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Bleachers Safety Bleachers are structures that provide tiered or stepped seating, generally without backrests. They come in various configurations and sizes, including: permanent/stationary; portable/movable; telescopic/folding; and temporary (for specific events such as circuses and parades); and may be found inside in gymnasiums or outside surrounding playing fields.
Bleacher-Associated Deaths and Injuries
In 1999 two children died in falls from bleachers. In one case, a six year-old fell from the bleachers through a 13-inch opening between the footboard and seatboard. In another incident, a three year-old fell through an opening in the guardrail.
There were an estimated 22,100 bleacher related injuries in 1999. Approximately 6,100 of these injuries were the result of a person falling from, or through, bleachers onto the surface below. Approximately 4,910 of these falls involved children under 15 years old.
Between 1980 and 1999 an estimated annual average of 19,100 people were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms for bleacher related injuries.
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is aware of ten deaths that involved falls from bleachers from 1980 to 1999. Of these deaths, four involved children under age 15.
Bleacher Hazards
Bleachers can pose a number of hazards:
Guardrails may be missing from the backs or open sides of the bleachers.
Openings between components in the seats and guardrails may be big enough to permit a child or a person to fall through.
There may be missing or inadequate bleacher components such as seating planks or footboards.
Bleachers may collapse if they are not installed or operated properly. This danger is particularly evidenced with telescopic/folding bleachers, portable/movable bleachers and temporary bleachers.
Prevention of Falls From Bleachers
Many bleachers pose a significant fall hazard for children because they were built and installed where building codes did not require guardrails and allowed openings large enough for children to fall through them.
Even now, many building codes do not require specific guidelines for bleachers and, in the rare jurisdiction that does have standards for bleachers, most codes do not have retroactive provisions for existing structures.
In the fall of 1999, CPSC, held a Roundtable on Bleachers and Grandstands. After the Roundtable, CPSC suggested the following guidelines to reduce the number of falls from bleachers.
To prevent falls:
Children should not be able to pass under or through the components of a guardrail;
Guardrails should be designed so that they do not encourage young children to climb on them.
To prevent falls through bleacher components (such as the footboard, seatboard and riser) that are above the ground: the openings should prevent passage of a four-inch sphere. This recommendation is based on anthropometric data showing that 95% of children four months and older would be prevented from completely passing through a four-inch opening.
Bleachers should be updated, inspected, maintained and certified as fit for use.
See CPSC Guidelines below on CPSC Safety Guidelines to Retrofit Bleachers.
Prevention of Falls On Bleachers
Falls on bleachers are likely to occur when there are missing or inadequate components that assist in access and egress, such as aisles, handrails and non-skid surfaces. Many older bleachers do not have these safety features.
Manual, Telescopic Bleachers
Manual, telescopic bleachers are used in many gymnasiums. Between 1978 and 1989 there were 16 known collapses of manual, telescopic bleachers. Investigations revealed that if the bleachers are not opened properly and/or not maintained correctly, over a period of time, the bleachers may collapse.
CPSC advises that owners of manual, telescopic bleachers take the following precautions:
Inspect bleachers for indications of damage, wear and misalignment prior to use.
Provide routine inspection and maintenance, at least twice a year, in accordance with the owner's manual.
Use only trained personnel to open and close bleachers following instructions provided in the owner's manual. DO NOT ALLOW STUDENTS OR UNTRAINED PERSONNEL TO OPERATE BLEACHERS.
Install bleacher guardrails as a safety precaution and as an indication that the bleachers are fully extended.
CPSC Safety Guidelines to Retrofit Bleachers
In October, 2000, CPSC voted to issue the following Guidelines for Retrofitting of Bleachers. Note: these are NOT mandatory standards.
Guardrails should be present on the backs and portions of the open ends of bleachers where the toe footboard, seatboard or aisle is 30 inches or more above the ground. Bleachers with the top row nominally 30 inches above ground may be exempt from this recommendation.
The top surface of the guardrail should be at least 42 inches above the leading edge of the footboard, seatboard or aisle whichever is adjacent.
When bleachers are used adjacent to a wall that is at least as high as the recommended guardrail height, the guardrail is not needed if a four-inch diameter sphere fails to pass between the bleachers and the wall.
Any opening between components of the guardrail or under the guardrail should prevent passage of a four-inch sphere.
Any opening between the components in the seating, such as between the footboard, seatboard and riser should prevent passage of a four-inch diameter sphere where the footboard is 30 inches or more above the ground and where the opening would permit a fall of 30 inches or more.
The preferable guardrail design uses only vertical members as in-fill between the top and bottom rails. If there are openings in the in-fill that could provide a foothold for climbing, the widest measurement of the opening where the foot could rest should be limited to a maximum of 1.75 inches. Opening patterns that provide a ladder effect should be avoided. If chain link fencing is used on guardrails, it should have a mesh size of 1.25-inch square or less.
Aisles, handrails, non-skid surfaces and other items that assist in access and egress on bleachers should be incorporated into any retrofit project where feasible.
The option of replacing bleachers as opposed to retrofitting should be considered.
Materials and methods used for retrofitting should prevent the introduction of new hazards, such as bleacher tipover, bleacher collapse, guardrail collapse and contact or tripping hazards. The retrofit should not have any sharp points or edges, such as protruding bolt ends or unfinished edges on aluminum extrusions.
Bleachers should be thoroughly inspected at least quarterly by trained personnel and problems corrected immediately. Records of these actions should be retained.
A licensed professional engineer, registered architect or company that is qualified to provide bleacher products and services should inspect the bleachers at least every two years and provide a written certification that the bleachers are fit for use. CPSC recommends consulting local building officials to determine if permits are required and the use of licensed professionals to complete needed work. |
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