a level floor of wood or other weatherproof material elevated from the ground
to prevent flooding in case of rain and should meet the approval of the
Arkansas licensed paramedic.
D. The
Emergency Aid Station shall be supplied with the following:
1. Electricity for incandescent or
fluorescent lighting;
2. Electric
lights inside and outside the structure;
3. At least one electric outlet for a for
lighting;
4. Suitable battery or
gas lanterns for use in event of power failure;
5. Two beds or cots;
6. Six blankets;
7. Sturdy table;
8. Two chairs;
9. Locking chest for medicines including
1st line medicines and Adrenalin, Benadryl. All
medicines are to be secured in accordance with the Ambulance Service
Approved Policy as approved by the Department's Office of Pharmacy
Control;
10. Adequate shelves for
storing supplies;
11. Water
dispenser of at least five gallons capacity;
12. Disposable drinking cups;
13. Portable oxygen supply with appropriate
oxygen delivery device;
14.
Separate containers for trash and medicalwaste disposal;
15. Plastic liners for item 14;
16. Portable stretcher for transport of
injured persons;
17. Paper
towels;
18. Fire
extinguisher.
E. In
addition to the items in Subsection D, an adequate supply of expendable items
such as hand sanitizer, bandages, medicines, solutions, wash basins, sterile
towels, drapes, etc., as deemed necessary by the local Arkansas licensed
physician and the local Arkansas licensed ambulance service, shall be on hand
in the Emergency Aid Station. It shall be the responsibility of the sponsor of
the event to have obtained from the local Arkansas licensed physician and die
local Arkansas licensed ambulance service a list of such supplies and to have
arranged with (be local Arkansas licensed physician and the local Arkansas
licensed ambulance service for obtaining the items well in advance of the
proposed mass gathering.
F. The
sponsor will notify hospitals in the area of the event and assure there will be
emergency room accessibility for persons attending the mass
gathering.
G. Arkansas licensed
ambulances_with appropriate crew configurations as required by the Department's
current
Rules and Regulations for Emergency Medical Services
shall be assigned full-time to the site on the basis of anticipated
crowd size at the following rate:
|
Crowd Size
|
Number of Ambulances
|
|
Up to 10,000
|
1
|
|
10,000 to 50,000
|
2
|
|
For each 25,000 additional persons
|
1
|
H. The
following shall be provided to ambulance crew members and other emergency
personnel:
1. A map of the site and
surrounding vicinity which show all pertinent dimensions and topographical
features.
2. A layout of the site
showing streets, roads, and routes of entrance and egress.
3. A layout of the site showing the location
and description of medical facilities.
SECTION XII. HAZARDOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS
The sponsor shall develop contingency plans for dangerous
weather conditions that may occur during the gathering. The contingency plans
shall include evacuation, cancelation, or delay of the gathering and provisions
for mitigation or support facilities.
SECTION XIII. PENALTY
Every firm; person, or corporation who
violates any of the rules and regulations issued or promulgated by the State
Board of Health or who violates any condition of a license, permit,
certificate, or any other type of registration issued by the Board may be
assessed a civil penalty by the Board. The penalty shall not exceed two hundred
fifty dollars ($250) for each violation. Each day of a continuing violation may
be deemed a separate violation for the purposes of penalty assessments.
However, no civil penalty may be assessed until the person charged with the
violation has been given the opportunity for a hearing on the violation. (Ark.
Code Ann. §
20-7-101).
SECTION XIV. SEVERABILITY
If any provision of these Rules and Regulations, or the
application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, such
invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of these Rules and
Regulations which can give effect without the invalid provisions or
applications, and to this end the provisions hereto are declared to be
severable.
SECTION XV.
REPEAL
All Regulations and parts of Regulations in conflict herewith
are hereby repealed.
