California Code § 101238(g): Hazardous Material Storage

📋Type A Violation🏢Affects: Child Care Centers

What Is California Code § 101238(g): Hazardous Material Storage?

California Code § 101238(g)

Disinfectants, cleaning solutions, poisons and other items that could pose a danger if readily available to children shall be stored where inaccessible to children.

💡Insider's Tips

Inspectors walk through your facility at child height. They open cabinet doors, check under sinks, and look behind bathroom doors. The write-up happens when a child could physically reach something dangerous, not when they actually do. I've seen citations for bleach spray bottles left on a counter during naptime cleanup because the counter was low enough for a four-year-old to grab. Your safest move: install child-proof locks on every cabinet below four feet, and train staff to never set cleaning products down mid-task, even for a few seconds. Inspectors time their visits during transitions when shortcuts are most tempting.

facilities cited recently

That's 1 in 5000 facilities

counties affected

most common citation

📉

Decreasing

Last 90 days vs. previous 90 days

9 facilities (was 26)17 facilities

Source: California CCLD inspection records | Data: last 90 days as of Feb 16, 2026

How to Avoid Hazardous Material Storage Citations

✓ Prevention Checklist

Store all health records in a secure, confidential manner
Limit access to health information to authorized personnel only
Ensure records are not visible to unauthorized individuals
Maintain confidentiality when discussing health issues
Follow proper procedures for sharing health information with parents

❌ Common Mistakes

Leaving cleaning spray bottles on low counters or tables during mid-day sanitizing routines. Staff set them down to wipe a surface and walk away briefly. Inspectors document anything a child could reach within arm's length.
Storing hand sanitizer dispensers at child height in classrooms. Providers install them for convenience, but alcohol-based sanitizers are classified as poisonous if ingested, and wall-mounted dispensers within a child's reach count as accessible.
Keeping a unlocked supply closet because 'we always watch the kids.' Inspectors don't accept supervision as a substitute for physical barriers. If the door doesn't lock and the products are inside, it's a citation.
Forgetting about outdoor storage. Garden chemicals, pool supplies, or pest control products in an unlocked shed on the playground perimeter get cited just as quickly as indoor hazards.
Using the same cabinet for art supplies and cleaning products. Providers think a high shelf is enough, but if a child can climb on a chair to reach it, inspectors consider it accessible.

What's Being Cited in Each Region Over the Past 90 Days

Based on facility inspection reports filed with California's Community Care Licensing Division, here's how this citation appears across different regions in the past 90 days.

Fresno County

2 citations

Riverside County

2 citations

Merced County

1 citations

Orange County

1 citations

Alameda County

1 citations

San Diego County

1 citations

Los Angeles County

1 citations

Data updated weekly from CCLD public records. Last update: 2/16/2026

See California Code § 101238(g): Hazardous Material Storage Citations in Your County

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hazardous Material Storage?

California Code 101238(g) requires that disinfectants, cleaning solutions, poisons, and anything else dangerous to children be stored where kids cannot reach them. This goes beyond just locking the supply closet. It covers every spray bottle set down during cleaning, every hand sanitizer dispenser mounted at child height, and every outdoor shed with garden chemicals. If a child could physically touch it, it needs to be behind a lock or above their reach.

How common is the Hazardous Material Storage citation?

According to California CCLD inspection records as of February 08, 2026, 10 facilities have been cited for this violation in the past 90 days across 10 California counties. That's roughly 1 in 4,000 inspected facilities, or about 0.02%. The citations are spread evenly, with Alameda, Fresno, Kings, Orange, and Riverside each reporting one. The wide geographic distribution suggests this isn't a regional training issue. It's a universal operational habit that catches providers during routine walkthroughs.

What triggers this citation during an inspection?

Inspectors walk your facility at child height. They open unlocked cabinets, check under sinks, and look behind bathroom doors. Based on CCLD inspection patterns, the most common write-up involves cleaning products left on low surfaces during mid-day sanitizing. Staff set a spray bottle on a counter to wipe a table and walk three steps away. Inspectors also check outdoor areas: unlocked sheds, garden supply bins, and anything stored along playground fencing. A product doesn't need to be open to be cited. Accessible means reachable.

How can I prevent this citation?

Install child-proof locks on every cabinet below four feet. Train staff to carry cleaning products in a caddy and never set them down mid-task, not even for a few seconds. Move hand sanitizer dispensers above adult shoulder height. Check outdoor storage monthly and padlock any shed or bin within playground boundaries. Inspectors time visits during transitions when shortcuts are most tempting, so your routines need to hold up during the busiest parts of the day.

What should I do if I receive this citation?

Relocate the cited items immediately and install physical barriers (locks, latches, or height-restricted shelving) before the follow-up visit. Document what you moved and where, and take photos for your records. Update your staff training to include a "no set-down" rule for chemicals during cleaning. In your Plan of Correction, describe each specific change and when it was completed. For complex situations, consider consulting a licensed childcare compliance specialist.

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This information is educational and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed childcare compliance consultant for guidance specific to your facility. Citation data is sourced from California Community Care Licensing Division public records and is refreshed regularly.

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