Common Playground Hazards Flashcards

A child's clothing drawstring becomes caught in playground equipment. This hazard is best classified as:

Answer: Entanglement hazard

Drawstrings, ropes, and cords that can wrap around a child's neck or body are classified as entanglement hazards.

Which surface temperature threshold is considered a burn hazard risk for playground equipment in direct sunlight?

Answer: 131°F (55°C)

Surfaces exceeding 131°F (55°C) can cause burns and are considered a thermal burn hazard per CPSC guidelines.

A gap measuring 5 inches between a climber's rungs poses which specific type of hazard?

Answer: Head entrapment hazard

Openings between 3.5 and 9 inches are considered head entrapment hazards because a child's head can become trapped.

When inspecting a swing set, a CPSI finds the swing seats are positioned too close together. The primary hazard this creates is:

Answer: Impact hazard from colliding swings

Swings spaced too closely create an impact hazard when adjacent swings are in motion and can strike a child.

A CPSI observes water pooling under a slide after rain. The most immediate hazard concern is:

Answer: Slip-and-fall hazard at the slide exit

Water pooling at slide exits creates an immediate slip-and-fall hazard as children land on wet surfaces.

Which type of playground equipment poses the greatest risk of a crush hazard to young children?

Answer: Merry-go-rounds and rotating equipment

Rotating equipment like merry-go-rounds can trap and crush body parts such as hands or feet between moving and stationary components.

A CPSI finds rust on a metal support post that has reduced its thickness by 25%. This is primarily a hazard because it indicates:

Answer: Structural failure risk due to compromised load-bearing capacity

Significant corrosion that reduces metal thickness compromises the structural integrity and load-bearing capacity of the equipment, posing a structural failure risk.