Unannounced Inspection

[sharlan]

I had my first unannounced inspection, ever, today. I've always had the analyst call a few days in advance to see if I was still in business.

I got my first violations today. I got a class A deficiency for my 2 tomato plants in the back yard. I got a class B because it had been 7 mos since we had a fire drill. The tomato plants were moved while he was here so I didn't get a fine. We have until Friday to have a fire drill.

I was also told that we have to cover the top of the air conditioners so that kids can't drop rocks down to the blades.

I was also told about the 1% milk and juice. So now I have to follow that.

[Willow]

Wondering what the deal with the tomato plants was?

We have a giant garden, I have never heard about having to do anything licensing wise in regards to it :confused:


The only time I've ever heard about covering an A/C is during the winter to protect the unit....does it even operate properly with a cover on it?

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

I am a type B (in home) provider in Ohio. All of our visits are unannounced. Are you a center?

A/C I would think a barrier around it to prevent the kidlets from being able to get to it.

Do you have pea gravel?

Tomatoes???

What is up with juice... I never serve any but curious

[familyschoolcare]

What is the deal with the fire drills.

I was told to have them atleast two times a year and it did not matter if they where evenly spaced.

I even asked so I should have them once every 6 or 7 months and my lic rep said a that would work do 2 or so a year just be sure to mark them down some how. Not sure how she would know if we realy had a drill or if I just wrote down that we did.

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

Fire Drill monthly here!

[sharlan]

In CA we can only serve 4 oz of 100% juice a day. We can only serve 1% milk, which I hate and have refused to serve so far.

"All homes shall conduct fire and disaster drills at least once every six months, and document the date and time of each drill." "The licensee must conduct a fire drill with the daycare children and proof of the correction must be submitted to the Department by 8/24/2012."

Tomato leaves are poisonous.

Evidently they've had some injuries lately where kids have dropped rocks down into the blades of the ac units and the rocks have shot back out.

[mema]

We have to have monthly fire drills and storm drills April-October.

Do you have to have the AC covered if your using it? Isn't that a hazard?

[Annalee]

In TN, we get annual visits from the fire marshall where we show our monthly fire drill card. Also, all licensing visits are unannounced with exception to the re-evaluation paperwork. After the state-mandated assessment with FCCERS-R, your stars are determined. If you get no stars, you will receive at least six unannounced visits, but if you get three stars (highest), you will receive only three unannounced visits annually. On top of that, group child care homes also receive bi-annual visits from the health/environmentalist checking things like the tomato plants you mentioned, however, I have never been counted off for that. In addition to this, we receive four visits a year from the food program checking the milk and juice you mentioned. Many times I feel I spend more time watching the door to see who is coming in rather than watching the kids. ::

[Country Kids]

1. Seriously, they dinked you for having tomato plants. Isn't the new rave have your kids outside playing and doing gardens! I so wish they would make up their minds. 90% of people choose tomatos to plant because they don't take up much room.

2. We only have to serve the 1% milk if we are on the food program. I didn't think you were on it so how can they make you serve it. So you are probably going to be in my boat and have kids not drinking their milk now.

3. Our air unit is on the roof so I don't have to worry about that one.


Sorry you had these violations. It amazes me that the state once us doing things but makes it hard to do it right.

[daycare]

It's not only food program rules regarding milk. It's also licensing.

I would ask where in the regs it states anything Aboht the ac unit
I just had a surprise inspection and nothing was mentioned about my AC unit and it's where the kids could touch it, but I dont let them to that back half of the yard.

Ca is soooooo grey with their rules. Ugh. Sorry Sharlan. That stinks

[Country Kids]

Oh, our liscensing says nothing about our food. Thats what the food program is for.

[Oneluckymom]

Soooo sorry Sharlan. That is so depressing ! I just had my unannounced inspection and my inspector did not look at my food, I find that kind of odd. I don't do a garden but have thought about it, I will be sure to avoid those tomato plants !! I hope you can recover from all this I know it must make your heart sink, we all put our best into our business.

[sharlan]

It's not only food program rules regarding milk. It's also licensing.

I would ask where in the regs it states anything Aboht the ac unit
I just had a surprise inspection and nothing was mentioned about my AC unit and it's where the kids could touch it, but I dont let them to that back half of the yard.

Ca is soooooo grey with their rules. Ugh. Sorry Sharlan. That stinks

I fully accept the responsibility for the two deficiencies. I have no one else to blame but myself. I'm really just happy that that was all he found to cite me for. In 28 years, those were the only two deficiencies that I have been cited for.

The AC thing is something they're doing in our area because of injuries that have happened this summer. It's not in the regs. I wasn't given a deficiency for it, just something they're asking to be done.

The milk was just a verbal, hey, did you know about bill AB such and such that states you have to serve 1% milk. I told him that I had 5 gals of 2% and would continue to serve it until it was gone. He said they can't check, but saw when the kids asked for glasses of hot chocolate milk and my granddaughter gave them cold, plain milk. I have no idea why they would ask for hot chocolate when it was over 100* outside, but they did.

I knew tomato plants were poisonous, but I've never given it a thought because I've never had a kid chew on a leaf. I was able to move the plants immediately, but he still gave me the A deficiency. I had to post the site violations notice for 30 days and have my parents all sign a letter that they had been notified.

[SilverSabre25]

I wouldn't cover the A/C unit, that doesn' seem safe...could you build some sort of simple little fence around it so they can't get to it? Use garden poles and chicken wire or something?

[sharlan]

I wouldn't cover the A/C unit, that doesn' seem safe...could you build some sort of simple little fence around it so they can't get to it? Use garden poles and chicken wire or something?

He suggested chicken wire and zip ties. My dh was not impressed with that idea.