R430-50-19. Play Equipment

  (1) The provider shall ensure that children using play equipment use it safely and in the manner intended by the manufacturer.

  (2) There shall be no entrapment hazards on or within the use zone of any piece of stationary play equipment.

  (3) There shall be no strangulation hazards on or within the use zone of any piece of stationary play equipment.

  (4) There shall be no crush, shearing, or sharp edge hazards on or within the use zone of any piece of stationary play equipment.

  (5) There shall be no tripping hazards such as concrete footings, tree stumps, tree roots, or rocks within the use zone of any piece of stationary play equipment.

  (6) Cushioning for stationary play equipment shall cover the entire surface of each required use zone.

  (7) If ASTM cushioning is used, the provider shall keep on-site for review by the Department the documentation from the manufacturer that the material meets ASTM Specification F1292.

  (8) Stationary play equipment with a designated play surface that measures 6 inches or higher shall not be placed on a hard surface such as concrete, asphalt, dirt, or the bare floor, but may be placed on grass or other cushioning.

  (9) Except for trampolines, stationary play equipment that is 18 inches or higher shall:

  (a) have a 3-foot use zone that is free of hard objects or surfaces and that extends from the outermost edge of the equipment; and

  (b) be stable and securely anchored.

  (10) A trampoline shall be considered accessible to children in care unless the trampoline:

  (a) is enclosed behind at least a 3-foot high, locked fence or barrier;

  (b) has no jumping mat;

  (c) is placed upside down, or

  (d) is enclosed within at least a 6-foot-high safety net that is locked.

  (11) An accessible trampoline without a safety net enclosure shall be placed at least 6 feet away from any structure or object onto which a child could fall, including play equipment, trees, and fences.

  (12) An accessible trampoline with a safety net enclosure shall be place at least 3 feet away from any structure or object onto which a child could fall, including play equipment, trees, and fences if the net:

  (a) is properly installed and used as specified by the manufacturer,

  (b) is in good repair, and

  (c) is at least 6 feet tall.

  (13) An accessible trampoline shall be placed over grass, 6-inch-deep cushioning, or ASTM-approved cushioning. Cushioning shall extend at least 6 feet from the outermost edge of the trampoline frame, or at least 3 feet from the outermost edge of the trampoline frame if a net is used as specified in R430-50-19(12).

  (14) There shall be no ladders or other objects within the use zone of an accessible trampoline that a child could use to climb on the trampoline.

  (15) An accessible trampoline shall have shock-absorbing pads that completely cover its springs, hooks, and frame.

  (16) Before a child in care uses a trampoline, the child's parent shall sign a Department-approved permission form that the provider keeps on-site for review by the Department.

  (17) When a trampoline is being used by a child in care:

  (a) a caregiver shall be at the trampoline supervising,

  (b) only one person at a time shall use a trampoline,

  (c) no child in care shall be allowed to do somersaults or flips on the trampoline,

  (d) no one shall be allowed to play under the trampoline when it is in use, and

  (e) only school age children in care shall be allowed to use the trampoline.