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New Jersey has extensive and detailed sink regulations. While this may feel burdensome to a business owner, they are part of the safety precautions that keep staff and customers safe and healthy. Here’s everything you need to know about New Jersey’s hand washing sink regulations and what you can do to ensure your company complies with them.
The New Jersey Administrative Code outlines handwashing sink rules for a wide variety of businesses. The local public health department inspects and enforces regulations in most cases, but there are some exceptions. For example, the Department of Family Service (DCF) oversees childcare facilities.
Though not a complete list, some of the establishments subject to New Jersey’s handwashing sink regulations are:
The regulations for each facility are fairly extensive and detailed, though many regulations are similar across industries. For example, no matter where the handwashing facilities are or who they serve, they must provide some kind of soap.
Unlike other states, New Jersey’s hand washing sink regulations for food service establishments apply to nearly every conceivable type of facility, including:
All food establishments in New Jersey need to provide handwashing facilities that:
Each hand washing sink or group of two handwashing sinks must provide soap and a wastebasket for single-use disposable towels. Businesses can also provide a continuous towel system or heated air dryer for drying hands, but you cannot use a shared towel to dry hands.
While food trucks are subject to food service establishment guidelines for handwashing facilities, ice cream trucks with a soft-serve dispenser must follow specific hand washing sink regulations outlined in the Code.
Each truck must have a hand washing sink that supplies running hot and cold water, soap, and single-use towels or a mechanical hand dryer. The sink also has to have a supply tank and a waste tank. The waste tank must:
You also need to be able to easily see how full the waste tank is at any given time.
Hand washing sink regulations for ear piercing and body art shops are as detailed and specific. However, it also includes instructions on what to do if the shop doesn’t have easily accessible handwashing facilities.
Artists must wash their hands after smoking, eating, drinking, and using the restroom. They’re also required to wash their hands before each procedure and wear gloves. One of the specific details is that after the artist washes and dries their hands, they must turn the tap off using a clean, dry, single-use paper towel. The same rule applies if the artist exits the handwashing facilities using a knob or door handle.
However, if handwashing sinks with running water are unavailable, the artist has two options. First, they can use an alcohol-based sanitizer to clean their hands if they aren’t obviously dirty or have visible signs of blood or bodily fluids. However, if their hands are dirty, they must wash them in a hand washing sink, even if it’s not easily accessible. After returning to the client, the artist must then use a hand sanitizer before starting work.
Finally, if the business provides liquid soap, the container must be emptied and cleaned between fillings.
New Jersey dialysis clinics are also subject to hand washing sink regulations. Some of the details include:
New Jersey recognizes several types of childcare facilities. Each facility must follow similar but distinct handwashing sink regulations.
A child care center is a facility that cares for six or more children under the age of 13 for less than 24 hours each day. These centers are licensed by the Department of Children and Families (DCF), Office of Licensing (OOL).
All staff must wash their hands:
All of the above rules apply even when staff wear disposable gloves.
At these facilities, children three months and over must wash their hands with soap and running water:
Baby wipes are an acceptable substitute only when the child is under three months old.
Family child care is different from a licensed daycare facility. Family child care centers are home-based and care for no more than five nonresidents aged 13 or younger at any one time. Handwashing sink regulations for family child care include:
Children must wash their hands:
Adults are subject to the same rules as children but must also wash their hands:
Family care facilities must also provide each child with a clean towel and washcloths that only they use or single-use disposable towels.
No matter what kind of business you’re in, New Jersey’s extensive hand washing sink regulations all but guarantee you need a proper hand washing sink, and a portable sink can help your business comply.
Ozark River Manufacturing portable sinks have hot and cold running water, a waste tank, and are perfect for:
Contact us today to see what Ozark River Manufacturing’s portable sinks can do for your business.
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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