Hand Washing Sink Regulations – Georgia

Georgia’s hand washing sink regulations are extensive and apply to an array of industries and situations. There are many details to consider, but they exist to keep staff and customers safe and healthy.

It may seem impossible to comply with these regulations, especially if you’re a small company or a mobile food cart vendor. Fortunately, a portable sink can help you comply with Georgia’s hand washing sink regulations.

Which Department Oversees Hand Washing Sinks in Georgia?

The Georgia Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Section, sets and enforces hand washing sink regulations for most food service establishments, including food trucks and mobile carts. The Public Health Department also oversees hand washing sink regulations for tattoo and body art shops.

Childcare facilities in Georgia are subject to hand washing sink regulations and guidelines created by the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning.

Cottage food operators, meaning people who use home kitchens to prepare the food they sell, are subject to the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s hand washing and hand washing sink guidelines.

Hand Washing Sink Regulations for Food Service Establishments

Georgia’s Public Health Department has extensive and detailed regulations for hand washing sinks in food service establishments, including how the sink operates, how well-lit the area has to be, and when to wash hands.

In a Georgia food establishment, hand washing sinks must be used only to wash hands and:

• Provide water that’s at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit (or 38 degrees Centigrade) through a mixing valve or combination faucet.
• Hand washing sinks cannot use a steam mixing valve to dispense water.
• If the sink uses an automatic faucet, it must dispense water for at least 15 seconds.
• There must be at least one dedicated hand washing sink in a convenient location for employees.
• The hand washing sink must be in a well-lit room with a light 30 inches above the floor.
• The hand washing sink area cannot have floor coverings like carpet or a carpet-like material.
• There must be post signs that remind employees to wash their hands before returning to work.

Hand washing sinks must also include a hand cleaning compound and some way to thoroughly dry hands. You can provide single-use disposable paper towels, a continuous towel system, or a heated air hand dryer. If you provide paper towels, you must also have a wastebasket nearby, and an appropriate cleaning compound (soap) must be at every hand washing sink or for every group of two sinks.

Staff are required to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds using a cleaning compound and must do so:

• Before preparing food, including working with exposed food, cleaning equipment and utensils, or working with unwrapped single-use items.
• After using the toilet.
• After touching bare human body parts other than clean hands and clean exposed arms.
• After caring for or handling service or aquatic animals.
• After coughing, sneezing, blowing their nose, smoking, or eating.
• After drinking, unless the drink is in a closed container and handled in a way that prevents contaminating the hands.
• After handling dirty equipment or utensils.
• During food preparation, to prevent cross-contamination.
• When switching between raw and prepared foods.
• Before donning gloves.
• After engaging in any activity that contaminates the hands.

Handwashing Sink Regulations for Mobile Food Establishments

Georgia doesn’t distinguish between food trucks and push carts. Both establishments are subject to the same hand washing sink regulations.

Food trucks and push carts must have an umbrella or other overhead protection to sufficiently protect the handwashing area. The handwashing station must provide pressurized hot and cold running water, a hand cleaner, paper towels, and a waste basket.

The hand washing station must also be installed in the food truck or on the pushcart. However, certified commercially manufactured portable hand washing stations can be used instead of installing a handwashing station.

Handwashing Sink Regulations for Daycares

Daycare facilities are also subject to extensive and detailed hand washing sink regulations.

Every daycare facility must provide one hand washing sink to the below ratio of children enrolled in the facility:

Every hand washing sink must provide liquid soap, paper towels, and single-use washcloths. There must also be a hand washing sink with heated running water adjacent to the diapering area and has covered storage for soiled items. Daycare centers also cannot use flush sinks for their hand washing sinks.

Children and staff must wash their hands with liquid soap and warm running water:

• On arrival
• When changing rooms
• After outside play
• Before and after eating
• After using the toilet
• After playing with sand
• After touching animals

When an infant is too heavy to hold up to a sink for handwashing and can’t safely stand, it’s acceptable to wash their hands with a single-use washcloth.

Handwashing Sink Regulations for Tattoo and Body Art Shops

Tattoo and body art shops have similar but slightly different hand washing sink regulations.

The shop must provide artists with a convenient handwashing station within 30 feet of their work or demo area. The hand washing sink must provide pressurized or gravity-fed potable water, liquid antimicrobial soap, and single-use paper towels.

Hand washing sinks must also be present in cleaning rooms and are required in addition to hand washing sinks provided in restrooms.

Handwashing Sink Regulations for Cottage Food Businesses

Cottage food preparers don’t have the same hand washing sink regulations as traditional food service establishments. Anyone preparing food at home and selling it must wash their hands and arms with soap and water that’s warm to the touch, then dry their hands with paper towels before preparing the product.

Ozark River Manufacturing Portable Sinks Help Your Business

Ozark River Manufacturing’s portable sinks are NSF-certified and a compliant alternative to a plumbed sink for your Georgia business. Many of our models provide hot and cold pressure water, have a place for liquid soap and paper towels, and are perfect for:

• Bars
• Beauty, Day Spas, & Wellness
• Commercial
• Construction & Job Sites
• Daycare
• Classrooms
• Events, Concerts, & Weddings
• Farms & Barns
• Restaurants & Food Service
• Garages & Workshops
• Healthcare & Clinics
• Patio & Home Use
• Retail Stores
• Science Labs
• Tattoo Shops

Contact us today to see how Ozark River Manufacturing’s portable sinks can provide you with a code-compliant sink that keeps your staff and patrons safe.