Playground Safety: Horizontal Ladders and Overhead Rings

Four-year-olds are generally the youngest children capable of using upper body devices such as horizontal ladders and overhead rings. The playground safety recommendations below are designed to accommodate children 4 through 12 years of age.

The space between adjacent rungs of overhead ladders should be greater than 9 inches to satisfy the entrapment recommendations (see Section 9.6). The centerto- center spacing of horizontal ladder rungs should be as follows:

• Preschool-Age Children: no more than 12 inches.

• School-Age Children: no more than 15 inches.

This recommendation does not apply to the spacing of overhead rings because, during use, the gripped ring swings through an arc and reduces the distance to the gripping surface of the next ring.

Horizontal ladders intended for preschool-age children should have rungs that are parallel to one another and evenly spaced.

The first handhold on either end of upper body equipment should not be placed directly above the platform or climbing rung used for mount or dismount. This minimizes the risk of children impacting rigid access structures if they fall from the first handhold during mount or dismount.

The maximum height of upper body equipment measured from the center of the grasping device to the protective surfacing should be:

• Preschool-Age Children: 60 inches.

• School-Age Children: 84 inches.

If overhead swinging rings are suspended by chains, the maximum length of the chains should be 12 inches.

source: http://www.cpsc.gov

If your child was severely injured from playing on a horizontal ladder or overhead rings, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills and pain and suffering. For a free playground accident lawsuit case evaluation, fill out the simple form below and your case will be reviewed within 24 hours.

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