General Sanitation and Safety Requirements

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
Division of Hotels and Restaurants

Rule No.: RULE TITLE
61C-1.004: General Sanitation and Safety Requirements

NOTICE OF CHANGE

Notice is hereby given that the following changes have been made to the proposed rule in accordance with subparagraph 120.54(3)(d)1., F.S., published in Vol. 36 No. 18, May 7, 2010 issue of the Florida Administrative Weekly.

61C-1.004 General Sanitation and Safety Requirements.

The following general requirements and standards shall be met by all public lodging establishments and public food service establishments.

(1) Water, plumbing and waste.

(a) Except as specifically provided in these rules, standards for water, plumbing and waste shall be governed by Chapter 5, Food Code, as adopted by reference in rule 61C-1.001, F.A.C. For the purposes of this section, the term “food establishment” as referenced in the Food Code shall apply to all public lodging and public food service establishments as defined in Chapter 509, F.S.

(a) The water supply shall meet the standards provided in Chapters 64E-8, 62-550 and 62-555, F.A.C., where applicable.

(b) Bottled and packaged potable water shall be transported and obtained in accordance with the requirements of Title 21, Code of Federal Regulation, Parts 129 and 165, as adopted by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in Rule 5K-4.002, F.A.C.

(b)(c) Steam used in contact with food or food-contact surfaces shall be governed by Chapter 3, Food Code, as adopted by reference in Rule 61C-1.001, F.A.C., and free from any materials or additives except as allowed by Chapter 7, Food Code, as adopted by reference in Rule 61C-1.001, F.A.C. other than those specified in Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations 173.310.

(d) Sewage shall be disposed of in a public sewage system or other approved sewage system in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 64E-6 or 62-601, F.A.C., whichever is applicable. Grease interceptors shall be designed and installed in accordance with provisions of Chapter 64E-6, F.A.C., or the local building authority having jurisdiction.

(e) All garbage and rubbish shall be removed from the establishment premises with sufficient frequency to prevent nuisance conditions and shall be disposed of in accordance with provisions of Chapter 62-701, F.A.C.

(2) Public and employee bathrooms.

(a) Each public lodging establishment and public food service establishment shall provide a minimum of one conveniently located bathroom facility for its employees and customers in accordance with provisions of these rules, the Florida Building Code, and as approved by the local building authority having jurisdiction. Public bathroom facilities shall be located so that customers are not required or allowed to pass through food preparation, storage, or warewashing areas to access the public bathroom facility. Bathroom fixtures shall be of readily cleanable sanitary design. Bathroom facilities shall be kept clean, in good repair and free from objectionable odors. Bathroom facilities shall provide at least 20 foot candles of light. The walls, ceilings and floors of all bathroom facilities shall be kept in good condition. Toilet paper shall be provided in each bathroom facility.

(b) through (e) No change.

(3) Vermin Control – Effective control measures shall be taken to protect against the entrance into the establishment, and the breeding or presence on the premises of rodents, flies, roaches and other vermin. All buildings shall be effectively rodent-proofed, free of rodents and maintained in a rodent-proof and rodent-free condition. All windows used for ventilation must be screened, except when effective means of vermin control are used. Screening material shall not be less than 16 mesh to the inch or equivalent, tight-fitting and free of breaks. Pesticides Insecticides or rodenticides, when used, shall be used in compliance with Chapter 7, Food Code, as adopted by reference in Rule 61C-1.001 5E-14, F.A.C.

(4) through (6) No change.

(7) Fire safety.

(a) All fire safety, protection and prevention equipment must be installed, approved, maintained and used in accordance with the Florida Fire Prevention Code as approved by the local fire authority.

(a)(b) Carbon dioxide and helium tanks shall be adequately secured so as to preclude any danger to safety.

(b)(c) Specialized Smoke Detectors – Specialized smoke detectors for the deaf and hearing-impaired shall be made available upon request by guests in transient public lodging establishments without charge. Failure of the operator to inform any employee charged with registering guests of the location of such detector constitutes failure to make such detectors available.

(8) through (9) No change.