8VAC20-781-490. Hand Washing

D. The licensee shall ensure that staff wash their hands with liquid soap and running water:

1. Before and after:

                a.  Helping a child use the toilet

                     (This should be moved to the “After” category)

                b.  A diaper change

                        (When gloves are used, this should be moved to the “After” category)

                c.  Feeding or helping children with feeding

                d.  Preparing or serving food or beverages, and

                e.  Administering medication or over-the-counter skin products.

(spraying on sunblock or applying any skin product that does not involve touching should be eliminated from this. If staff are supervising children at a swimming facility and it’s time to re-apply sunscreen, this is overly burdensome for staff to find a sink with liquid soap and running water to wash hands prior to applying)

2. After:

                a.  Using the toilet

                b.  Contact with any body fluids

                c.  Eating

                d.  Handling garbage or cleaning materials

                e.  Coming in from outdoors, and

                f.   Handling or caring for animals

E. The licensee shall ensure that staff wash their hands with liquid soap and running water when their hands are visibly dirty and when entering the classroom before working with children.

RESPONSE:

We suggest removing “and when entering the classroom before working with children”. Staff are required to wash their hands prior to helping with toileting, diapering, preparing and feeding children, and administering medications as well as when visibly dirty. The staff’s attention should be focused on the children when entering the classroom.