General Questions

Question 1

Difference Between Risk and Hazard

Answer 1

Risk is a voluntary action to take a challenge and a hazard is an unforeseen chance of harm.

Question 2

What are the 4 major causes of playground injuries and death?

Answer 2

1 Cause of Playground Injuries - Falls

What are the 4 major causes of playground injuries and

Cause of Deaths -
#1 Entanglement, #2 Falls, #3 Head and Neck Entrapment, #4 Impact

Question 3

What is the main purpose of the ASTM standard and the CPSC quideline?

Answer 3

> To reduce the number and severity of life threatening and seriously debilitating injuries.

Question 4

What are the various age ranges four users covered by ASTM F1487 standard? CPSC Handbook?

Answer 4

> ASTM F1487
5th%-tile 2 year old thru 95th%-tile 12 year old.
CPSC Handbook:
Toddler: 6 months thru 23 months
Preschool: 2 year olds to 5 year olds
School age: 5 year olds thru 12 year olds

Question 5

What are the objectives of the CPSI Course?

Answer 5

Identify potential safety hazards on playgrounds
Rank the hazard according to injury potential
Apply the knowledge to create or improve an existing comprehensive playground safety program

Question 6

What are the major components of a comprehensive playground management program

Answer 6

Initial Compliance Assessments (Audits)
Regularly Scheduled Inspections
Routine Maintenance and Repairs

Question 7

Name some of the general playground considerations identified by CPSC?

Answer 7

> Supervision
Equipment not appropriate for preschool users
Site selection
• Sun exposure
Layout considerations
Conflicting activities

Question 8

Name the hazards associated with the four major causes of death in the playground environment.

Answer 8

> Entanglements with projections
Falls onto hard surfaces
Head and Neck Entrapment in openings
Impact with heavy suspended components or tipped or collapsing structures

Question 9

What are the 3 conditions necessary for a projection to be considered an entanglement hazard?

Answer 9

Does the projection fit inside one of the 3 projection gauges?
> Is the projection projecting upward above the horizontal plane? And…
Does the projection has perpendicular sides from its initial surface >0. 12”, 1/8” (3mm).

Question 10

What test probe is used for field testing of common crush and shear hazards?

Answer 10

» 0.62” or 5/8 inch or 15.7 mm

Question 11

What must occur to have a potential crush and shear hazard?

Answer 11

> The probe must be grabbed by movement by one or both adjacent components

Question 12

What types of devices allow persons with mobility impairments to access elevated structures?

Answer 12

> Ramps and Transfer Platforms.

Question 13

When is a completely-bounded opening a potential head entrapment hazard?

Answer 13

When the torso probe penetrates opening to a depth of 4” (102 mm) or greater, and the 9” (229 mm) Head Probe does not pass through the opening.

Question 14

When does a partially-bounded opening become a potential neck entrapment hazard?

Answer 14

When opening fails Part A Test and then fails Part B to a depth > 3/4” (19.1 mm)

Question 15

Greg’s Guardrail/Barrier Cheer (for platforms, landings, & walkways)

Answer 15

20, 30, 48 who do we appreciate?
23-29 and 28-38
When the elevation above the surfacing is:
Greater than: 20” = Guardrail (2-5)
Greater than: 30” = Barrier (2-5)
Greater than: 30” = Guardrail (5-12)
Greater than: 48” = Barrier (5-12)
Odd Numbers (Pre-school) 23” max bottom rail height, 29” min upper rail height Even Numbers (School Age) 28” max bottom rail height, 38” min upper rail height
Upper Rail numbers apply to barriers, bottom opening may not allow passage of torso probe

Question 16

What are the differences between a Slide Non-Entanglement Zone and the Slide Clearance Zone?

Answer 16

Non-entanglement zones begin at outside bottom edge of bed and only is 60” tall over slide transition platform
Clearance Zone begins at top of slide side rail and is 60” above slide bed and slide transition platform

Question 17

List some of the performance requirements that apply to all equipment?

Answer 17

All the performance requirements; entrapment, entanglement, protrusions, crush/shear, sharp edge/points, hand gripping dimensions, step heights, handrail heights.

These dimensions can be found in the “grey highlighted” sections of the full Table of Dimensions.

Question 18

What are the impact attenuation thresholds for G-max and Head Injury Criterion?

Answer 18

What

Impact test result cannot exceed 200g and/or 1000 HIC.

Question 19

What is the relationship between surfacing critical height and equipment fall height as it relates to surfacing materials?

Answer 19

• The critical height rating of a surfacing material in the use zone must equal or exceed the equipment fall height or highest Designated Play
Surface.

Question 20

What equipment use zones may be overlapped?

Answer 20

Adjacent Stationary Equipment with a Fall Height equal to or less than 30°

Adjacent Stationary Equipment with one or both Fall Heights >30”

Adjacent Stationary and Rotating Equipment <20” diameter and both with ≤ 30” Fall Heights

Question 21

What equipment use zones may not overlap?

Answer 21

• Swing Use Zones 2 times W, X, or Y, front and back, the width of swing beam
• Standing Spring/Rocking Equipment 84”
• Vertical Rotating Equipment > 20” radius must maintain a 72” no overlap
• Slide Exit Use Zone length 72”-96” and width of bedway plus 21” both sides

Question 22

What are the requirements for the “accessible route of travel” in playgrounds for children with disabilities?

Answer 22

Running slope inside 1:16, Cross slope 1:48, Clear Width 60”, Overhead clearance 80”
Max. Ramp run (1:12), Max. Length per ramp run (144”), Landings (60”) did

Question 23

What are the 3 keys to creating an Accessible Playground?

Answer 23

• All users must be able to approach, enter, and use the playground equipment

Question 24

How would a CPSI determine the playground owner’s standard of care?

Answer 24

• Conduct a Comprehensive Compliance Inspection and
Assessment

Question 25

What are important characteristics for a public playground safety coordinator?

Answer 25

• Emphasize agency’s desired “Standard of Care”.
• Facilitate agency’s commitment to playground safety.
• Identify, assess, and assign playground-related tasks and responsibilities.
• Flexibility in a continually changing playground environments.
• Insure that maintenance and inspections are completed appropriately.

Question 26

Why is it important to have a playground site history file for each playground?

Answer 26

• Documentation is important and reference to vital information and defense in case of a litigation.

Question 27

Name the different types of playground inspections and the objective of each?

Answer 27

• Routine Visual - Frequent Custodial and minor reoccurring repairs.
• Operational - Preventive Maintenance and Repairs plus other duties as
Routine Visual inspections on a less frequent schedule.
• Comprehensive Compliance Inspection and Risk Assessment - In-depth evaluation of playground environment against the Standard of Care.

Question 28

Why is it important to be pro-active vs. reactive as a manager?

Answer 28

• Someone has to be in-charge because everyone’s responsibility is no-one’s responsibility. Better use of owner resources.

Question 29

What are the major differences between routine visual and operational inspections?

Answer 29

o Frequency of the inspection and depth of knowledge.
Maintenance vs Repairs required to maintain the standard of care.

Question 30

How do you go about prioritizing non-compliant conditions?

Answer 30

• Consider the possibility, probability, and consequences of a user most-at-risk of coming in contact with the non-compliant situation.