Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 06/10/2021

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Handbook for Playground Safety 1. INTRODUCTION In recent years, it is estimated that there were more than 156,000 injuries annually on public playgrounds across the country that required emergency room treatment. By following the recommended guidelines in this handbook, you and your community can create a safer playground environment for all children and contribute to the reduc- tion of playground -related deaths and injuries. 1.1 Scope This handbook presents safety information for public play- ground equipment in the form of guidelines. Publication of this handbook is expected to promote greater safety aware- ness among those who purchase, install, and maintain public playground equipment. Because many factors may affect playground safety, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff believes that guidelines, rather than a mandatory rule, are appropriate. These guidelines are not being issued as the sole method to minimize injuries associated with playground equipment. However, CPSC staff believes that the recommendations in this handbook will contribute to greater playground safety. Some states and local jurisdictions may require compliance with this handbook and/or ASTM voluntary standards. Additionally, risk managers, insurance companies, or others may require compliance at a particular site; check with state/local jurisdictions and insurance companies for specific requirements. 1.2 Intended Audience This handbook is intended for use by childcare personnel, school officials, parks and recreation personnel, equipment purchasers and installers, playground designers, and any other members of the general public (e.g., parents and school groups) concerned with public playground safety and inter- ested in evaluating their respective playgrounds. Due to the wide range of possible users, some information provided may be more appropriate for certain users than others. 1.3 What is a Public Playground? "Public" playground equipment refers to equipment for use by children ages 6 months through 12 years in the play- ground areas of: • Commercial (non-residential) child care facilities • Institutions • Multiple family dwellings, such as apartment and condo- minium buildings • Parks, such as city, state, and community maintained parks • Restaurants • Resorts and recreational developments • Schools • Other areas of public use These guidelines are not intended for amusement park equipment, sports or fitness equipment normally intended for users over the age of 12 years, soft contained play equip- ment, constant air inflatable play devices for home use, art and museum sculptures (not otherwise designed, intended and installed as playground equipment), equipment found in water play facilities, or home playground equipment. Equipment components intended solely for the disabled and modified to accommodate such users also are not covered by these guidelines. Indoor child care facilities should refer to ASTM F2373 — Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Public Use Play Equipment for Children 6 Months Through 23 Months, for more guidance on areas unique to their facilities. 1.4 Public Playground Safety Voluntary Standards and CPSC Handbook History • 1981 — First CPSC Handbook for Public Playground Safety was published, a two -volume set. • 1991 — Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surface Systems Under and Around Playground Equipment, ASTM F1292, was first published. • 1991 — Two -volume set was replaced by a single -volume handbook, which contained recommendations based on a COMSIS Corporation report to the CPSC (Development of Human Factors Criteria for Playground Equipment Safety). • 1993 — First version of voluntary standard for public play- ground equipment, ASTM F1487 — Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use, was published (revisions occur every 3 to 4 years). 1