First Steps Child Care Centre
169 Irwin Ave Essex ON N8M 2T4 · Child Care - Food Prep
Inspection summary
First Steps Child Care Centre has been inspected 7 times by Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) since November 5, 2024. The most recent inspection, on September 3, 2026, found no infractions.
4 of 7 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 4 inspections with 3 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Protecting food from contamination and Cleaning and sanitizing.
The last 2 inspections in a row found no infractions. The number of infractions per inspection has stayed roughly the same over time.
What these findings mean
Health authorities word their findings differently, so we group them by what they mean for the people in care. Higher-risk findings are the ones that could directly make someone sick, and they matter more here because young children, older adults and people who are unwell are more vulnerable to infection.
Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk
Hand hygiene is the most important way to stop germs spreading between children, residents and staff. Inspectors check that sinks are stocked and easy to reach, that staff wash their hands when required (for example after diapering or before handling food), and that sick staff stay away from work.
Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on October 21, 2025. For example:
Separate handwash stations are provided with the required supplies
Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk
This covers how food and supplies are stored and handled: kept covered, off the floor, and away from anything that could contaminate them. Where food is served, raw meat must be kept away from ready-to-eat food, a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.
Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on October 21, 2025. For example:
All food is protected from contamination and adulteration
Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk
Surfaces, dishes and tools that touch food or people must be cleaned and then sanitized or disinfected. Inspectors check sanitizer strength, dishwasher temperatures and how cleaning is done. Poor sanitizing lets germs survive from one use to the next.
Recorded once on February 20, 2026. For example:
Concentration of sanitizing agent is adequate
About this data
These results come from Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU), which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.
7 inspections
- Required
0 infractions
- Required
0 infractions
- Required
1 infraction
- Concentration of sanitizing agent is adequate
- (a) Chlorine solution used for sanitizing is NOT at 100 parts per million (test strips required to confirm) [S]
- Concentration of sanitizing agent is adequate
- Required
2 infractions
- Separate handwash stations are provided with the required supplies
- (b) Handwashing stations are NOT adequately supplied [S]
- All food is protected from contamination and adulteration
- (a) Food is NOT protected from contamination and adulteration [C]
- Separate handwash stations are provided with the required supplies
- Required
0 infractions
- Required
2 infractions
- Separate handwash stations are provided with the required supplies
- (c) Handwashing stations are NOT used for employee handwashing only [N]
- All food is protected from contamination and adulteration
- (b) Food is NOT processed in a manner that makes food safe to eat [C]
- Separate handwash stations are provided with the required supplies
- Required
0 infractions