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Schools:
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:
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/group/index.html and
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/food/index.html
Although, many school facilities have various animals on the campus and in the
classrooms for educational purposes, the department does not have any rules
restricting animals from school property or classrooms. However, for licensed
kitchens, there are restrictions on animals in the kitchen and dining areas.
Complaints, regarding physical plant or food hygiene issues, can be directed to
the local county health department's environmental health section for
investigation. Complaints can be anonymous if preferred; however, follow-up with
the complainant is not possible when they are anonymous.
The Florida Statute 828.30 requires dogs, cats, and ferrets four months of age
or older to be vaccinated against rabies. Additionally, any animal bite must be
reported to either the local animal control within the city or county; if none
exists, contact the local county health department's environmental health
section, for investigation and possible quarantine of the animal.
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.
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.
http://www.epa.gov/iaq
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.
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/schoolmap/flash/regionalmap.asp?bhcp=1
or their
rules at
http://www.fldoe.org/rules/
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 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
As you may know the Department of Health 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, 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.
As you may know the Department of Health 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, 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.
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:
http://www.fldoe.org/edfacil/
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 school facilities using our
rule 64E-13, FAC, School Sanitation. The permit number provided is for a
group care facility (typed as a child care center) and not food service.
However, the file and permit should be updated to reflect your recent change
in facility type to a private school. Notifying the local health department
will enable this update to occur.
Inspections are conducted at school facilities twice 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
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.
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