West Virginia Code of State Rules
Agency 78 - Human Services
Title 78 - LEGISLATIVE RULE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES BUREAU FOR SOCIAL SERVICES
Series 78-18 - Family Child Care Facility Licensing Requirements
Section 78-18-18 - Physical Plant Safety
Universal Citation: 78 WV Code of State Rules 78-18-18
Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 38, September 20, 2024
18.1. Facility Requirements.
18.1.a. The building and grounds
used for a family child care facility shall be suitable for the purpose of
child care, kept clean and in good repair, and shall present no hazard to the
health and safety of children.
18.1.b. A family child care facility shall
have heat, electricity, and indoor plumbing.
18.1.c. Family child care facilities shall be
equipped with a working telephone with a listed number.
18.1.d. Facilities shall post the following
emergency telephone numbers adjacent to the phone: ambulance, fire, police,
poison control or universal poison control center, and parents and health care
providers for all children in care.
18.1.e. Usable floor space of 35 square feet
per child shall be available for children's activities, exclusive of halls,
bathrooms, the kitchen, office space, or storage areas.
18.1.f. Family Child Care facilities shall
use an on-site kitchen which complies with the requirements of Bureau for
Public Health's Child Care Centers Rule, 64 CSR 21, and shall be equipped as
follows:
18.1.f.1. Kitchen and eating areas
shall be equipped to safely prepare, store, and serve meals to
children.
18.1.f.2. Equipment shall
include an oven or microwave, a range or cook-top, a refrigerator, and
equipment for washing, rinsing, and sanitizing cooking and eating
utensils.
18.1.g. A
quiet space shall be available for children to nap or rest away from the noise
of household activity.
18.1.h. An
operator shall provide an individual bed, sturdy cot, crib, couch, baby bed,
portable packs and play yard, or mat for each child who naps. Siblings may
share double beds.
18.1.i. All
interior bathroom and closet doors which can be locked from the inside shall be
capable of being unlocked from the outside.
18.1.j. Clear glass doors shall be clearly
marked at a child's eye level.
18.1.k. There shall be usable outdoor play
space of 75 square feet per child available for the children's outdoor
activities either on the premises or within walking distance of the facility.
The facility may stagger play times and space based on the number of children
using the area at one time.
18.2. Safety Barriers.
18.2.a. All indoor or outdoor stairways,
hallways, and exits shall be unobstructed except for safety barriers.
18.2.b. Stairs of four or more steps shall
have hand railings when children less than five years of age are in
care.
18.2.c. Safety gates shall be
provided at the top and bottom of stairs accessible to children under 36 months
of age.
18.2.d. Accordion expansion
gates are prohibited.
18.2.e.
Pressure mounted gates shall not be used at the top of a set of
stairs.
18.2.f. Balconies, decks,
porches, ramps, and play or living areas that are elevated more than 36 inches
shall be equipped with secure, child-proof railings and barriers.
18.3. Hazards. Family child care facilities shall:
18.3.a. Keep children away
from areas undergoing remodeling or construction;
18.3.b. Store cleaning supplies, detergents,
aerosol cans, pesticides, poisons, flammable materials, poisonous or unknown
plants, medicines, medical cannabis, and alcoholic beverages or toxic materials
out of the reach of children less than six years of age;
18.3.c. Store hazardous materials separately
from food items;
18.3.d. Store
guns, ammunition, hunting knives, bows and arrows, and other weapons in a
locked cabinet or closet, and store keys out of the children's reach;
18.3.e. Keep strings and cords long enough to
encircle a child's neck (six inches or more) out of the children's
reach;
18.3.f. Not permit children
less than age six in food preparation areas when ranges or cook-tops are in
use; and
18.3.g. Keep hanging items
including Venetian blind cords, appliance cords, and table cloths out of the
reach of small children.
18.4. Electrical Safety.
18.4.a. Electrical cords shall be maintained
in good condition.
18.4.b.
Extension cords shall be heavy duty, UL approved, and not run under carpets or
rugs or through common walkways unless stabilized to prevent
tripping.
18.4.c. Protective covers
shall be installed on all unused electrical outlets accessible to children who
are under five years of age.
18.4.d. Small appliances shall be unplugged
when not in use.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. West Virginia may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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