Dirty Dozen Workshops

David Brown
Robert Kerby

Intro (David)
One of pre-constructions main responsibities are playground assessment, and during this
process
we’re asked to identify all hazards on the playground. We in pre-construction feel that
it’s not only important that we recognize these hazards, but it is necessary for YOU to
recognize them too.
The purpose of this workshop is for you to know:

- Where design leaves off and pre-construction begins

- Recognizing playground hazards
- Understanding why it important to recognize these hazards

But before we go onto that, we're going to have a short icebreaker called the “Exquisite
Corpse”.

(Every one stays in their groups throughout the workshop)

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“Now that we’re warmed up, it’s time to discuss where design leaves off and pre-
construction begins.”

(Kerby)
Site assessment
(David Passes out Handout.)

After design’s initial meeting we:

- First we go out to the school.

- Then we to see if that school has an existing structure or not.
- If it does has a existing structure, we inspect it using the inspection checklist and the Audit
form
o (In the back of your packet you may notice the inspection and Audit forms we use to
access the conditions of an existing structure.)
o What do you think is the difference between the inspection and
Audit form?(let’s look at back of packet)
 The inspection form is the initial brief summary, and the
audit is much more detailed.
- After that, we go to the school and we do site assessment on the playground and we identify
all the hazards.
- Then we measure the area of site and the surrounding area.
o After that, we finally scale the site and put it down on paper.
 o What do you think scaling is?
 When we shrink the dimensions of the site in order to fit it on
paper.

Brainstorm
(Group, throws out idea’s of what possible playground habit’s are as David writes them
down on the board.)

What do you are possible Playground Hazards? (Kerby)

These are:
Improper Surfacing
Inadequate fall zone
Protrusion and entanglements
Entrapments and openings
Insufficient equipment spacing.
Trip Hazard
Lack of supervision
Age inappropriate activities
Lack of maintenance
Pinch crush shear, and sharp edges hazard
Platforms with no guardrails
Equipment not recommended for public playgrounds
(David)
But first let’s talk about surfacing
(Kerby passes out surfacing samples)

What do you think is considered improper surfacing? (When the surfacing is ripped up
or worn out and it is not soft enough to cushion the fall)
a. Because protective surfacing accounts for most playground injuries it is the single most
important safety consideration.
b. There are two types of surfacing
i. Loose fill material
1. Woodchips, sand, gravel
2. we don’t normally use this
ii. Unitary Materials
1. Mainly poured rubber or rubber mats.
2. this is what we use

Why Unitary over loose fill?

Loose- Fill
Pros
- Cheaper initially
- Ease of installation
- Materials easily available
- Not susceptible to vandalism
Cons
- Compacts overtime and needs
replacement
- Blown or thrown in to kids eyes
- Conceals foreign objects
Unitary
Pros
- Low maintenance
- Cleans easily
- Consistent shock absorbency
- Cheaper over time
- ADA Accessible
Cons
- Initially expensive
- Additional under surfacing ( stone,
asphalt, concrete)
- Subject to vandalism
- Rubber tiles might curls causing trip
hazard

(Kerby)
I. Inadequate fall zone
What do you think is an inadequate fall zone? (Any area that a child can sustain
injuries from falling)
What would be considered an inadequate fall zone? (Higher than 6 feet)
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c. A fall zone is the area around a component where a child might fall
d. Fall zones should be covered by protective surfacing
e. All fall zones must be lower than 6 feet.
(David)
 II. Protrusion and entanglement hazards
Can anyone describe these hazards and tell us why they’re bad? (Anything that juts out
of a component that can cut or impale a child)
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f. This is any component or piece of hardware that might be capable of cutting or impaling a
child.
i. Some protrusions are capable of catching shoe strings, clothing and items
around a child neck (Ex: Bolts with more than 2 threads showing)

(Kerby)
III. Entrapments and openings
What are head entrapments and tell us why they’re bad? (Any opening a child can get
their head stuck, which may cause child to suffocate) It takes 3 minutes and 3 pounds
of pressure for a kid to hang him/herself.
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g. Enclosed openings on playgrounds must be checked for head entrapments
h. This is any opening on a playground where a child’s head might get stuck.
i. Enclosed spaces must be less than 3” more than 9” inches
(David)
IV. Insufficient equipment spacing (Use Zone)
What do you think use zones are? (Min. amount of space around each component)
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j. All components have a required amount of use space.
k. Use zones shouldn’t overlap (Why Not?) (answer: it causes hazards)
l. All use zones measure 6 feet in all directions
(Kerby)
V. Trip hazard
Which one of the pictures is an example of this hazard?
Can anyone describe this hazard and tell us why it’s bad? (Children can trip, and
injure themselves)
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m. Any potential hazard on the playground that might cause a child to trip
i. All anchoring devices (concrete footings) should be installed well below base or
surfacing (Why?)(Answer: so that the child has less potential to trip over the
anchoring)
ii. Surface mats may curl or detach due to wear and tear and cause trip hazard.
(David)
VI. Lack of supervision
Why is lack of supervision bad? (A near majority of playground injuries are cause by
lack of supervision)
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n. Most playgrounds that adhere to safety guidelines are still susceptible to child injuries
because of lack of supervision.
i. 40% of playground injuries relate to lack of supervision
o. Play areas should be designed so that parents can easily supervise their children
i. Components should be arranged so there are no visual barriers on the
playground
(Kerby)
VII. Age- inappropriate activities
Why wouldn’t we put overheads on a 3 to 5 playground? (Lack upper body strength)
How can you tell the difference between components for different age groups?
(Usually different sizes for age discrepancy)
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p. Playgrounds that are meant to serve kids of all ages should show distinct areas for each age
group.
q. You don’t want preschoolers near the overheads(vertical ladders, air dancers, etc.) because
they lack the upper body strength
(David)
VIII. Lack of maintance
What would be considered as a lack of maintenance? (Some are missing pieces,
graffiti, and loose bolts)
r. Lack of maintenance has resulted in numerous cases of playground injuries.
s. Manufacturer’s maintanace instruction should be strictly followed(usually on their website)
t. Any hazard or damage on a playground should be repaired immediately
(Kerby)
IX. Pinch, crush, shear, and sharp edges hazard
Why is it dangerous to have a broken slide? (It could cut or shear the legs off)
u. There should be no sharp points, corners and edges on a playground that can puncture a
Childs skin
v. There should be no areas capable of crushing a child’s hand, foot, or other areas of their
bodies
w. All edges of metal should be rounded
(David)
II. Platforms with no guardrail
What are some potential dangers with a platform with no guardrail? (The child could
fall and hurt themselves)
a. All elevated surfaces should have guardrails to prevent accidental falls
i. Equipment used for school age children should have guardrails higher than 20
inches
b. School children are more at risk of accidental falls (Why?)(Answer: they are less aware of
what’s going on and clumsier and the reason why are clumsier is cause their equilibrium is
not balance.)
(Kerby)
X. Equipment not recommended for public playgrounds
Name a couple of components that why do not install?
Accidents associated with this equipment has resulted in the Consumer Product Safety Commission
recommending that the following equipment not be used on public playgrounds
i. Free swinging ropes- Kids could get entangle in them which would cause the
entanglement hazard.
ii. Merry go round- A smaller child could be launched off the merry go around if it
is pushed or pulled too hard.
iii. Tire swings- The two reasons why don’t do tire swings is because it takes up too
much space and it cost too much.
Play Jeopardy. (David)
Everyone gets passed a handout. (Notes with audit form and inspection form and packet
with pictures)

What are the two types of surfacing? Then describe the two Types and give the pros and
cons of the types of surfacing.

What is Unitary and Loose-fill?

Unitary is when it is in place and Loose-fill is when you can pick up the surfacing and
mo0ve it around.

No more than how many treads of a bolt must be exposed?

No more than 3 threads

What are the measurements for enclosed openings, so to avoid head entrapments?
What is more than 9 less than 3?

What is a use zone?

What is the required amount of use space for a component?

This contributes to the majority of playground injuries?

What is lack of supervision?

Little Joe, cut his hand on a broken slide, identify what kind of hazard caused his injury.
What is pinch, and sharp edges hazard

When rubber mats curl up and detach due to wear and tear, what kind of hazard is this?
What is trip and improper surfacing?

True or False. All platforms need Guardrails, unless they are lower than 6 inches off the
ground.
What is false, ALL platforms need guardrails

What kind of hazards should be repaired immediately?

What is all Hazards?

What kinds of overheads are allowed on a 3 to 5 playground?

Trick Question: What is none?
Name some equipment not recommended for playgrounds?
What is there’s infinite amount of appropriate answers

Reflection:
(Kerby)
Any questions not answered?
What did you learn?
What part of workshop did you like?
Would you do different?