Outdoor Play Areas Susan Lane, REHS, CPSI Environmental Health Specialist II

1. Outdoor Play Areas Susan Lane, REHS, CPSI Environmental Health Specialist II

2. Outdoor Grounds • Maintenance: The grounds shall be maintained in a sanitary condition, well drained and free of refuse, litter, animal droppings, insect and rodent harborages, poisonous plants, weed overgrowth, and unused equipment. 7.0

3. Outdoor Grounds • Exterior Garbage: Exterior garbage and rubbish containers shall be easily cleanable, covered with a tight fitting lid, well maintained, inaccessible to children and removed on a frequency that prevents creation of a nuisance.

4. Swimming and Wading PoolsPermanent Water Features • A Health Permit to operate a public pool shall be maintained for a Child Care Center swimming pool or permanent wading pool. • All bodies of water shall have a barrier that conforms to NAC 444.136.

5. Swimming and Wading Pools • Swimming and permanent wading pools shall meet all requirements of the Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) 444, “Public Bathing Places and Spas.” • Portable wading pools are prohibited

6. Playground Statistics • Purpose of Hazard Identification is to reduce the number and severity of life-threatening and seriously debilitating injuries #1 cause of DEATH: Entanglement due to clothes or something around a child’s neck becoming caught or entwined on a component of playground equipment

7. Playground Statistics #1 cause of INJURY: Falls which result in brain damage, permanent paralysis, long bone fractures, other long term, life-impacting injuries Both of these causes may be abated by proper use of equipment, supervision, and handholds, guardrails and protective barriers

8. Child Care CenterOutdoor Play Areas 7.4 • An outdoor play area must meet SNHD criteria for the following: 7.4.1 Construction Plan Review 7.4.2 Enclosures 7.4.3 Visibility 7.4.4 Drinking Water 7.4.5 Shade 7.4.6 Playground Equipment 7.4.7 Protective Surfaces 7.4.8 Maintenance and Supervision

9. Construction Plan Review 7.4.1 • Properly developed plans for construction, expansion, renovation or conversion shall be submitted to SNHD Plan Review.

10. Enclosures 7.4.2 • Perimeter fencing or walls must be no less than 48” in height • Fencing and components must be sturdy, rigid and non-deforming

11. Enclosures 7.4.2 Spacing between vertical components and under the fence must be 3.5” or less Non-compliant fence

12. Enclosures 7.4.2 • The fence shall be constructed so that it is non-climbable. • Both examples show climbable fencing due to hand or foot holds under 48 inches, and abatement netting in disrepair. Hand or foot holds Chain link exposed

13. Climbable Fences—Not Allowed Both violations show hand or foot holds under 48 inches

14. Enclosures 7.4.2 • Acceptable measures to abate climbable enclosures Slats Netting Both!

15. Enclosures 7.4.2 • An additional abatement measure for climbable fencing is total replacement of the climbable fencing. • Suitable non-climbable alternatives are compliant vertical component fencing (spacing between vertical components and under the fence less than 3.5 inches) or a solid wall

16. Enclosures 7.4.2 Two examples of acceptable non-climbable fencing

17. Enclosure Hazards An exposed bolt end that protrudes more than 2 full threads is an entanglement hazard—bolt ends must be trimmed to two or less threads and sanded if necessary to avoid an abrasion hazard

18. Enclosure Hazards Trip Hazard Inadequate

19. Enclosure Hazards Good solution—tennis balls work also Protrusion

20. Visibility 7.4.3 • The outdoor play area must be arranged so all areas are visible to the Child Care Providers. • Areas to the sides of a facility must be inaccessible. 7.4.3

21. Visibility 7.4.3 Side yard accessible Side yard inaccessible

22. Drinking Water 7.4.4 • Potable water must be available in each outdoor area. • Fixtures must be clean and sanitary • Fountain pressure must be regulated to keep the stream in the fountain basin and to avoid mouths touching the water source 7.4.4 9.1.4

23. Drinking Water 7.4.4 Dirty fountain Stream overshoots

24. Drinking Water 9.1.4 • Potable water may be provided from containers capable of being washed, rinsed and sanitized. • The container must be properly secured to prevent tipping and contamination. • Single service cups must be stored in a sanitary manner 7.4.4

25. Drinking Water 9.1.4 Approved means of supply

26. Drinking Water 9.1.4 Metal surfaces must be coated or shaded to avoid burns Before coating After 7.4.6

27. Drinking Water 9.1.4 Fountain has been made safe – push button is covered with plastic, bubbler is also plastic

28. Shade 7.4.5 • Minimum 5 ft2 per child per maximum facility capacity as determined by the Licensing Authority. • Excludes shade provided by walls of building • Required in each separately fenced area • The ground area of the canopy of mature living trees can satisfy shade requirements. Unshaded plastic slide temperature on a summer day 7.4.5

29. Playground Equipment 7.4.6 • Commercial grade only, in compliance with U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Standards (CPSC) 7.4.6

30. Playground Equipment 7.4.6 Items not allowed: Antique fire engines or vehicles, unshaded metal 7.4.6

31. Playground Equipment Items not allowed: Concrete pipes Truck tires 7.4.6

32. Playground Equipment 7.4.6 • Age Appropriate Use: Access to play equipment must be limited to developmentally appropriate age groups • Playground equipment must have signage that defines the age range of children for which the equipment is intended. 7.4.6

33. Playground Equipment 7.4 • Playground equipment must be of safe design and maintained in good repair. • Hazards that require time for correction shall be maintained inaccessible to children until corrections are made.

34. Playground Equipment Testing • Required Equipment: 1. National Playground Safety Institute test probes and gauges 2. Spade or digging tool 3. Tape Measure 4. Camera 7.4.6

35. Playground Equipment Testing Completely Bounded Opening Head and Torso Probes: If the Torso Probe passes through an opening, the Head Probe must also pass Torso Head

36. Playground Equipment Testing • The anthropometric basis for the three- dimensional Head and Torso Probes: 5th percentile 2-year old for the Torso Probe (smallest torso) 95th percentile 5-year old for the Head Probe (largest head) “Where the smallest torso goes, the largest head must follow”

37. Playground Equipment Testing 50 FtLb Gauge used in conjunction with the head and torso probes to test completely bounded nonrigid openings such as flexible nets, tot seats, and plastic enclosures

38. Playground Equipment Testing Partially Bounded Opening Test Template

39. Playground Equipment Testing Protrusion Gauges used to determine whether a projection is a protrusion

40. Playground Equipment Testing Pipe-size template used for any components intended for use as a hand support

41. Playground Equipment Testing • Angle finder used for: • Designated Play Surfaces • Steps/Rungs/Platforms to be Horizontal to within ±2° • See Saw angle ≤ 25° • Slide Slope and Exit regions • 55° Entrapment Angles

42. Playground Equipment Testing S-Hook connectors are properly closed when there is no gap or space greater than 0.04 in./1.0mm (width of a dime)

43. Playground Equipment Testing • Check upper and lower loop alignment • Neither loop of an S hook may overlap the body Non-compliant

44. Equipment Maintenance 7.4.8 Worn equipment and cracked or broken plastic components are common problems

45. Equipment Maintenance Missing bolts and screws 7.4.6

46. Equipment Maintenance Duct tape used for repair—also cracked plastic 7.4.6

47. Equipment Maintenance View from underneath equipment—missing fasteners replaced with plastic coated cable

48. Equipment Maintenance Missing fasteners 7.4.6

49. Equipment Maintenance Check for structural integrity, missing pieces, equipment that has “settled” causing joints to open 7.4.6

50. Equipment Maintenance Broken swing chain Corroding metal bridge Rusty surface 7.4.6