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

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Handbook for Playground Safety 1,101111 ,...,--.0111wAlibbir Figure 5. Example of entrapment in an angle less than 55 degrees on a fort. 3.3.2 Angles Children can become entrapped by angles formed between two sides of playground parts. • Angles should be greater than 55 degrees, unless one side is horizontal or below horizontal. • See Figure 5. • See Appendix B for testing recommendations. 3.4 Sharp Points, Corners, and Edges Sharp points, corners, or edges on any part of the playground or playground equipment may cut or puncture a child's skin. Sharp edges can cause serious lacerations if protective measures are not taken. To avoid the risk of injury from sharp points, corners and edges: • Exposed open ends of all tubing not resting on the ground or otherwise covered should be covered by caps or plugs that cannot be removed without the use of tools. • Wood parts should be smooth and free from splinters. • All corners, metal and wood, should be rounded. • All metal edges should be rolled or have rounded capping. • There should be no sharp edges on slides. Pay special attention to metal edges of slides along the sides and at the exit (see also §5.3.6.4). • If steel -belted radials are used as playground equipment, they should be closely examined regularly to ensure that there are no exposed steel belts/wires. • Conduct frequent inspections to help prevent injuries caused by splintered wood, sharp points, corners, or edges that may develop as a result of wear and tear on the equipment. 3.5 Suspended Hazards Children using a playground may be injured if they run into suspended components (such as cables, wires, ropes, or other flexible parts) hanging from one piece of the playground equipment to another or to the ground. Cables, wires, ropes, or similar flexible parts suspended between play units or from the ground to a play unit that are within 45 degrees of hori- zontal are considered suspended hazards. Recommendations for avoiding these hazards are: • Suspended components should not be located in high traffic areas. • Suspended components should either be brightly colored or contrast with surrounding equipment for added visibility. • Except for swings, any rope, cable, or chain longer than 7 inches should be fastened at both ends and should not be able to be looped back on itself to create a circle with a 5 inch or greater perimeter. These recommendations do not apply if the suspended component is more than 7 feet above the protective surfac- ing and is a minimum of one inch at its widest cross-section dimension. 3.6 Tripping Hazards Play areas should be free of tripping hazards (i.e., sudden change in elevations) to children who are using a play- ground. The two most common trip hazards are anchoring devices for playground equipment and containment walls for loose -fill surfacing materials. • All anchoring devices for playground equipment, such as concrete footings or horizontal bars at the bottom of flexible climbers, should be installed below ground level and beneath the base of the protective surfacing material. This will also prevent children from sustaining additional injuries from impact if they fall on exposed footings. • Contrasting the color of the surfacing with the equipment color can contribute to better visibility. 15