Hazard Identification and Assessment Flashcards

During an inspection of a public playground, a CPSI identifies a bolt on a piece of play equipment that extends more than two threads beyond the nut. According to ASTM F1487, what type of hazard does this condition MOST likely represent?

Answer: An entanglement hazard

ASTM F1487 specifies that bolts should not extend more than two threads beyond the nut to prevent clothing, strings, or other items from catching on them, which poses an entanglement hazard that could lead to strangulation.

A CPSI is evaluating an opening on a play structure intended for children aged 2-5. The opening is found to be greater than 3.5 inches but less than 9 inches. What is the primary hazard associated with an opening of this size?

Answer: Head entrapment

Openings between 3.5 and 9 inches are a significant concern because they are large enough for a child's body to pass through but small enough to trap their head, creating a serious risk of strangulation.

Which of the following is considered the MOST common cause of injuries on public playgrounds, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)?

Answer: Falls to the surface below

The CPSC's Public Playground Safety Handbook consistently identifies falls as the most common hazard pattern, accounting for the majority of emergency room-treated injuries on playgrounds.

A playground features a series of stepping forms. To minimize the risk of injury from a fall, a CPSI must assess the 'fall height'. How is the fall height for a stepping form typically determined?

Answer: The vertical distance between the highest designated playing surface and the protective surfacing below.

According to playground safety standards, fall height is defined as the vertical distance between a designated play surface (in this case, the top of the highest stepper) and the protective surfacing underneath it. This measurement is crucial for ensuring the surfacing has adequate impact attenuation.

While inspecting a merry-go-round, a CPSI notices a gap between the rotating platform and the stationary base of the equipment. Which type of hazard should the inspector be most concerned with in this specific location?

Answer: Crush and shear

The point where a moving part (the rotating platform) meets a fixed part (the stationary base) creates a potential for crush and shear injuries. A child's limb or finger could get caught in this gap during rotation, leading to serious injury.

The primary purpose of conducting a playground safety audit, as defined by the CPSI program, is to:

Answer: Identify hazards and establish a system for their repair, retrofit, or removal.

The core function of a CPSI and the goal of a playground safety audit is to systematically identify non-compliant hazards, rank them by injury potential, and create a plan to address them through repair, retrofit, or removal, thereby establishing a sound risk reduction program.