§ 381.51 - Lavatories, toilets, and other sanitary facilities.

(a) Modern lavatory and toilet accommodations and properly located facilities for cleaning utensils and hands shall be provided.

(b) Adequate lavatory and toilet accommodations, including but not being limited to, running hot and cold water, soap, or other acceptable agents (in sanitary dispensers), toilet tissue, and towels or other acceptable facilities for drying hands, shall be provided. Lavatories shall be in or near toilet and locker rooms and also at other places in the plant as may be essential to the cleanliness of all personnel handling poultry products.

(c) Adequate lockers or other facilities, shall be provided for employees’ wearing apparel, and for the storing and changing of clothing. Wearing apparel shall not be stored in rooms where processing operations are conducted.

(d) Suitable containers shall be provided for the temporary storage of soiled linen, coats, aprons, and other items of employees’ uniforms or work clothing.

(e) Sufficient containers of metal or other acceptable impervious material shall be provided for used towels and other wastes.

(f) An adequate number of hand washing facilities shall be provided in areas where poultry products are prepared. Hand washing facilities accepted in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 381.53 may be used in such areas, provided that if hand-activated facilities are used, the hand-contact element must be rinsed automatically with a sufficient volume of water to remove all fat, tissue, debris, and other extraneous material from the hand contact element after each use. Both hot and cold running water shall be available at each inspection station on the eviscerating line and shall be delivered through a suitable mixing device controlled by the inspector. Alternatively, water for hand washing shall be delivered to such inspection stations at a minimum temperature of 65 °F.

(g) Durable signs shall be posted conspicuously in each toilet room and locker room directing employees to wash their hands before returning to work.

(h) Adequate toilet facilities shall be provided and the following formula shall serve as a basis for determining the number of toilet bowls required:

Number of persons of same sexMinimum number of facilities1 to 9110 to 24225 to 49350 to 74475 to 1005Over 100(1)1 1 for each additional 30 persons.

Where 10 or more are employed, urinals may be substituted for the toilet bowls specified in the foregoing formula, except that the number of toilet bowls in such cases may not be reduced to less than two-thirds of the number specified. Two feet of trough urinal shall be considered as equivalent to one individual urinal.

(i) Suitable sanitary drinking water facilities shall be provided.

(j) All toilets, lavatories, and other sanitary facilities shall be kept clean and in good repair.