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Health Protection and Promotion Act

ONTARIO REGULATION 503/17

RECREATIONAL CAMPS

Consolidation Period:  From June 2, 2023 to the e-Laws currency date.

Last amendment: 110/23.

Legislative History: 110/23.

This is the English version of a bilingual regulation.

CONTENTS

Interpretation

1.

Interpretation and application

Notification

2.

Notification: commencement

3.

Notification: change

4.

Notification: disease

5.

Notification: camp closed

Camp Safety

6.

Operator training

7.

Results of inspections to be posted

8.

Communicable disease

9.

Animals susceptible to rabies

Camp Safety Plan

10.

Camp safety plan

Camp Staff

11.

First aid training

12.

Medical aid

13.

Supervision

Camp Construction and Maintenance

14.

Ensuring health, safety and sanitary condition

15.

Water supply

16.

Pest control

17.

Sanitary facilities

18.

Garbage

19.

Food premises

20.

Ventilation

21.

Sleeping

22.

Washing and laundry

23.

Illumination

Waterfront Areas

24.

Waterfront supervision and equipment

25.

Owner and operator requirements

 

Interpretation

Interpretation and application

1. (1) In this Regulation,

“building” means any building, vehicle or other structure or premises used or intended to be used for accommodation of camp staff members or campers or for the storage, preparation or serving of food; (“bâtiment”)

“Building Code” means Ontario Regulation 332/12 (Building Code) made under the Building Code Act, 1992;  (“code du bâtiment”)

“current first aid certificate” has the same meaning as in subsection 17 (11) of Regulation 565 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 (Public Pools) made under the Act; (“certificat de secourisme valide”)

“Food Premises Regulation” means Ontario Regulation 493/17 (Food Premises) made under the Act; (“Règlement sur les dépôts d’aliments”)

“lifeguard certificate” has the same meaning as in subsection 17 (8) of Regulation 565 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 (Public Pools) made under the Act; (“certificat de sauveteur”)

“operator”, with respect to a recreational camp, means a person who owns or operates the camp, whether personally or by agents; (“exploitant”)

“recreational camp” means a camp for recreational activities on a site in which sleeping and eating facilities are provided for temporary occupancy, with or without charge, for five or more persons who are under eighteen years of age or persons who have special needs. (“camps de loisirs”)

(2) A reference in this Regulation to the medical officer of health or a public health inspector means the medical officer of health or a public health inspector, as the case may be, of the board of health in the health unit in which the recreational camp referred to is situated.

Application

(3) No person shall operate or maintain a recreational camp to which this Regulation applies except in accordance with this Regulation.

Notification

Notification: commencement

2. Every person who intends to commence operation of a recreational camp shall notify the medical officer of health or a public health inspector of the name of the operator, the operator’s contact information and the location of the camp at least 14 days before commencing operation.

Notification: change

3. Where any change is made in respect of any of the matters referred to in section 2, the operator shall notify the medical officer of health or a public health inspector in writing, with details of the change, within 14 days after the change is made.

Notification: disease

4. Every operator shall immediately notify the medical officer of health or public health inspector of an outbreak or suspected outbreak of any communicable disease in the recreational camp.

Notification: camp closed

5. Every operator shall ensure that, when the recreational camp is closed or abandoned,

(a) the medical officer of health or a public health inspector is promptly notified of the closing or abandonment; and

(b) the camp is left in a sanitary condition.

Camp Safety

Operator training

6. Every owner of a recreational camp shall ensure that every operator of the camp is trained in the administration, management and operation of the camp and in the camp’s safety procedures.

Results of inspections to be posted

7. Every operator shall ensure that the results of any inspections conducted by a public health inspector are posted in accordance with the inspector’s request.

Communicable disease

8. Every operator shall ensure that every camper or camp staff member in a recreational camp is free of any communicable disease.

Animals susceptible to rabies

9. Every operator shall ensure that no animal that is susceptible to rabies is brought into a recreational camp unless,

(a) the animal has a rabies immunization certificate issued by a veterinarian, indicating that the animal is current on its rabies immunizations; and

(b) the animal’s last rabies immunization was administered at least 30 days before it was brought into the camp.

Camp Safety Plan

Camp safety plan

10. (1) In every year, before opening or operating a recreational camp, the operators of the camp shall develop and submit a camp safety plan, in writing, to the medical officer of health or a public health inspector.

(2) The camp safety plan shall set out safety plans and procedures for the camp, including,

(a) procedures for maintaining records regarding campers, including their name, address and emergency contact; and

(b) procedures for maintaining a record of health and safety incidents that occur in the camp.

(3) The camp safety plan shall include, at a minimum,

(a) communicable disease control;

(b) fire safety;

(c) a description of land-based and water-based activities at the camp, an identification of the risks of those activities and a strategy to control and minimize those risks, including supervision procedures if appropriate;

(d) waterfront safety, including, if applicable, the availability of safety equipment and communication devices and procedures;

(e) a list of all camp staff members who have a current first aid certificate; and

(f) the minimum ratio or ratios of camp staff members to campers as determined in subsection 13 (1) or (2).

(4) Every operator shall ensure that any health and safety incidents that occur in the recreational camp are recorded in accordance with the procedures set out in the camp safety plan.

Camp Staff

First aid training

11. Every operator shall ensure that the campers in the recreational camp are under the continuous supervision of at least one adult who has a current first aid certificate.

Medical aid

12. (1) Every operator shall ensure that one of the following persons are present in the recreational camp:

1. A physician.

2. A registered nurse.

3. A person who has a current first aid certificate.

(2) If a physician is not in residence in a recreational camp, the operators of the camp shall ensure that the services of a physician can be obtained immediately in the case of a medical emergency.

Supervision

13. (1) If the recreational camp has campers who are under 13 years of age or campers with special needs, every operator shall,

(a) ensure that those campers are under the continuous supervision of a camp staff member who has experience in the leadership and supervision of children;

(b) determine an appropriate minimum ratio of camp staff members to those campers; and

(c) ensure that the ratio is maintained at all times while the camp is in operation.

(2) If the recreational camp has campers who are 13 years of age or older, every operator shall,

(a) determine an appropriate minimum ratio of camp staff members to those campers; and

(b) ensure that the ratio is maintained at all times while the camp is in operation.

Camp Construction and Maintenance

Ensuring health, safety and sanitary condition

14. Every operator shall ensure that the recreational camp is,

(a) located and constructed in accordance with the Building Code;

(b) maintained in accordance with the design, construction and installation requirements of the Building Code;

(c) free from any condition that may endanger the health or safety of the campers or camp staff members of the camp; and

(d) maintained in a sanitary condition.

Water supply

15. (1) Every operator shall ensure that the water supply of the recreational camp is,

(a) obtained from a source or sources approved by the medical officer of health or a public health inspector; and

(b) sufficient to meet the requirements of the camp.

(2) Every operator shall ensure that water provided for human consumption in the recreational camp is potable.

(3) Where the medical officer of health or a public health inspector is of the opinion that the water supply of a recreational camp requires treatment, the medical officer of health or public health inspector may require the operator to treat the water in order to render it potable.

(4) An operator who is required by the medical officer of health or a public health inspector to treat water in order to render it potable shall,

(a) treat the water as required; and

(b) ensure that a record of the kind and method of treatment of the water supply is kept on the premises of the camp for at least one year from the making of the record.

Pest control

16. Every operator shall,

(a) ensure that the recreational camp is maintained and operated to ensure the premises are protected against the entry of pests and kept free of conditions that lead to the harbouring or breeding of pests; and

(b) maintain records of all pest control measures that are undertaken in the camp and retain the records for at least one year after they are made.

Sanitary facilities

17. (1) Every operator shall ensure that sanitary facilities in the recreational camp are maintained in accordance with the design, construction and installation requirements of the Building Code.

(2) Every operator shall ensure that every sanitary facility in the recreational camp is kept sanitary, properly equipped and in good repair at all times.

(3) Every operator shall ensure that every sanitary facility in the recreational camp is equipped with,

(a) a constant supply of hot and cold running water;

(b) a supply of toilet paper;

(c) a durable, easy-to-clean receptacle for used towels and other waste material;

(d) a supply of soap or detergent; and

(e) a method of hand drying that uses single-service towels or a hot air dryer.

(4) A recreational camp where water-flush toilets could not be installed by the operator is exempt from the requirements of clauses (3) (a), (d) and (e) if,

(a) non-flush toilets or privies completely separate from the recreational camp were constructed in accordance with a permit issued under the Building Code Act, 1992; and

(b) the facilities are lighted and provided with commercially-packaged single-use moist towelettes.

(5) No operator shall alter the floor space, number of toilets or washbasins in a sanitary facility without first receiving approval in writing from a public health inspector.

Garbage

18. Every operator shall ensure that garbage and waste are collected and removed from the recreational camp as often as is necessary to keep the camp in a sanitary condition.

Food premises

19. Every operator shall ensure that any food premise in the recreational camp complies with Parts III, IV and VI of the Food Premises Regulation.

Ventilation

20. Every operator shall ensure that each building in the recreational camp has and is maintained with adequate ventilation to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke and excessive heat.

Sleeping

21. (1) Every operator shall ensure that each building in the recreational camp that is intended to be used for sleeping is maintained in accordance with the design, construction and installation requirements of the Building Code.

(2) Every operator shall ensure that mattresses, blankets, pillows and pillow cases are kept in sanitary condition and in sufficient supply to meet the needs of all the persons in the recreational camp.

Washing and laundry

22. (1) Every operator shall ensure that the areas for washing, bathing and laundering clothes in the recreational camp are maintained in accordance with the design, construction and installation requirements of the Building Code.

(2) Every operator shall ensure that the facilities for laundering include a constant supply of hot and cold water.

Illumination

23. Every operator shall ensure that the levels of illumination required under the Building Code are maintained during all hours when the camp is in operation.

Waterfront Areas

Waterfront supervision and equipment

24. (1) Every operator shall ensure that every waterfront area in the recreational camp that is used for aquatic activities is under the supervision of a lifeguard who is at least 15 years of age and who holds a lifeguard certificate obtained within the previous two years. O. Reg. 503/17, s. 24 (1); O. Reg. 110/23, s. 1.

(2) If the waterfront area in a recreational camp is in use, the operator shall ensure that supervision is provided in accordance with the following rules:

1. Two lifeguards are required if one to 25 campers are in the water.

2. Three lifeguards are required if 26 to 100 campers are in the water.

3. If more than 100 campers are in the water, one additional lifeguard shall be provided for each additional group of 25, or fewer, campers. O. Reg. 503/17, s. 24 (2).

(3) Despite the supervision required under subsection (2), the lifeguard shall ensure that, where non-swimmers, campers with special needs or campers under five years of age are using the waterfront area in the recreational camp, additional supervision is provided that, in the opinion of the operator, is adequate having regard to the characteristics and number of campers using the waterfront area. O. Reg. 503/17, s. 24 (3).

(4) Every operator shall ensure that the following equipment is easily accessible at every waterfront area in the recreational camp in case of an emergency:

1. One or more buoyant rescue aids attached to a shoulder loop with a six millimetre line at least 1.60 metres in length.

2. One or more reaching poles of three metres or greater in length.

3. One or more buoyant throwing aids attached to a six millimetre line at least eight metres in length.

4. A spine board.

5. A paddleboard or boat, when any part of the swimming area is more than fifty metres from the shore.

6. First aid supplies in sufficient quantities, which must include, at a minimum,

i. a current copy of a standard first aid manual,

ii. safety pins,

iii. individually wrapped adhesive dressings,

iv. sterile gauze pads, each 75 millimetres square,

v. 50 millimetre gauze bandages,

vi. 100 millimetre gauze bandages,

vii. individually wrapped sterile surgical pads suitable for pressure dressings,

viii. triangular bandages,

ix. rolls of splint padding,

x. roll-up splints,

xi. scissors,

xii. non-permeable gloves,

xiii. a resuscitation pocket mask,

xiv. tweezers,

xv. instant ice packs,

xvi. antiseptic solution,

xvii. incident report forms,

xviii. water-resistant, sterile bandages,

xix. waterproof adhesive tape, and

xx. a blanket and pillow. O. Reg. 503/17, s. 24 (4).

Owner and operator requirements

25. (1) Every operator shall ensure that,

(a) all waterfront areas in the recreational camp are maintained in a sanitary condition and free from hazards, including but not limited to broken glass or hidden underwater dangers;

(b) water hazards such as drop-offs, rocky bottoms or shallow areas are clearly identified;

(c) a telephone or other communication device,

(i) is readily accessible from every waterfront beach area or swimming area, and

(ii) has a list of names and telephone numbers of emergency services;

(d) swim tests are administered in shallow swimming areas; and

(e) the portion of any waterfront beach area or swimming area that is intended to be used by campers is,

(i) clearly designated by signs, buoys, buoy lines or a combination of these, and

(ii) clearly visible and recognizable from the water by users of personal watercraft and other boaters.

(2) In subsection (1),

“shallow swimming area” means an area of water that is equal to or less than 1.35 meters deep.

26. Omitted (revokes other Regulations).

27. Omitted (provides for coming into force of provisions of this Regulation).

 

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