CPSI Playground Audits and Inspection 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When documenting a playground inspection, which item is MOST critical to record for each hazard found?
- The inspector's personal opinion on severity
- The location, description, and recommended corrective action (Correct answer)
- Only the equipment brand and model number
- The estimated replacement cost of the equipment
Correct answer: The location, description, and recommended corrective action
Inspection reports must capture hazard location, a clear description, and recommended corrective action to support follow-up and liability documentation.
Question 2: A CPSI conducts a visual inspection and notices a chain-link fence surrounding the playground has several protruding wire ends at child height. This is classified as a:
- Entanglement hazard
- Protrusion and impalement hazard (Correct answer)
- Entrapment hazard
- Fall hazard
Correct answer: Protrusion and impalement hazard
Protruding wire ends that can puncture or impale skin are classified as protrusion and impalement hazards under ASTM F1487.
Question 3: Under CPSC guidelines, what is the minimum recommended depth of loose-fill surfacing such as wood chips under equipment with a fall height of 8 feet?
- 6 inches
- 9 inches
- 12 inches (Correct answer)
- 18 inches
Correct answer: 12 inches
CPSC guidelines recommend a minimum of 12 inches of loose-fill surfacing such as wood chips for equipment with an 8-foot fall height.
Question 4: A CPSI finds that a slide's exit region does not extend far enough parallel to the ground before angling down. Which ASTM F1487 requirement is being violated?
- Slide chute width minimum
- Slide exit region geometry (Correct answer)
- Slide entry platform height
- Slide handrail height
Correct answer: Slide exit region geometry
ASTM F1487 specifies exit region geometry requirements, including a minimum horizontal run before the slope changes, to control exit velocity and user orientation.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes the purpose of a 'use zone' on a playground?
- The area designated only for children under 5
- The surfaced area around equipment where a child may fall and land (Correct answer)
- The perimeter fence line around the entire playground
- The space reserved for parental supervision
Correct answer: The surfaced area around equipment where a child may fall and land
The use zone is the surfaced area surrounding equipment where a child might fall, and it must extend far enough in all directions to absorb falls safely.
Question 6: During an audit, a CPSI measures the opening between two ladder rungs and finds it is 4.5 inches. This measurement is:
- Safe because it exceeds 3.5 inches
- A head entrapment hazard and must be corrected (Correct answer)
- Acceptable because it is under 9 inches
- Only a concern for children under age 2
Correct answer: A head entrapment hazard and must be corrected
Openings between 3.5 and 9 inches are considered head entrapment hazards because a child's body can pass through but the head may become trapped.
Question 7: A CPSI completes an audit and flags equipment for immediate closure. Who has the authority to reopen that equipment after repairs?
- Any park maintenance worker who performed the repair
- A qualified CPSI or competent authority who verifies the hazard is corrected (Correct answer)
- The original CPSI who wrote the report only
- Local law enforcement after a site visit
Correct answer: A qualified CPSI or competent authority who verifies the hazard is corrected
Equipment closed for safety hazards should be reopened only after a qualified CPSI or designated competent authority verifies the corrective repairs meet safety standards.
CPSI Playground Audits and Inspection 4
When documenting a playground inspection, which item is MOST critical to record for each hazard found?