To prevent injury or drowning and ensure the health and safety of children, a school-age provider must comply with the requirements described in this section.

(1) Filtered wading pools must be inaccessible to children when not in use. Wading pools that do not have a filtering system are not permitted in the school-age program space.

(2) Bodies of water not located in school-age program space, but that are in close proximity, must be made inaccessible to children in care, and the school-age program must have a written plan approved by the department.

(3) If a school-age provider uses water tables or similar containers, the tables or containers must be emptied and sanitized daily, or more often if necessary.

(4) For any program that does not operate on public or private school premises, the following bodies of water must be inaccessible to children in care by using a physical barrier with a locking mechanism in compliance with WAC 246-260-031(4):

(a) Swimming pools when not being used as part of the school-age program;

(b) Ponds, lakes, storm retention ponds, ditches, fountains, fish ponds, landscape pools, or similar bodies of water; and

(c) Uncovered wells, septic tanks, wastewater, wastewater tanks, below grade storage tanks, farm manure ponds or other similar hazards.

(5) Hot tubs and similar equipment must be made inaccessible by using a physical barrier with a locking mechanism.

(6) A school-age provider must comply with the supervision requirements of WAC 110-301-0350 when using a swimming pool as part of the school-age program.

(7) For any program that does not operate on public or private school premises, a school-age provider must comply with the following requirements when using a swimming pool on the premises as part of the school-age program:

(a) Audible alarms must be on all doors, screens, and gates in licensed areas that lead to a swimming pool. The alarm must be sufficient to warn staff when children enter the outdoor area and could access the swimming pool;

(b) Swimming pools must be maintained according to manufacturer specifications;

(c) Swimming pools must be cleaned and sanitized according to manufacturer instructions, chapter 246-260 WAC, and the DOH or local health jurisdiction guidelines; and

(d) A swimming pool must not be used if the main drain cover is missing.