PROTECTING PRECIOUS CITIZIENS

ON PUBLIC PLAYGROUNDS

Tim McCarty, AVP Risk Control

September 8, 2016

Protecting Precious Citizens on Public PlaygroundsGoals:

• Defining the Depth of the Problem

• Playground Control By Stages

• Resources

Our Focus: Risk Management

The Scope of the Problem

• > 200,000 U.S. children aged 14 and younger sent to the ER every year.

• About 45% of playground-related injuries are severe: fractures, internal injuries, concussions, dislocations, and amputations.

• 10-Year period, 147 children ages 14 and younger died from playground-related injuries:

82 (56%) died from strangulation

31 (20%) died from falls to the playground surface

(Source: Centers for Disease Control)

It’s Personal

• Toddlers: 6-23 months

• Preschool Age: 2-5 years

• Grade School: 5-12 years

Who Are Our Precious Citizens?

Source: Consumer Product Safety Commission

The Dirty Dozen

The Dirty Dozen

1. Improper Protective Surfacing

2. Inadequate Use Zone

3. Protrusion and Entanglement Hazards

4. Entrapment in Openings

5. Insufficient Equipment Spacing

6. Trip Hazard

7. Lack of Supervision

8. Age-Inappropriate Activities

9. Lack of Maintenance

10. Crush, Shearing and Sharp Edge Hazards

11. Platforms with No Guardrails

12. Equipment Not Recommended for Public Playgrounds

4 Keys to Avoiding Most Lawsuits

• Supervision

• Surfacing

• Installation/

Maintenance

• Documentation

Managing Playgrounds:Life Stages

Life Stage StandardsManagement

Protocol

Build/Modify

ADA

CPSC

ANSI

Inventory

Installation/Repair/

Change

ADA

CPSC

ANSIAudit

Ongoing

OperationsCPSC

ANSIInspection

Life Stage: Build/Modify Standards

Life Stage StandardsManagement

Protocol

Build/Modify

ADA

CPSC

ANSI

Inventory

Installation/Repair/

Change

ADA

CPSC

ANSIAudit

Ongoing

OperationsCPSC

ANSIInspection

ADA

• Newly Designed or Constructed Play Areas for Children Age 2 and older

• Alterations

Life Stage: Build/Modify Standards

Copyright: Jaren Wicklund , 123RF Stock Photo

• Consumer Product Safety Commission

• ANSI

Life Stage: Build/Modify Standards

States with Regulations

UTAH

• Licensing for child care centers require that the protective

surfacing must comply with CPSC guidelines and ASTM

standards.

• The administrative rules setting forth standards for child care

center licensing (Utah Admin. R. 430-60) require that the

protective surfacing in child care center playgrounds must

comply with U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and

ASTM guidelines. The rules also require a fall zone of six

feet surrounding all playground equipment.

Inventory

• Location map of equipment complete with fall zones

• Name and address of equipment manufacturer

• Installation and assembly information

• Age of equipment

• Depth of surfacing and type of surfacing

• Critical height for each play component

• Age of intended users for the playground or specific

pieces of equipment

• Signage

Signage Types

• Entry

• Age Appropriate

• Equipment

Signage Types

• Entry

• Age Appropriate

• Equipment

Signage Types

• Entry

• Age Appropriate

• Equipment

Signage Types

• Entry

• Age Appropriate

• Equipment

Playgrounds need all of these!

Proper Installation and Assembly

• Proper installation and assembly is CRITICAL to maintaining

stability and integrity of playground structure.

• Anchor to the manufacturer’s specifications.

• Have manufacturers representative verify and DOCUMENT that

the equipment was assembled and installed properly.

• Control community builds.

Installation / Repair / Change

Life Stage StandardsManagement

Protocol

Build/Modify

ADA

CPSC

ANSI

Inventory

Installation/Repair/

Change

ADA

CPSC

ANSIAudit

Ongoing

OperationsCPSC

ANSIInspection

Audit The safety audit:

• Detailed examination of each individual play component as well as the whole play area.

• Consists of three elements:

Test

Evaluate

Repair

Test

• General Hazards:

Sharp points

Corners

Edges

Protrusions and projections

Pinch, crush, shearing points

• Entrapment and Entanglement

• Surfacing

• Specific Equipment

Testing Equipment

Test Probes

EvaluateSafety

Concern

Priority

Description Action

Priority 1 Condition Could Result in

Permanent Disability, Loss of Life

or Body Part

Correct Immediately

Priority 2 Condition Could Result in

Temporary Disability

Correct As Soon As

Possible

Priority 3 Condition Could Cause Minor

Injury

Correct When Time

Permits

Priority 4 Condition with Potential to Cause

Injury is Minimal

Correct if it Worsens

Priority 5 Compliant with Standard of Care Ongoing Preventive

Maintenance

DOCUMENT!

RepairSafety

Concern

Priority

Description Action

Priority 1 Condition Could Result in

Permanent Disability, Loss of Life

or Body Part

Correct Immediately

Priority 2 Condition Could Result in

Temporary Disability

Correct As Soon As

Possible

Priority 3 Condition Could Cause Minor

Injury

Correct When Time

Permits

Priority 4 Condition with Potential to Cause

Injury is Minimal

Correct if it Worsens

Priority 5 Compliant with Standard of Care Ongoing Preventive

Maintenance

DOCUMENT!

Ongoing Operations

Life Stage StandardsManagement

Protocol

Build/Modify

ADA

CPSC

ANSI

Inventory

Installation/Repair/

Change

ADA

CPSC

ANSIAudit

Ongoing

OperationsCPSC

ANSIInspection

• Use a checklist

• Photos

• Incorporate manufacturer’s suggested maintenance into routine inspections

• Inspections must be HANDS-ON

• If necessary, initiate the repair process

• If broken equipment discovered, remove from play immediately!

Inspection

A playground safety program must be

comprehensive and consistent. A

comprehensive system should

include:

• Developing an INVENTORY

• Conducting an AUDIT

• Performing Routine INSPECTIONS

• Creating a MASTER FILE

Putting a Program in Place

Inventory - Once

• Update when changes are made to the playground

Audits - once a year

• Test, Evaluate, and Repair phases

Inspections - once a month

• Use Inspection Form

Injury - whenever they happen

• Use Incident Report Form, Incident Log

Training - as employees receive training

• Keep a copy of the staff members certificate from playground safety training

Master File Documentation

U.S. Standards/Guidance

Public Playground Safety Handbook, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission,http://www.cpsc.gov//PageFiles/122149/325.pdf

Accessible Play Areas: A Summary of Accessibility Guidelines for Play Areas, U.S. Access Board: https://www.access-board.gov/attachments/article/1369/play-guide.pdf

ANSI Playground Equipment Safety Standards:• ASTM F1487-11: Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use

• ASTM F1148-12: Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Home Playground Equipment

• ASTM F2373-11: Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Public Use Play Equipment for Children 6 Months through 23

Months

• ASTM F2729-12: Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Constant Air Inflatable Play Devices for Home Use

• ASTM F1918-12: Standard Safety Performance Specification for Soft Contained Play Equipment

• ASTM F2075-15: Standard Specification for Engineered Wood Fiber for Use as a Playground Safety Surface Under and Around

Playground Equipment

• ASTM F2049-11: Standard Safety Performance Specification for Fences/Barriers for Public, Commercial, and Multi-Family Residential Use

Outdoor Play Areas

• ASTM F2225-15: Standard Safety Specification for Consumer Trampoline Enclosures

• ASTM F381-15: Standard Safety Specification for Components, Assembly, Use, and Labeling of Consumer Trampolines

• ASTM F2056-09: Standard Safety and Performance Specification for Soccer Goals

• ASTM F2673-08: Standard Safety Specification for Special Tip-Resistant Movable Soccer Goals

• ASTM F1292-13: Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surfacing Materials Within the Use Zone of Playground Equipment

• ASTM F1951-14: Standard Specification for Determination of Accessibility of Surface Systems Under and Around Playground Equipment

http://webstore.ansi.org/safety_standards/consumer-products/playground-equipment.aspx

Resources

Industry Certifications

Recreation Installation Specialist Certification (RCIC), International

Playground Contractors Association

http://www.playground-contractors.org/

Certified Playground Safety Inspector(CPSI), National Park and

Recreation Association

http://www.nrpa.org/CPSI/

Resources

Timothy L. McCarty, MS, CSP, ARM, ALCM, CXLT, CPSI

AVP Risk Control

Trident Public Risk Solutions

Mailing Address:

PO Box 469011

San Antonio, TX 78246

P (413) 773 6345

C (201) 706 1709

E tmccarty@tridentpublicrisk.com

Resources

Key Takeaways

• There are standards for

guidance

• Need a robust program in

place

• Maintaining focus will protect

our most precious citizens

and our organizations from

loss

• Questions?• Thank you!