CPSI cheat sheet

Falls to the surface are the leading cause of playground injury; fall height is the vertical distance from the highest designated play surface to the protective surface below.

The four hazard classes to document are: falls, entrapment/strangulation, impact/collision, and sharp-point/pinch hazards.

Entrapment risk exists when an opening admits a small torso probe but not the head probe; any opening between 3.5 in and 9 in that can be entered feet-first is a head-entrapment concern.

Strangulation hazards include protrusions and gaps that can catch clothing drawstrings, cords, or hoods near the top of equipment.

Trip hazards to inventory: exposed footings, raised surfacing edges, tree roots, and abrupt changes in surface elevation.

Crush and shear points occur at moving joints, hinges, and suspended swinging components where body parts can be caught.

Injury surveillance uses frequency (count), rate (per user or per exposure hour), and severity (AIS or similar) to rank hazards for correction.

Hazard vs. risk: a hazard is a condition with potential to cause harm; risk combines likelihood and severity of that harm for prioritization.

ASTM F1487 covers public playground equipment for children 2-12; ASTM F2373 covers equipment for children under 2.

CPSC's Public Playground Safety Handbook is guidance, not law; ASTM F1487 is a voluntary consensus standard unless adopted by a jurisdiction.

Age groupings in the standards: 6-23 months, 2-5 years (preschool), and 5-12 years (school-age); equipment must be labeled for the intended group.

ASTM F1292 sets the impact attenuation performance specification for playground surfacing, expressed as g-max and HIC.

ASTM F1951 covers accessibility of surfacing (wheelchair maneuverability); ASTM F2049 covers fencing and gates.

Accessibility requirements are governed by the ADA and the ABA; ASTM F1487 includes accessibility provisions for accessible routes and transfer systems.

A standard is a documented, voluntary technical requirement; a guideline is recommended practice; a regulation is legally enforceable.

Use zones and use-zone spacing are defined by equipment type in ASTM F1487 and CPSC guidance and must be maintained clear of obstacles.

Separate preschool (2-5) and school-age (5-12) areas to reduce collisions between developmental groups.

The use zone extends a minimum of 6 ft in all directions from stationary equipment and from the perimeter of the structure.

For slides, the use zone extends at least 6 ft from the exit and is measured from the end of the slide, not the side.

For swings, the use zone extends forward and back a distance equal to twice the pivot height, and 6 ft to the sides.

For rotating equipment, the use zone is 6 ft from the perimeter plus the swept radius of the rotating structure.

No obstacles (trees, benches, fences, footings, or other equipment) may be located inside a use zone.

Accessible routes must connect the play area to the building, parking, and other play components per ADA.

Sightlines and circulation: design so caregivers can supervise all areas and so children do not cross active play paths to reach equipment.

Loose-fill surfacing (wood chips, sand, pea gravel) must be maintained at the depth and uncompressed thickness specified by the manufacturer to meet the fall height.

Unitary surfacing (poured-in-place, rubber tiles) must be installed and maintained to the manufacturer's fall-height rating; damaged tiles must be replaced.

ASTM F1292 performance thresholds for a fall: g-max not to exceed 200 and HIC not to exceed 1000.

Fall height for a swing is the pivot height; for a slide, it is the platform height; for climbing equipment, it is the highest designated play surface.

Slides: the exit region must have a use zone and the slide chute must not have gaps or protrusions that create entrapment or pinch points.

Swing seats: no more than two swings per bay; clearances between swing and frame and between seats must follow the standard.

Guardrails and protective barriers: guardrails are required above certain platform heights; barriers are required where fall height exceeds the standard threshold.

Hardware: all bolts must be capped or recessed; no exposed bolt threads, sharp edges, or protrusions that can catch clothing.

Inspection types: routine (daily/weekly visual), periodic (detailed), and annual (comprehensive, often with impact testing).

A documented inspection program includes the checklist, inspector name, date, findings, corrective action, and closure verification.

Loose-fill surfacing depth must be measured and recorded at each inspection; record the uncompressed depth and top up to the manufacturer's specification.

Maintenance records should include repair date, part replaced, and verification that the repair restored the equipment to the standard.

Impact testing of surfacing (per ASTM F1292) is performed with a calibrated missile and reported as g-max and HIC; retest after surface replacement or significant repair.

Remove or close equipment immediately when a hazard cannot be corrected before the next use period; tag and lock out until repaired.

Check hardware torque, corrosion, and wear at all joints; check for missing caps, cracked plastic, splinters, and peeling coatings.

Keep a written log of hazards identified and corrected to demonstrate due diligence and support insurance and regulatory compliance.