Schools:The principal of my child's school has a puppy, which she brings to school every day, and stays primarily in her office. When the puppy is walked on a leash on school property, including the cafeteria, it has nipped a few kids and defecates on the carpet. Is this a health code violation? If so, to whom do I report it?Our high school has decided to lock down all the students’ rest rooms with the exception of one. This is causing numerous students to stand in extremely long lines, and sometimes even cause them to find repulsive alternatives. Isn’t there a health law as to how many rest rooms need to be available for a public building?Many teachers and students at the local school have been getting sick. Our school board has denied that there is a problem with the building that the students and teachers are located in, but has hired a private consultant to inspect the air quality of the building. Where can we request help on the supervision of the testing being done by this consultant?I am looking for the regulation on opening a school and I can’t seem to find any information, student teacher ratio, and licensure. Basically I’m starting from scratch, could you tell me how to get it started?What are the regulations on maintenance and keeping a public school sandbox clean?As the owner of a small private school I am required to submit a DH 4030 inspection form, completed by the Department of Health. Our program is for those who will be in the scholastic program will consist of middle and high school age students. If the program is located in an office building, is it acceptable for the students, under supervision, to use the buildings community restrooms?I am a director of a small high school which is considering leasing or purchasing a property previously occupied by a child care center. We cannot find a way of contacting the previous owners to find out the reason that they left that facility. How do we contact them to find out about their license and condition of the property?I am currently in the process of opening a small private school for children with autism and related disabilities. What guideline can I use for the property so that we are able to pass a health inspection with the county?What can we do if our child is denied access to the restroom to wash their hands before lunchtime?I currently have a group care permit number from the local county health department and I am requesting that I no longer remit an annual fee for having this permit. I would like to be permitted under Chapter 64E-11.001 4(b) or the Florida Administrative Code (FAC)? I actually am a non-public school and I have recently been exempt from DCF licensing as a child care center. Therefore, am requesting an exemption from Department of Health inspections.Recently my university has lowered our hot water temperature to conserve resources in the wake of the recent hurricanes due to state mandates. Is it sanitary to wash / rinse dishes with 100 degree water? And does 100 degree water do the job in the shower?The principal of my child’s school has a puppy, which she brings to school every day, and stays primarily in her office. When the puppy is walked on a leash on school property, including the cafeteria, it has nipped a few kids and defecates on the carpet. Is this a health code violation? If so, to whom do I report it?The Department of Health conducts routine inspections at school facilities
for the physical plant and food hygiene standards. For more information
regarding our role in school facilities, please visit our group care and food
hygiene program websites: Our high school has decided to lock down all the students’ rest rooms with the exception of one. This is causing numerous students to stand in extremely long lines, and sometimes even cause them to find repulsive alternatives. Isn’t there a health law as to how many rest rooms need to be available for a public building?The Department of Health has the authority to regulate and inspect public and private schools in Florida using Chapter 64E-13, FAC, through the local health department. Restrooms for students and staff/adults must be sufficient in number for each population served. In addition, restrooms must be located for convenient access by students and faculty supervision. To make a complaint contact the local county health department’s environmental health section in the county that the school is located. Many teachers and students at the local school have been getting sick. Our school board has denied that there is a problem with the building that the students and teachers are located in, but has hired a private consultant to inspect the air quality of the building. Where can we request help on the supervision of the testing being done by this consultant?Be advised: The Florida Department of Health is not authorized to supervise the school board nor the consultant hired by the school board. Nor are we aware of any federal or state of Florida agency authorized to supervise indoor air quality assessment activities of consultants or school boards; the decisions of hiring and sampling rest solely on the Superintendent and the School Board. On the subject of managing indoor air quality in school buildings consider reviewing the following information provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consider speaking with school administrators if they are interested in adopting the IAQ tools for schools concept at your child's school. I am looking for the regulation on opening a school and I can’t seem to find any information, student teacher ratio, and licensure. Basically I’m starting from scratch, could you tell me how to get it started?As you may know the Department of Health (DOH) regulates and inspects public and private schools in Florida using Chapter 64E-13 school sanitation, 64E-11 food hygiene, 64E-6 onsite sewage treatment systems, 64E-9 swimming pools, and 64E-8 limited use wells per the Florida Administrative Codes. Pool, well water used for drinking, and septic systems requirements may not be applicable depending on the utility services available to the property selected or if a pool is not proposed. Group Care Website: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/group/sch.htm Food Hygiene Website: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/food/index.html Septic Website: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/ostds/index.html Also, non-public schools are required to register with the Department of Education. Their website is:
http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/Information/Private_Schools/default.asp?whichView=administrator
For any other questions contact the local county health department, environmental health section, then asks for the program person specifically related to the question. What are the regulations on maintenance and keeping a public school sandbox clean?As you may know the Department of Health (DOH) regulates and inspects public and private schools in Florida using Chapter 64E-13 school sanitation. In addition, public school facilities must meet standards in the Department of Education's Standards and Requirements for Educational Facilities (SREF). SREF requirements are applied by the DOE through the local county school board and may have standards related to outdoor playground equipment such as a sandbox. For more information on their standards please contact DOE or your local school board. Here is a link to DOE's website for public schools:
http://www.fldoe.org/schools/schoolmap/flash/schoolmap_text.asp
DOH conducts routine physical plant inspections twice annually, which includes the playground and premises of the school facility. The standards in Chapter 64E-13, FAC, address general sanitation and maintenance of the area and equipment. Concerns regarding sandboxes typically relate to drainage to prevent pooling water and the breeding of insects as a result of the water, such as mosquitoes which can bite and cause itching. Other issues related to general maintenance include debris that is hazardous or could be harmful being present in the sandbox, such as garbage, splintering wood, large rocks, and broken glass. Below is a link to the group care website, which has information on school regulation by the DOH, and an excerpt from rule 64E-13, FAC, related to playground maintenance. Group Care Website: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/group/sch.htm (2) Playgrounds and Athletic Equipment. Playgrounds shall be constructed and maintained to permit maximum utilization of sites with elimination of sanitary and health hazards including mud holes, fragments of glass, stone and similar obstructions. To make a complaint about the condition of a piece of equipment on the play ground for sanitary or safety reasons contact the local county health department’s environmental health section. As the owner of a small private school I am required to submit a DH 4030 inspection form, completed by the Department of Health. Our program is for those who will be in the scholastic program will consist of middle and high school age students. If the program is located in an office building, is it acceptable for the students, under supervision, to use the buildings community restrooms?As you may know the Department of Health regulates and inspects public and private schools in Florida using Chapter 64E-13, FAC, and the inspection form DH 4030 completed by the local health department inspector. Restrooms for students and staff/adults must be sufficient in number for each population served, assigned for school use only, and not for the rest of the “offices” in the office building. Additionally, restroom facilities for staff/adults must be separate from the restrooms used by the students. Restrooms must be located for convenient access by students and faculty supervision. A suggestion would be too contact the local county health department (CHD) and ask for the group care inspector to review and evaluate your facility or plans. Group Care Website: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/group/sch.htm Food Hygiene Website: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/food/index.html I am a director of a small high school which is considering leasing or purchasing a property previously occupied by a child care center. We cannot find a way of contacting the previous owners to find out the reason that they left that facility. How do we contact them to find out about their license and condition of the property?As you may know the Department of Health regulates and inspects public schools in Florida using Chapter 64E-13 school sanitation, 64E-11 food hygiene, 64E-6 onsite sewage treatment systems, 64E-9 swimming pools, and 64E-8 limited use wells per the Florida Administrative Codes. Pool, well water, and septic requirements may not be applicable depending on the utility services available to the property selected or if a pool is not proposed. Group Care Website: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/group/sch.htm Food Hygiene Website: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/food/index.html Water Supply Website: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/water/index.html Septic Website: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/ostds/index.html Pool Website: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/water/swim/index.html The Department of Children and Families (DCF) regulates child care centers under Chapter 65C-22 of the Florida Administrative Code (FAC). In order to determine the reason for the previous center's closure or relocation, contact the prior licensing agency and ask the licensure staff your questions or request a review of the child care center's file. The DCF child care web page is:
http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/childcare/ Questions related to operating a school facility or relocating a school would mean contacting the local county health department, environmental health section, and asking for the group care program staff or the program staff (inspector) that conducts your current routine inspections at your current location and inquire about relocating the school to the proposed building. I am currently in the process of opening a small private school for children with autism and related disabilities. What guideline can I use for the property so that we are able to pass a health inspection with the county?As you may know the Department of Health regulates and inspects private schools in Florida using Chapter 6A2.004 school sanitation, 64E-11 food hygiene, 64E-6 onsite sewage treatment systems, 64E-9 swimming pools, and 64E-8 limited use wells per the Florida Administrative Codes. Pool, well water, and septic requirements may not be applicable depending on the utility services available to the property selected or if a pool is not proposed. Group Care Website: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/group/sch.htm Food Hygiene Website: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/food/index.html Water Supply Website: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/water/index.html Septic Website: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/ostds/index.html Pool Website: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/water/swim/index.html The Department of Children and Families (DCF) regulates child care centers under Chapter 65C-22 of the Florida Administrative Code (FAC). In order to determine the reason for the previous center's closure or relocation, contact the prior licensing agency and ask the licensure staff your questions or request a review of the child care center's file. The DCF child care web page is:
http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/childcare/ If you have any questions, I would suggest contacting the local county health department, environmental health section, as ask for the program person specifically related to the question. What can we do if our child is denied access to the restroom to wash their hands before lunchtime?You are likely aware of the well known scientific fact that, hand washing is the number one method of preventing the spread of disease and illness. The Department of Health (DOH) does have minimum requirements for the physical plant at a school facility in Chapter 64E-13 of the Florida Administrative Code (FAC), such as having certain supplies/equipment available like soap and towels and hand washing sinks in restrooms. However, the department is limited in its oversight and does not have standards mandating hygienic practices or student use outside of staff preparing or handling food under the food hygiene rule 64E-11, FAC. Therefore, while we would definitely encourage good hygiene/hand washing practices, we do not have any enforcement or mandated hygiene practices for students. If this were an issue of lack of sanitary supplies or a non-functioning device such as a toilet that doesn't function, the department could investigate the issue for compliance. This however, is not the situation and our purview is limited to those included in rule. Contact the school directly and inquire about their pre-dining hygiene practices, like allowing students to wash their hands. Perhaps they would be amenable to allowing your child, maybe even the whole class, to wash their hands prior to dining on their lunch or any snack foods. If that does not satisfactorily address the problem, you may consider contacting the Department of Education (DOE) directly and explaining the situation: I currently have a group care permit number from the local county health department and I am requesting that I no longer remit an annual fee for having this permit. I would like to be permitted under Chapter 64E-11.001 4(b) or the Florida Administrative Code (FAC)? I actually am a non-public school and I have recently been exempt from DCF licensing as a child care center. Therefore, I am requesting an exemption from Department of Health inspections.The Department of Health does regulate private schools for both food service and group care programs under the authority of sections 381.0072, and 381.006(6),(16) , Florida Statutes, respectively. If you fall under the department's purview, currently there are no inspection exemptions in statute, rule, or otherwise. Under rule 64E-11 of the Florida Administrative Code (FAC), any level or type of food service requires a permit to do so. If your school provides snack food as per the definition of "snack" in 64E-11.002(40), then a permit is required and no state food service establishment fee is collected for the permit as per 64E-11.013(4)(b). However, plan review and re-inspection fees do apply when appropriate. This fee language does not include any local county ordinance fees passed by the direction of the county commissioners, to collect local fees in addition to any applicable fees in 64E-11, FAC. The group care program includes educational facilities such as private non-public schools. The department regulates private school facilities using the Department of Education (DOE) rule 6A2.004, FAC, School Sanitation. Inspections are conducted at school facilities once per year by the local county health department. This physical plant inspection is in addition to other requirements that may apply, such as food service inspections per 64E-11, FAC. Typically these are conducted during one visit and recorded on two separate inspection forms, one for each applicable program. If you would like more information, please visit our web pages at: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/group/sch.htm for group care or for food service: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/food/index.html Recently my university has lowered our hot water temperature to conserve resources in the wake of the recent hurricanes due to state mandates. Is it sanitary to wash / rinse dishes with 100 degree water? And does 100 degree water do the job in the shower?With respect to food hygiene standards related to dishwashing, section 64E-11.006(5), Florida Administrative Code (FAC), addresses dishwashing temperatures for food establishment under the Department's jurisdiction. For manual dishwashing (washing by hand) a minimum wash temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit (F) is required and a minimum hot water sanitization temperature of 170 degrees F is required. For mechanical dishwashing (washing in a machine), temperatures can vary with the type of machine and method of sanitization. The minimum wash temperature is typically 140 degrees F but can range between 120-165 degrees F. The minimum temperature when sanitizing with hot water is typically 180 degrees F but can be 165 degrees F. The minimum temperature when sanitizing with approved chemicals is 75 degrees F both for manual and mechanical practices. With respect to showers, the department's school facilities rule 64E-13, FAC, allows a maximum temperature of 110 degrees Fahrenheit for gym shower facilities. In this situation the temperature standard is set to avoid any scalding or heat injury to the student. There is no minimum temperature set for gym shower water. In order to achieve good hygiene it is most important to use sufficient quantities of soap combined with water, regardless of temperature, to remove soil and organic material from the body as a whole. Therefore, the minimum shower temperature is established for comfort and a maximum temperature is established for safety. |
