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Bleacher Inspections: Ensuring Spectator Safety
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Whether they are inside a gymnasium or outside at your football stadium or baseball field, bleachers are subject to wear, weathering, corrosion, abuse, and metal fatigue. For these reasons, bleachers should be inspected on a routine basis, such as seasonally or quarterly by school district staff. According to International Code Council (ICC) 300-2007- Standards for Bleachers, Folding and Telescopic Seating, and Grandstands, “All existing tiered seating shall be inspected and evaluated at least once a year by a qualified person…” The goal of regularly scheduled inspections is to identify those items needing maintenance and/or replacement that could contribute to spectator injuries and create liability for the school district.
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The first step in making sure your bleachers are safe is setting up a schedule of regular inspections. Inspections should be documented and include the date and signature of the supervisor performing them. Start by following the manufacturer’s guidelines for inspecting your bleachers. A sample Bleacher/Grandstand Inspection Report can be found at Risk Co-Op Resources.
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A licensed professional engineer, registered architect, or company that is qualified to provide bleacher products and services should inspect the bleachers every year and provide a written certification that the bleachers are fit for use. Whenever an inspection detects that the safe operation or use of the bleachers is in doubt, the bleachers should be physically barred from use. The next step is to call in additional experts. This may include the manufacturer, a licensed professional engineer, registered architect, or regulatory inspector. All problems should be corrected before the bleachers are used again.
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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s “Guidelines for Retrofitting Bleachers” offers more specific information on bleacher-associated injuries, retrofitting strategies, guardrail recommendations, and current codes and standards. It can be downloaded for free from the CPSC’s website at: Guidelines for Retrofitting Bleachers.
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What are some of the hazards associated with bleachers?
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Large Gaps: Gaps are considered unsafe because small children can slip and fall through.
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- Any opening between the components in the seating, such as between the footboard, seat board, and riser, should prevent passage of a 4-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.
Unsafe or Missing Guardrails: If guardrails are ineffective in preventing falls, they need to be replaced or retrofitted.
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- Guardrails should be present on the backs and portions of the open ends of bleachers where the footboard, seat board, or aisle is 30 inches or more above the floor or ground below.
- The top surface of the guardrails should be no less than 42 inches from the highest point of the bleachers.
- Nowhere in the guardrails should a four-inch diameter sphere be able to pass through.
- Guardrails should discourage climbing.
Access and Egress: Spectators must be able to enter and leave seats easily and safely.
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- Aisles should have non-skid surfaces, be clearly marked and accessible from the seats, and be wide enough to allow spectators to quickly reach exits in an emergency.
- Walkways should be easily identified and solid handrails used to assist users with balance and movement up and down.
- Steps should not be blocked or used for additional seating.
Hazards Underneath: The area underneath many bleachers is, in a child’s eyes, a wonderful place to explore and play. It’s also a great place to bang one’s head, climb to unsafe places, and get lost. For this reason, it’s important to completely block off the space under the bleachers. If you have large rows of outdoor bleachers that cannot be closed off, consider having someone supervise this area.
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Structural Problems: Older bleachers that have been poorly maintained or have aged due to overuse, exposure to weather, or misuse may become structurally unsound and could cause injury. Bleachers should be strong enough to handle a maximum load and be mechanically operational. Telescoping bleachers should be fully functional. All motorized components should be tested to ensure they are operating properly. Motors should run smoothly without any bind or stress to the unit. Manual mechanisms should also be tested to ensure all the components are working properly and that the unit can be raised and lowered completely and smoothly. The brake mechanism should be in place to help prohibit rolling freely while in the extended position. Floor areas must be kept clear of debris and/or obstructions to ensure the assemblies operate properly.
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All structural members should be in good condition. Look for missing bolts and nuts, cracked welds, bent or missing parts, missing or damaged wheels, faulty floor and row locks, or damaged electrical wiring and connections. In addition, bleacher surfaces must be smooth and free from sharp or protruding edges, splintering, cracks, rusting, exposed screws and bolts or pinching parts. With portable, movable, or temporary bleachers, ground anchoring should be used to avoid accidental movement or instability.
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The goal of regularly scheduled inspections is to identify those items needing maintenance and/or replacement that could contribute to spectator injuries and create liability for the school district.
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