Protective Devices, Regulations, and the Law

1. Protective Devices, Regulations, and the Law Core Concepts in Athletic Training and Therapy Susan Kay Hillman

2. Objectives • Explain the function of a voluntary standards organization and describe how such an organi­zation might affect sport equipment. • Explain the significance of the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment seal on protective headgear and discuss ways in which that seal would serve to protect the wearer. • Identify the factors considered in determining legal liability for an injury that occurred after alteration of protective equipment. • Discuss areas in which product liability might play a role in athletics.

3. Standards for Equipment Design and Reconditioning

4. Regulating Agencies • International Organization for Standardization • American National Standards Institute • Consumer Products Safety Commission • American Society for Testing and Materials • National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment • Other Regulatory Agencies

5. Reconditioning and Maintenance of Athletic Headgear

6. Agencies for Development of Sport Safety Rules • Rules and Regulations for the Use of Protective Equipment • NCAA-Required and -Recommended Protective Equipment • Headgear • Face, Throat, and Mouth Protection • Protection of the Chest and Shoulders • Protection of the Lower Extremities • Illegal or Restricted Equipment • Fabricating Custom Protective Equipment

7. Legal Concerns About Equipment Use in Sport • Ignorance of the Law • Ignoring the Law • Failure to Act • Failure to Warn • Expense

8. Liability Negligence

9. Determination of Liability

10. Product and Manufacturer Liability • Facility or Playing Surface Problems • Sporting Equipment • Improper Care or Modification of Manufactured Products • Manufacturer’s Liability • Protecting Oneself From Legal Misfortune