CPSI Hazard Identification and Assessment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to CPSC guidelines, what is the maximum acceptable protrusion on a playground structure that could catch clothing or entangle a child?
- Greater than 2 inches from the surface
- Greater than 0.5 inches from the surface (Correct answer)
- Greater than 1 inch from the surface
- Greater than 1.5 inches from the surface
Correct answer: Greater than 0.5 inches from the surface
Protrusions greater than 0.5 inches are considered entanglement hazards because they can catch drawstrings, clothing, or jewelry.
Question 2: A CPSI inspector finds a bolt extending 2 threads beyond its nut on a climbing structure. This is classified as which type of hazard?
- Entanglement hazard
- Protrusion hazard (Correct answer)
- Pinch/crush hazard
- Entrapment hazard
Correct answer: Protrusion hazard
Bolts protruding beyond the nut are protrusion hazards that can lacerate or puncture skin.
Question 3: When assessing a composite play structure, which scenario represents an entrapment hazard for a 5-year-old child?
- A guardrail opening of 5 inches
- An angled component opening between 9 and 28 inches (Correct answer)
- A vertical opening measuring 3.5 inches
- A horizontal bar spacing of 12 inches
Correct answer: An angled component opening between 9 and 28 inches
Angled openings between 9 and 28 inches can trap a child's head as the child tries to pass through a narrowing gap.
Question 4: A CPSI inspector discovers a wooden deck board with a surface temperature of 145°F on a hot summer day. What is the primary hazard classification?
- Burn hazard from heated surface (Correct answer)
- Structural failure hazard
- Splinter hazard from deteriorated wood
- Slip hazard from warped decking
Correct answer: Burn hazard from heated surface
Surfaces exceeding 140°F can cause contact burns within seconds, making extreme surface heat a serious burn hazard.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes a 'crush' hazard on playground equipment?
- A sharp bolt end exposed on a handrail
- Moving components that can trap and compress body parts (Correct answer)
- A gap between deck boards that can catch a foot
- A rope that can wrap around a child's neck
Correct answer: Moving components that can trap and compress body parts
Crush hazards involve moving parts like spring rockers or rotating components that can compress and injure body parts caught between them.
Question 6: During an inspection, what condition on a swing set represents an immediate risk requiring closure rather than a routine maintenance note?
- Minor surface rust on a chain link
- A S-hook opening exceeding 0.04 inches (Correct answer)
- Paint chipping on the A-frame
- A slightly worn seat edge
Correct answer: A S-hook opening exceeding 0.04 inches
An S-hook opening greater than 0.04 inches can allow the swing chain or seat to detach, creating a risk of immediate fall.
Question 7: A CPSI inspector assesses a sliding board and finds the exit region has insufficient length. What is the primary hazard this creates?
- Children may stand too quickly and fall forward
- Inadequate deceleration space causes children to slide off the end at high speed (Correct answer)
- The slide surface becomes too steep near the bottom
- Children may collide with each other on the slide platform
Correct answer: Inadequate deceleration space causes children to slide off the end at high speed
An inadequate slide exit region means children do not decelerate before reaching the end and can exit with enough velocity to fall or be injured.
CPSI Hazard Identification and Assessment 2
According to CPSC guidelines, what is the maximum acceptable protrusion on a playground structure that could catch clothing or entangle a child?