California Code § 102417(g)(4): Hazardous Material Storage

❌ Common Mistakes

• Storing cleaning supplies under the kitchen or bathroom sink with no lock, relying on child-resistant caps as the safety measure. Child-resistant does not mean childproof, and CCLD requires that hazardous items be inaccessible, not just difficult to open. Inspectors cite this every time.
• Leaving personal medications in a purse, backpack, or lunchbox within children's reach. Providers forget that their own belongings count as accessible storage. An inspector who spots a purse on a hook at child height will check inside for medication, and finding any results in a citation.
• Assuming that 'out of reach' means the same thing as 'inaccessible.' A shelf above the washer might seem high enough, but if a child can climb the laundry basket to reach it, it fails the accessibility test. Inspectors evaluate access from a child's perspective, including what furniture or objects could be used as stepping stools.
• Forgetting to secure items in transitional spaces like the garage, laundry room, or backyard shed. Providers focus on childproofing the main care areas but leave pesticides, paint, or tools accessible in spaces children pass through during outdoor play or transitions.