Subd. 2. Child care centers; risk reduction plan. (a) Child care centers licensed under this chapter and Minnesota Rules, chapter 9503, must develop a risk reduction plan that identifies the general risks to children served by the child care center. The license holder must establish procedures to minimize identified risks, train staff on the procedures, and annually review the procedures. (b) The risk reduction plan must include an assessment of risk to children the center serves or intends to serve and identify specific risks based on the outcome of the assessment. The assessment of risk must be based on the following: (1) an assessment of the risks presented by the physical plant where the licensed services are provided, including an evaluation of the following factors: the condition and design of the facility and its outdoor space, bathrooms, storage areas, and accessibility of medications and cleaning products that are harmful to children when children are not supervised and the existence of areas that are difficult to supervise; and (2) an assessment of the risks presented by the environment for each facility and for each site, including an evaluation of the following factors: the type of grounds and terrain surrounding the building and the proximity to hazards, busy roads, and publicly accessed businesses. (c) The risk reduction plan must include a statement of measures that will be taken to minimize the risk of harm presented to children for each risk identified in the assessment required under paragraph (b) related to the physical plant and environment. At a minimum, the stated measures must include the development and implementation of specific policies and procedures or reference to existing policies and procedures that minimize the risks identified. (d) In addition to any program-specific risks identified in paragraph (b), the plan must include development and implementation of specific policies and procedures or refer to existing policies and procedures that minimize the risk of harm or injury to children, including:
(1) closing children’s fingers in doors, including cabinet doors; (2) leaving children in the community without supervision; (3) children leaving the facility without supervision; (4) caregiver dislocation of children’s elbows;
(5) burns from hot food or beverages, whether served to children or being consumed by caregivers, and the devices used to warm food and beverages; (6) injuries from equipment, such as scissors and glue guns; (7) sunburn; (8) feeding children foods to which they are allergic; (9) children falling from changing tables; and (10) children accessing dangerous items or chemicals or coming into contact with residue from harmful cleaning products. (e) The plan shall prohibit the accessibility of hazardous items to children.
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