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Illinois hand washing sink regulations govern a wide variety of industries and situations. From body art shops to farmers markets, the regulations exist to keep employees and patrons healthy and safe.
Ensuring your business complies with the rules requires understanding how and when they apply to your business and when they don’t as well as which Illinois government department oversees your industry.
Handwashing and sink regulations are overseen by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
Almost all hand washing sinks (there are some exceptions) must provide cold and hot water through a mixing faucet, but steam mixing valves are not allowed. If the faucet is an automatic dispenser, the water must flow for at least 15 seconds before shutting off.
Any business that’s subject to these regulations must provide at least one dedicated handwashing sink that’s conveniently located and easily accessible to staff at all times. However, there may be times an establishment must require more than one sink. Every business with a bathroom must provide at least one hand washing sink in or next to the bathroom.
In addition to sinks, businesses must provide soap and a hand drying device. This can be a hot air jet or sanitary towels. If you provide paper towels, there must be a waste basket. Common or shared towels to dry hands are not allowed.
Temporary facilities, like a pop-up or mobile food truck, must provide a handwashing station of some kind. A portable sink is acceptable; however, facilities can choose to provide a pan, warm water, soap, and individual paper towels.
While most sink regulations are overseen by IDPH, regulations for childcare facilities are overseen by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS).
Children must wash their hands frequently, including:
Childcare facilities must provide a handwashing station with soap and running water. Children cannot use hand sanitizer or diaper wipes to clean their hands. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) recommends that childcare facilities provide liquid instead of bar soap.
In Illinois, IDPH and IDHS oversee sink regulations and handwashing regulations for food service establishments.
The IDPH regulations state that food employees shouldn’t touch ready-to-eat food directly and instead use single-use gloves or utensils (like tongs or a spatula) to handle fit However, food handlers still need to wash their hands before using a utensil or gloves.
All food service establishments have to provide at least one hand washing sink that’s strictly for hands in or right next to the food preparation area. The handwashing facility must be well-lit with at least 20 feet of candles.
Food establishments must also post signs instructing workers on when to wash hands and proper hand washing techniques. The signs must be clearly visible, easy to read, and in English, plus any other languages employees speak.
In addition to providing a dedicated hand washing sink for food service employees, IDHS imposes regulations on when staff need to wash hands. Those include:
The IDPH and local health departments are responsible for ensuring food service businesses comply with the regulations. Childcare facilities are overseen by DCFS.
In 2022, the IDPH adopted the FDA food code. That code governs all retail food establishments, including:
While IDPH oversees restaurants, it’s up to local health departments to inspect food service establishments and ensure they comply with the regulations.
Chicago has an additional set of hand washing sink regulations for food establishments. While most of the sink regulations are the same as IDPH’s, there are a few unique regulations businesses should be aware of.
First, the regulations specifically state that food employees are allowed to use a paper towel to open the door after washing their hands. The regulations also stipulate that the hot water can be any higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
And while all sinks have to provide soap, it’s acceptable in Chicago to have one soap supply for every two sinks.
Illinois farmer’s markets are also subject to hand washing sink regulations. Specifically, there must be hand washing stations when items are sliced or cut, even if that doesn’t happen at the farmer’s market.
Staff must wash hands when:
Portable sinks are acceptable, as are handwashing stations that use gravity, but the water must be warm.
All body art businesses, like tattoo or body piercing shops, must provide handwashing sinks for workers.
A permanent body art shop must have at least one dedicated handwashing sink. All sinks must have liquid soap and disposable towels. While one handwashing sink can serve multiple stations, it can serve no more than six stations.
Mobile body art shops are also subject to hand washing sink regulations. A mobile shop must provide one sink inside the unit for washing hands. The sink must have pressurized hot and cold running water through a mixing faucet. There must also be liquid soap and paper towels in a dispenser.
Though most people think of Chicago when they think of Illinois, the state has a fair amount of farmland. And any farm that employs 10 or more people must comply with hand washing sink regulations.
All farms must have a handwashing station within a quarter mile of every worker. Every handwashing sink must have potable water, liquid or powdered soap, and a way to dry hands, like single-use towels or an air dryer. To ensure employees can clean hands and fingers throughout the day, employers must provide at least one gallon of potable water per day for each employee.
Because this water is designated strictly for handwashing, the container must say “Not Drinking Water.” The label must be written in English and any native language that the employees speak.
While IDPH regulations allow a simple pan and warm water in some cases, that may not be the best handwashing solution for your business, staff, or customers. Ozark River Manufacturing’s portable sinks can help you provide a safe and healthy handwashing station that complies with Illinois handwashing sink regulations in these industries:
Get in touch today and see how we can help.
Ozark River Manufacturing designs and delivers top-quality, NSF-certified portable sinks. Since 2006, our inventive and bold team has ensured health compliance with quick-connect tanks and instant hot water. With over 55 models, we provide solutions for every need, backed by exceptional customer support and timely delivery. Healthy people matter, and we make a positive impact every day.
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