Virginia Law

A. Water supply.

1. Both hot and cold water of safe and sanitary quality shall be available in sufficient quantity for all plant operations and facilities. Water from other lines, when officially approved, may be used for boiler feed water and condenser water, if such water lines are completely separated from the water lines carrying the sanitary water supply, and if the equipment is constructed and controlled to prevent contamination of any product or product contact surface. There shall be no cross-connections between safe and unsafe water lines or between private and public supply.

2. Bacteriological examination shall be made of the plant sanitary water supply at least once every six months by the appropriate State Regulatory Authority to determine purity and safety for use in processing or manufacturing dairy products.

B. Employee facilities.

1. In addition to toilet and dressing rooms, the plant shall provide the following employee facilities:

a. Conveniently located sanitary drinking water;

b. A locker or other suitable facility for each employee;

c. Hand washing facilities, including hot and cold running water, soap or other detergents and sanitary rooms and at other places where necessary for the cleanliness of all personnel handling products; and

d. Self-closing containers for used towels and other wastes.

2. A durable, legible sign shall be posted conspicuously in each toilet and dressing room directing employees to wash their hands before returning to work.

C. Steam. Steam shall be supplied in sufficient volume and pressure for satisfactory operation of each applicable piece of equipment. Steam that may come into direct contact with milk or dairy products shall be culinary steam. Culinary steam shall comply with the 3-A Accepted Practices, "Method of Producing Steam of Culinary Quality," Number 609-02 (3-A Sanitary Standards, Incorporated).

D. Disposal of wastes. The plant sewage system shall have sufficient slope and capacity to remove readily all waste from processing operations. Where a public sewer is not available, wastes shall be disposed of by methods approved by the State Regulatory Authority. Containers for the collection and holding of wastes other than dry waste paper shall be constructed of metal or other equally impervious material, kept covered with tight-fitting lids, and placed outside the plant on a concrete slab or on a rack raised at least 12 inches; however, waste containers may be kept inside a suitable enclosed, clean, and fly-proof room. Solid wastes shall be disposed of regularly and the containers cleaned before reuse. Dry waste paper shall be burned at the plant in an approved incinerator, or compressed or bagged and disposed of in an approved manner.