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Consumer Concerns and Advice Recent UpdatesJuly 30, 2008 June 18, 2008 June 13, 2008 June 11, 2008 May 27, 2008 Archives
May, 2008 Web ResourcesChalat Hatten & Koupal PC
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Posted by: Linda Chalat
A major factor contributing to the danger of private playgrounds is that most home playgrounds do not have protective surfacing. Only 9 percent of home playgrounds have protective surfaces, while 80 percent of public playgrounds do have protective surfacing. According to the CPSC, dirt and grass “do not adequately protect children from serious head injury.” The CPSC has worked in recent years to improve playground safety standards. In particular, standards have been revised to include: * A warning in the equipment instructions against attaching ropes, jump ropes, clotheslines, leashes cables and chains – all of which could become strangulation hazards. * A requirement for guardrails on platforms higher that 30 inches and for protective barriers on platforms higher than 48 inches. Such barriers and guardrails would help prevent falls. * A requirement that a CPSC consumer information sheet for playground surfacing accompany the playground equipment instructions. In addition to these equipment standards, the CPSC also has several recommendations to help keep our home playgrounds safe for our children: * Install and maintain a shock absorbing surface such as shredded rubber, wood chips or mulch under playground equipment. * Never attach ropes, lines and leashes to the equipment. * Check for open “S” hooks, sharp equipment edges and protruding bolt ends. Smooth them or cover them. * Check for spaces that could trap children, such as openings in guardrails or between ladder rungs. These spaces should measure less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches. * Remove tripping hazards like tree stumps and rocks. * Give the playground equipment regular maintenance check ups. * Always supervise children on the equipment to make sure they’re safe. For more information, visit the CPSC website. In addition, visit the website of KaBOOM! a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC, with the goal of helping promote and provide safe playgrounds for children. |
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The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation. | |
The CPSC found that from 1990 to 2000 there were nearly 150 playground equipment related deaths to children under the age of 15. At least 90 of these deaths occurred in a home setting. Almost three fourths of these deaths in home settings were the result of hangings and strangulation from ropes, cords, homemade rope swings, and other similar items.