CHAPTER 396

An Act to amend and reenact § 82-418 of the Code of Virginia relating
to sanitary and safety requirements for migrant labor camps. P
[S 374]

Approved April 2, 1968

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
I That § 32-418 of the Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted as
ollows:

§ 32-418. (a) An adequate and convenient supply of uncontami-
nated water shall be available at all times in each camp for drinking, cook-
ing, bathing, and laundry purposes. The location of water supply out-
lets under pressure shall be no more than * one hundred feet from any
dwelling unit. No common drinking cups or common towels shall be pro-
vided. If drinking fountains are provided they shall be of sanitary design
and construction and shall be kept clean. When wells or springs are used
as source of camp water supply they shall be constructed and protected
as required by the State Board of Health. All camps constructed after
July 1, 1968, shall have hot and cold water under pressure to common
use bathing, laundry and kitchen facilities.

(b) Separate toilet rooms containing water closets, chemical toilets
or privies shall be provided for each sex and shall be distinctly marked
“men” and “women” in English and the native language of the persons
occupying the camp. If the facilities for each sex are in the same building
they shall be separated by solid walls or partitions extending from the
floor to the roof or ceiling. The minimum number of water closets, chemical
toilets or privy seats shall be one such unit for each twenty persons.
Wherever pit privies or chemical toilets are used they shall be constructed
in conformance with such regulations as the State Board of Health may
prescribe. All plumbing must conform to the standards required by chapter
24 (§ 32-406 et seq.), Title 32, Code of Virginia. All toilet facilities shall
be readily accessible to the living quarters they are intended to serve.
All privies or latrines shall be located not more than two hundred feet
nor less than fifty feet from these quarters. Each water closet, chemical
toilet, or privy shall be provided with tight fitting hinged seat lid. Each
building or structure housing toilet facilities shall have a self-closing door,
adequate ventilation and lighting, and be provided with fly screening.
Where urinals are provided they shall be on the basis of one for each
thirty persons and shall comply with the standards prescribed by chapter
24, Title 32 of the Code of Virginia. All toilet facilities shall be kept
clean and sanitary at all times.

(c) (1) In every occupied camp wash basins shall be available in
the ratio of one for each twelve persons. One laundry tray or wash tub
shall be provided for each thirty persons occupying the camp.

(2) In every occupied camp facilities for bathing shall be provided
in the form of showers, installed tubs, or portable tubs. One bathing unit
consisting of either a showerhead, tub, or portable tub, shall be provided
for each fifteen persons.

(3) In every occupied camp facilities for heating water shall be
made available at all times for washing, bathing and laundry purposes.

Where washrooms and bathrooms are provided, separate facil-
ities shall be available for each sex and shall be so designated. If the
facilities for each sex are in the same building they shall be separated
by solid walls or partitions extending from the floor to the roof or ceiling.

(5) The floors of such utility buildings shall be impervious to moist-
ure and sloped to drain. Floor drains or sloped floors to remove waste
water and facilitate cleaning shall be provided in all shower baths, shower
rooms, and laundry rooms.

Construction and maintenance of all plumbing must conform to the
standards prescribed by chapter 24, Title 32, Code of Virginia.

(d) In all camps hereafter constructed, connection shall be made
to public sewerage where such facilities are available. Where no public
sewerage is available for new camps, sewage disposal facilities shall be
installed in accordance with the regulations of the State Board of Health.
In all existing camps sewage disposal shall comply with the regulations
of the State Board of Health for the type of sewage disposal employed.

(e) In rooms used for living or sleeping purposes there shall be at
least one window opening to the outer air. The minimum total window
area shall be ten per centum of the floor area for all new construction.
Facilities shall be provided for hanging clothes.
All building and structures in the camps shall be constructed in a
safe manner with provisions against fire hazards and shall provide pro-
tection to the occupants against the elements. The roof and walls of each
building shall be of water-resistive construction. * Floors shall be con-
structed of solid materials, smooth finished, readily cleanable, and so
located and constructed as to prevent the entrance of ground and surface
water. All walls, roofs and floors shall be kept in safe repair. * Each room
designed for family use for sleeping purposes shall contain at least *
seventy square feet of floor space for * the first person and fifty square
feet of floor space for each additional person over six years of age. In
dormitory or barrack type camps hereafter constructed a minimum of fifty
square feet of floor space shall be provided per person. The minimum
ceiling height shall be seven feet.

(f) In every occupied camp adequate sleeping facilities shall be
available for each worker or member of his family. Such facilities shall
consist of beds, cots, or bunks, shall be elevated at least twelve inches
from the floor and spaced not closer than thirty-six inches laterally or
end to end. These facilities may be made of steel, wood, canvas or other
sanitary material and constructed so as to afford reasonable comfort to
the occupants. Between assignment to different persons, each bed, cot
or bunk shall be furnished with mattresses with clean covers or straw
filled ticks, and all ticking, covers, blankets, bed linen and mattresses
provided by camp operator shall be kept in a sanitary condition and
laundered or otherwise sanitized. Periodic inspections of beds and bed-
ding shall be made to insure freedom from vermin. When vermin are
found or reported, effective extermination measures shall be undertaken
immediately. Sleeping quarters for a group of people of one sex shall be
separate from the sleeping quarters occupied by a group of the opposite
sex except in the housing of families.

(g) All windows of living and sleeping quarters shall be effectively
screened during the fly season with fly screening material of at least
sixteen mesh per inch. All screen doors shall be equipped with self-clos-
ing devices.

(h) Every camp shall provide and maintain safe, adequate artificial
illumination. In existing camps where electric service is provided: Each
habitable room and other rooms which house or enclose eating or cooking
facilities, laundries, washrooms and toilets shall be provided with at least
one electric light outlet; stairways and halls shall be adequately lighted;
outside areas shall be provided with electric lighting to the extent that
all walkways and entrances to buildings are illuminated; electric wiring
shall be installed in accordance with the provisions of the National Elec-
trical Code; and in all shelters hereafter constructed or remodeled each
habitable room shall be provided with a minimum of one ceiling-type
light receptacle and one wall or floor electric convenience outlet.

(1) Where central cooking facilities are operated in conjunction with
mess halls they shall be: Constructed and maintained in accordance with
the regulations of the State Board of Health applicable to such mess halls;
separate from the sleeping quarters; floor, walls, ceilings, tables and
shelves of all kitchens, dining rooms, refrigerator and food storage rooms
shall be so constructed that they can always be maintained in a clean and
sanitary condition; the exterior wall openings of all dining rooms, kitchens
and food storage rooms shall be provided with fly screening at all times
when the camp is in operation; screen doors shall have self-closing de-
vices and open outward; adequate refrigeration facilities for storage of
food shall be provided; and all dishes, glassware, tableware, cutlery and
kitchen utensils and equipment shall be adequately cleansed, washed and
disinfected after each use. The cooking of meals by a family unit or
individuals within its assigned quarters is permitted, but only when walls
and floors surrounding the cook stove have been made safe from fire by
the use of asbestos or other fire resistant material extending at least
twelve inches beyond the stove in each direction. When such cooking of
meals is permitted, ten square feet of additional floor space shall be pro-
vided for each occupant above six years of age. Provisions for refrigera-
tion of food shall be made available within the camp.

(j) Metal cans, with tight-fitting covers, of at least twenty gallon
capacity shall be provided for storage of garbage and refuse. Whenever
these receptacles are full and at least twice a week the garbage and refuse
shall be collected. Provisions shall be made for disposing of garbage and
other refuse by incineration, grinding, incorporation in a sanitary land-
fill or burial at least eighteen inches below the ground surface. All waste
water, garbage and refuse shall be disposed of in a manner which is not
or does not become offensive or insanitary, and does not pollute the water
supply.

(k) Effective measures shall be taken to control rodents, flies, mos-
quitoes, bedbugs or other vermin within the camp premises.

(1) Fire protection equipment, fire fiighting equipment and first aid
supplies shall be provided in such camps.

(m) Dormitory sleeping quarters, central dining rooms and com-
mon assembly rooms shall have at least two exits.

2. This Act shall be effective July 1, 1968.