Institutions Regulation, 1981

(Consolidated up to 98/2023) ALBERTA REGULATION 143/81 Public Health Act INSTITUTIONS REGULATION, 1981 1 In this Regulation, (a) “day care centre” means a facility providing care, development and supervision for 7 or more children under the age of 6 years for more than 3 consecutive hours per day but less than 24 consecutive hours; (b) “day care facility” means (i) a day care centre, (ii) a family day home, or (iii) a nursery school; (c) “family day home” means a facility within the operator’s private residence that provides care, development and supervision for more than 3 but less than 7 children, under the age of 6 years including the operator’s own children of which not more than 4 are under the age of 2 years, for periods of more than 3 hours but less than 24 consecutive hours per day and for at least 12 consecutive weeks per year; (d) “institution” means a building or part of a building other than a home maintained by a person to whom the children living in that home are related by blood or marriage or by virtue of an adult interdependent relationship, and where care or supervision is provided for 4 or more people, but it does not include a school, nor does it include a place of accommodation designated by the Minister of Children and Family Services as not constituting a child care institution or a day care facility; (e) “nursery school” means a facility providing care, development and supervision for 7 or more children under the age of 6 years for periods of 3 consecutive hours or less per day and for at least 12 consecutive weeks per year other than a program operated pursuant to the regulations under the Department of Education Act ; (f) “operator” means the person who has the charge, care or control of an institution either as an owner, lessee or agent of the owner and in the case of a day care facility, means a person or partnership holding a licence under the Social Care Facilities Licensing Act. AR 143/81 s1;109/2003;216/2022;98/2023 2 Pursuant to section 32(1) of The Public Health Act, the Provincial Board of Health hereby delegates to local boards the powers and the authority of the Provincial Board of Health that are necessary to carry out the provisions of this Regulation. AR 143/81 s2 3 Any executive officer of the Provincial Board or of a local board may by written order require that within a stated period of time, specific alterations be made in any building used for institutional business or that specific changes be made in the methods of conducting any institutional business as may be necessary to comply with this Regulation. AR 143/81 s3 4 Every local board is authorized to empower any of its executive officers to carry out an inspection at any time in any institution within its boundaries for the purpose of (a) investigating conditions which may have an effect on the health of occupants or the general public, (b) investigating a complaint, and (c) responding to a request from the director of Social Care Facilities Licensing with respect to an application for a licence. AR 143/81 s4 Building Construction 5 No renovation, construction or alteration with respect to an institution that requires a building permit shall be undertaken without the approval of the local board. AR 143/81 s5 6 The land and premises used in whole or in part as an institution shall be of such construction and in such a state of repair that it does not create a hazard to the safe and sanitary operation of the institution. AR 143/81 s6 7 Any building used in whole or in part as an institution shall provide, in the opinion of the local board, adequate space and facilities for all activities connected with the operation of the institution. AR 143/81 s7 8 Every room or area used for resting or sleeping shall have a net floor area of (a) not less than 2.5 square metres per child under 10 years of age and a ceiling height of not less than 2.3 metres, and (b) at least 5 square metres for each person 10 years of age and older and a ceiling height of not less than 2.3 metres. AR 143/81 s8;317/82 9 Rooms in any institution used other than for sleeping or resting shall have a maximum occupancy as prescribed by The Alberta Uniform Building Standards Act and the regulations. AR 143/81 s9 Ventilation and Lighting 10 Every room in an institution or a day care facility shall be maintained at a minimum temperature of 20 degrees Celsius unless otherwise specified. AR 143/81 s10 11 Walls, ceilings and floors in every room in an institution or in a day care facility shall be constructed so as to be easily cleaned. AR 143/81 s11 12 Every room in an institution or in a day care facility shall be ventilated in accordance with The Alberta Uniform Building Standards Act and the regulations. AR 143/81 s12 13 Every institution and day care facility, except family day homes, shall comply with the following: (a) every sleeping area, hallway, stairway and toilet room shall have artificial light sources capable of maintaining light intensity of not less than 215 lux (20 foot candles) in all parts of the room; (b) every classroom shall have illumination levels in accordance with the school recommended lighting levels, document C92,3‑1967 of the Canadian Standards Association; (c) all other rooms shall have natural or artificial light sources capable of maintaining light intensity of 375 lux (35 foot candles) in all parts of the room; (d) all rooms shall have adequate curtains or shades over natural light sources. AR 143/81 s13 Plumbing Facilities 14 Every institution and day care facility shall provide plumbing facilities in a convenient location and in accordance with The Alberta Uniform Building Standards Act and the regulations. AR 143/81 s14 15 In communities where there is a public sewage system adjacent to an institution or day care facility property line, the institution or day care facility shall be connected to the public sewage system. AR 143/81 s15 16 Every institution and day care facility, accommodating more than 10 persons, located where there is no public sewage system shall ensure that there is a private sewage disposal system constructed in accordance with the Plumbing and Drainage Act and the regulations. AR 143/81 s16 17 Electric hot air dryers, paper towels or other forms of towels that provide each user a clean, unused towel or portion of a towel shall be provided in every institution and day care facility except for children resident within a private residence or day care facility where individual washcloths and towels are provided. AR 143/81 s17 18 The operator of every institution and day care facility shall provide, in the institution or day care facility, an adequate supply of hot and cold water and soap for the use of the occupants. AR 143/81 s18;462/83 19 Every institution and day care facility shall provide, suitable in the opinion of the local board, (a) toilet paper in dispensers; (b) receptacles for the disposal of sanitary napkins; (c) receptacles for use where paper towels are provided; (d) an ample supply of potable drinking water by means of an easily accessible drinking fountain or individually labelled cups or paper cups; (e) receptacles for the disposal of disposal drinking cups. AR 143/81 s19 20 Disposable cups shall not be reused. AR 143/81 s20 Waste Disposal 21 In every institution and day care facility, garbage or refuse shall be (a) kept in fly proof and water proof containers or in properly closed plastic bags made of material sufficiently substantial to hold the contents without tearing or splitting, and (b) properly stored and disposed of at least once a week. AR 143/81 s21 Sleeping and Resting Accommodation 22 In every institution (a) a cot, bed or sleeping mat shall be provided for each individual accommodated in the institution except in those institutions operated as foster and group homes by the Director of Child Welfare, (b) every crib, cot, bed or sleeping mat shall be constructed of material that can be kept clean and sanitary, (c) cribs and beds shall be equipped with mattresses and moisture resistant covers, (d) cots and sleeping mats shall be equipped with washable covers, (e) all bedding shall be maintained in a clean, dry and sanitary condition and shall not be used for more than one individual without laundering between use, and (f) all sheets and pillow cases shall be laundered at least once a week. AR 143/81 s22 Maintenance 23 Every institution and day care facility shall be maintained at all times in a clean and sanitary condition. AR 143/81 s23 24 In every institution and day care facility, indoor and outdoor premises, equipment and facilities shall be of such construction and in such state of repair as to provide for the safe and sanitary operation of the program and shall comply with the following: (a) all paints used shall be lead free and non‑toxic when dry; (b) medical supplies, corrosive agents and similar products shall be labelled and stored according to the directions on the label in an enclosure accessible to authorized personnel only; (c) persons shall be adequately protected, in the opinion of the local board, from radiators, water pipes, electrical outlets, toxic plants and other hazards; (d) all supplies for communal use shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. AR 143/81 s24 25 In every institution all furnishings and equipment shall be maintained in good repair and be free from sharp, loose or pointed parts. AR 143/81 s25 First Aid Supplies 26 In every institution a first aid kit for emergency treatment shall be readily available and shall be of a type prescribed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the regulations. AR 143/81 s26 Food Facilities 27 Every institution and day care facility accommodating more than 10 persons shall provide facilities in accordance with the Provincial Board of Health Regulations Respecting Restaurants (Alta. Reg. 399/70). AR 143/81 s27 28 In every institution and day care facility, food shall be properly prepared, stored and served under sanitary conditions. AR 143/81 s28 29 All food handlers in every institution and day care facility shall satisfy the requirements of the Provincial Board of Health Respecting Restaurants (Alta. Reg. 399/70). AR 143/81 s29 Day Care Facility 30 In every day care facility where children under 19 months of age are cared for, (a) provision shall be made for bathing them; (b) a surface or change table for diapering shall be provided separate from food preparation and food service areas and adjacent to hand washing facilities that is acceptable to the local board; (c) the top of the surface of change tables shall be of a non‑moisture absorbing material that can be scrubbed and disinfected frequently; (d) the top of the surface of change tables shall be covered with a fresh diapering service for each child; (e) soiled cloth diapers shall be rinsed and stored in a non‑absorbent and easily cleanable container; (f) soiled disposable diapers shall be disposed of in a container with a tight fitting lid or in closed plastic bags; (g) cloth diapers shall be provided by the operator and when soiled shall be laundered with suitable soap or detergent and disinfectant; (h) cloth diapers provided by the parents when soiled shall be sent home in a container with a tight fitting lid or closed plastic bags; (i) staff shall wash hands after each diapering; (j) staff shall ensure that personal effects, soothers and bottles are properly identified and shall not interchange this equipment between children. AR 143/81 s30 31 The Provincial Board of Health Regulations Regarding the Inspection of Institutions and Nurseries , Division 15 of (Alta. Reg. 572/57) is repealed. AR 143/81 s31