Page 81

(2) The following requirements apply for safe pick-up and drop-off: (a) The center shall have safe crossways and pick-up and drop-off locations and communicate these locations to the parents; (b) Children shall be directly supervised during boarding and exiting vehicles; (c) The director and/or staff shall have on file, in the facility, written permission from parent(s)/guardian(s) for transporting children to and from the home, school, or other designated places, including center-planned field trips and activities; and (d) Written transportation plans for routine travel shall be on file. Plans shall include a checklist to account for the loading and unloading of children at every location. HISTORY: Added by State Register Volume 29, Issue No. 6, eff June 24, 2005. 114–526. Physical Site. A. Indoor space and conditions (1) The director shall provide at least thirty-five (35) square feet of indoor play space per child, measured by Department staff from wall to wall. Department staff shall determine the total number of children to be cared for in each room by measuring and computing the rooms separately. Bathrooms, reception areas, isolation rooms, halls and space occupied by cupboards, shelves, furniture and equipment which are accessible to children for their use shall be allowable space. Kitchens, storage rooms and storage cabinets used solely for or by staff shall be excluded. Halls, although included in total indoor space, shall not be used for activities or storage of furniture and equipment. (2) Ventilation. (a) Child care areas, dining areas, kitchens and bathrooms shall be ventilated by mechanical ventilation, such as fans or air conditioning, or at least one operable window. (b) If freestanding fans are used, fans shall have a stable base, be equipped with protective guards and be placed in a safe location. (c) Windows, including windows in doors, when utilized for ventilation purposes shall be securely screened to prevent the entrance of insects. (d) Windows accessible to children under 5 years of age that are above ground level of the building shall be adjusted to limit the opening to less than 6 inches or protected with guards that do not block outdoor light. (3) Safety glass shall be used on clear glass windows and doors that are within thirty-two inches above floor level and that are accessible to children. Decals shall be applied to all glass or sliding patio doors and placed at eye level of the children being cared for at the facility. (4) Lighting. (a) Rooms, hallways, interior stairs, outside steps, outside doorways, porches, ramps and fire escapes shall be lighted. (b) At least twenty foot candles of light shall be required on all work surfaces in food preparation, equipment washing, utensil washing, hand-washing areas, and toilet rooms. (c) Adequate, safe lighting for individual activities, for corridors, and for bathrooms shall be provided. (5) Environmental hazards. (a) Safety barriers shall be placed around all heating and cooling sources, such as hot water pipes, fixed space heaters, wood- and coal-burning stoves, hot water heaters, and radiators, that are accessible to children to prevent accidents or injuries upon contact by the child. (b) Knives, lighters, matches, projectile toys, tobacco products, microwave ovens and other items that could be hazardous to children shall not be accessible to children. (c) To prevent lead poisoning in children, child care centers shall meet applicable lead base paint requirements, as established by the DHEC.