How far away residents must be to soiled work room or soiled holding room?

• A. 60 ft
• B. 120 ft
• C. 180 ft
• D. 240 ft

Answer: (B)

Maintaining a safe distance between residents and soiled work or holding areas is about reducing cross-contamination and odor transfer. The standard uses 120 feet as the minimum separation, which provides a practical buffer given typical facility layouts, airflow, and movement of people and materials. A shorter distance, like 60 feet, wouldn’t give enough separation to limit contamination effectively. Larger distances, such as 180 or 240 feet, go beyond what is usually required and aren’t necessary to achieve the safety goal. So, 120 feet is the right balance of safety and practicality.