Five items to review before the first camper arrives

By Joann Robertson

As camp season rapidly approaches and camp owners, managers, and directors cross items off their “to-do lists,” there is one area where “good enough” just won’t cut it. When it comes to safety, extra care must be taken to ensure the safety of staff as well as campers. Here are five facility-related items that will assist in preventing injuries and reducing liability-insurance premiums.

1. Playgrounds

Remember when you selected and installed the playground at your camp? It was a large investment. Like vehicles, playgrounds need ongoing inspections and repairs. No one should expect playgrounds to last indefinitely, especially when they are heavily used, exposed to the elements, and prone to vandalism.

Schedule an inspection as early in the year as possible. This helps in several ways:

The written report will arrive early, allowing time to review it and make any necessary repairs or modifications.
The playground-repair company will have more time to order replacement parts to complete any repairs, which is important due to the nation’s current slow supply chain.
There will be ample time to schedule and have delivered loose-fill playground surfacing.

Proper depth of resilient playground surfacing is the key to reducing the chances of injuries from falls. An inspection report should document the surfacing depth at the site and identify any deficiencies. Details on the proper depth required are listed in the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Public Playground Safety Handbook (Publication #325, page 11). Find it online at https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/325.pdf.

2. Soccer Goals

Moveable soccer goals pose a serious tip-over hazard, especially for children, and many have been killed and injured as a result. The danger increases in high winds when the goals are even more likely to fall over. Untethered, metal, moveable soccer goals usually weigh between 150 and 500 pounds.

For this reason, moveable soccer goals must be:

Tethered in place
Removed/secured when not in use.

For added safety, campers should never be allowed to climb on the goals or hang from the crossbars.

The CPSC provides information to promote greater safety awareness for anyone who purchases, installs, uses, and maintains movable soccer goals. For more information, visit https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/5118.pdf.

3. Chain Basketball Nets

Basketball nets often found at camps are made of cloth (nylon or polyester) or “chain-link” metal. Metal nets are frequently chosen because they last longer, but these can rust and deteriorate over time.

Possible dangers from chain nets include players being cut or injured if a ring on a finger gets “hooked’ around part of the net. For this reason, metal nets should be removed and replaced with cloth nets. Additionally, campers should never be permitted to hang from basketball rims.

4. Outdoor Bleachers

Like playgrounds, outdoor bleachers are exposed to the elements year-round. For this reason, bleachers should be inspected well before camp opens so any necessary repairs can be scheduled and completed. Bleachers sometimes need only minor repairs, such as tightening hardware, but other times repairs can be more substantial.

The CPSC provides Guidelines for Retrofitting Bleachers (Publication #330) to reduce the number of people, especially children, who are injured on bleachers or involved in bleacher-related falls.

This handbook includes the following:

Proper spacing information for bleacher openings
An explanation on the need for guardrails
Tips for preventing falls from bleachers
Strategies for retrofitting
Tips to discourage climbing of bleachers
Inspection and maintenance information.

To learn more, view the Guidelines for Retrofitting Bleachers at https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/330.pdf.

5. Swimming Pools

While all pools should be managed by a certified pool operator, look for these items when it comes to safety:

Safe chemical storage and proper personal protective equipment (PPE)
Non-slip pool decks
Proper signage
Adequate lifeguard coverage and rescue equipment
Posted emergency telephone numbers
Access to a telephone
Automatic External Defibrillator (AED)
First-aid kit.

Additionally, staff members should be alert for broken, loose, or missing pool drain covers, and the pool should be closed immediately if a problem is noted. Swimmers should be instructed to avoid any areas of the pool containing drains.

For more information, visit https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/361.pdf.

While every accident and injury cannot be prevented, proactive attention to facilities can make for a smoother summer. Invest the time upfront, and it will pay dividends when campers are enjoying the campgrounds and all they have to offer.

Joann Robertson, CPSI, CSP, ARM, CPCU, works at Playground Medic of Hawthorne, N.Y., as a certified playground inspector and certified safety professional. She frequently contributes safety-related articles to numerous publications and is a professional member of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP). Reach her at Joann@playgroundmedic.com.

For Safety’s Sake