Article 4. Wiping Rags of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 104. >> Part 15. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 4.

"Wiping rags," as used in this article means cloths and rags, other than reusable rental cloths or towels, used for any or all of the following purposes:
  (a) Wiping and cleaning the surfaces of machinery, machines, tools, locomotives, engines, motor cars, automobiles, cars, carriages, windows, furniture, and surfaces of articles, appliances, and engines in factories, shops, steamships, and steamboats.
  (b) Generally for cleaning in industrial employment.
  (c) Used by mechanics and workmen for wiping from their hands and bodies soil incident to their employment.

No person shall supply or furnish to his or her employees for wiping rags, or sell or offer for sale for wiping rags, any soiled wearing apparel, underclothing, bedding, or parts of soiled or used underclothing, wearing apparel, bedclothes, bedding, or soiled rags or cloths unless they have been sanitized by methods prescribed by or acceptable to the department.

Every local health officer or registered sanitarian, upon proper demand and notice of his or her authority, may, during business hours, enter any place where wiping rags are used, are kept for sale, or offered for sale, and inspect the wiping rags. No person shall refuse to permit the inspection, or impede or obstruct the officer during the inspection.

On and after July 1, 1975, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate any business of laundering, sanitizing, or selling wiping rags unless, in addition to any other permit that may be required, he or she has a valid permit issued by the local health officer pursuant to an ordinance of the local governing body.

A permit to operate any business of laundering, sanitizing, or selling wiping rags shall be issued by the local health officer if the applicant complies with the provisions of this article and any regulations adopted thereunder. The governing body of each city and county shall determine the amount of any fee for the issuance of a permit pursuant to provisions of this article for any business within the territory under its jurisdiction. The amount of the fee shall not exceed the amount necessary to defray the costs of administering this article. The permit for operation shall be posted in a conspicuous place in the business establishment for which the permit is issued. Any permit issued pursuant to this article may be suspended or revoked for any violation of any of the provisions of this article, the regulations adopted thereunder, or any condition of the permit required by the ordinance of the local governing body. Nothing in this article shall preempt local regulation of the business of laundering, sanitizing, or selling wiping rags, and any local governing body may adopt an ordinance containing requirements more restrictive than those contained in regulations adopted pursuant to this article. The local health officer shall issue and serve upon the permit holder a notice setting forth in clear and concise language the act or omission upon which the violation is based, when the permit holder is charged with any violation and shall inform the permit holder of his or her rights to a hearing prior to suspension or revocation. At any time within the 15 days after service of the notice, the permit holder may request a hearing before the local health officer to show cause why his or her permit should not be suspended or revoked. A failure to request a hearing within 15 days shall be deemed a waiver of a right to a hearing. The local health officer may call a hearing for the purpose of investigating any violations of this article.

The local health officer authorized to issue permits to launder, sanitize, or sell wiping rags shall keep a record of suspension or revocation of permits and a register of:
  (a) The names and places of business of persons to whom permits are issued.
  (b) The date of issue and number of each permit.

Before being sold or offered for sale, each package or parcel of wiping rags shall be plainly marked "sanitized wiping rags," and in addition it shall be plainly marked with the name and location of the laundry where the rags were laundered and sanitized.

No machinery or appliances used for laundering clothing and articles for personal wear or household use shall be used for laundering soiled rags or soiled cloth material for wiping rags.

Every person who violates any provision of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor.