Spectators of an event have the job of sitting back, relaxing, and enjoying the show. Given this job description, there’s a lot that they are not and shouldn’t be required to do, like checking and ensuring the bleacher’s safety that they’re sitting on! Whether you are the spectator enjoying the show or the company that installs bleachers, a review of safety guidelines outlined by the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) and National Fire Protection Association will either be an educational read or a good refresher, respectively.

Bleachers, their age, their height, their design, and where they are used vary greatly, and for that reason, so do their safety protocols.

Height

Let’s begin with height and its related safety standards. There is mainly one bleacher height that is of major concern: bleachers that are nominally taller than 30 inches (typical three rows or greater). As you may expect, the greatest hazard with bleachers taller than 30 inches is falling from a height greater 30 inches. There are a few things planned into bleachers that prevent falling from 30 inches or more. Spaces between footboards, risers, and seat boards must fail to let a 4-inch sphere pass (approximately the size of an infant’s head).

Secondly, unless the edges of the bleacher that are taller than 30 inches are adjacent to a wall where the gaps between the bleacher and the wall fail to let a 4-inch diameter sphere pass, the bleacher needs to have a guardrail on these edges. The top surface of these guardrails should be 42 inches taller than the edges of the bleacher that are taller than 30 inches. These bleacher edges could be the edges of the footboard, seat board, or aisle – whatever is taller than 30 inches.

Guardrails themselves have safety specifications in addition to the 42-inch rule that also need to be met. Guardrails are made so that you can’t fall or easily get over them. Given that, climbing is a big issue when it comes the design of guardrails. The widest length of any openings in the guardrail must be limited to no greater than 1.75 inches to prevent a ladder effect. For example, if a chain link fence is used around the guardrails, the diagonals of the squares in the mesh cannot be larger than 1.75 inches. And once again, any openings under or between the components of the guardrail should not allow a 4-inch sphere to pass.

Age

A bleacher’s age is also a major consideration for ensuring a bleacher’s safety. A couple of things that no bleacher, no matter its age, is exempt from. For instance:

• Bleachers should be thoroughly inspected at least quarterly by trained personnel.
• At least every two years, a licensed design professional or architect should inspect the bleachers.
• Each of these inspections need retained record. The record form the licensed design professional needs a written certification
• Any problems that arise from inspection should be corrected immediately.

If bleachers are relatively old, replacement should be put as a priority over retrofitting, as retrofitting, if not done properly, can introduce hazards such as bleacher tip over, collapse, contact injuries, and/or tripping. What it ultimately comes down to is even if replacing your bleachers is slightly out of your budget, keep this in mind: will an injury caused by your bleacher be a higher cost, both monetarily and reputationally, to you than a bleacher that is slightly out of your budget?

Bleacher Type

Bleacher type is another factor that influences safety precautions. If bleachers are portable, they are to be secured according to supplier specifications and local building codes. Additional, portable bleachers should be stored away to preserve their longevity.

Additionally, if bleachers are for outdoor events, it is of utmost import that they are equipped with non-skid surfaces on aisles and footboards and components that allow for easy entrance and exit of the bleachers. Handrails should be installed on the sides of bleachers that are 50 inches or taller for assisted and safe entering and exiting of bleachers.

Assembly, and Then Inspection

First things first, bleachers are assembled. To do this safely, it’s crucial that the builders know every step to take to build the bleachers, and they do them properly. This means paying close attention to anchors, fasteners, welds, to name a few. Once assembled, as mentioned in the age section, bleachers need to be inspected. Here are a few of the things that an inspector should look for during inspection:

• bolts, pins, or nuts
• Welds
• End caps
• Moving parts are rust free and lubricated
• Appropriate signage
• Even elevation change between each step and seat
• Anchor and/or ground attachment

Final Remarks

Approximately 20,000 people are injured from bleachers, and from 1999 to 2003, nearly 20 deaths cause by bleachers occurred. Please to ensure that your bleachers do not join a future statistic like this by follow the general and brief guidelines outlined in this blog.

The information provided in this article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as all encompassing, or suitable for all situations, conditions, and environments. Please contact us or your attorney if you have any questions.