10-24-00 PTRC - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

• • Rising Standards early two years have passed since 6-yearold Toby Lee of Mound, Minn., fell to his death through a 13-inch gap between the bleacher footboards and seats at a hockey game in Janu- ary 1999. That no statewide standards for retrofitting bleachers have been developed since Lee's death doesn't mean that lawmakers have been sit- ting idle. It does, however, demonstrate the difficulty in making policy even in response to an incident that provoked widespread public outrage. While state building codes in 1998 mandated a 9-inch or smaller gap on all new bleach- ers, no policy then existed for retrofitting existing bleachers. "I would have preferred only to extend the date for compli- ance rather than back away from the standards," says Sen. Gen Olson (R-Minnetrista), original sponsor of the bill. "We did a little bit of both here." Legislators also were unable to agree on a timetable for compliance; the compliance date for retrofits, initially Jan. 1, 2001, was moved back a year, to Jan. 1, 2002. In addition, law- makers left the issue of enforce- ment up in the air. As written, the law will compel facility operators to police themselves. Many new bleacher units include guardrails on at least some higher rows, as well as narrower gaps between foot - loans to help facility operators finance bleacher retrofits. According to the U.S. Con- sumer Product Safety Commis- sion, 10 deaths occurring between 1980 and 1999 were attributed to bleacher falls. Of those deaths, four were chil- dren under the age of 15, and two occurred last year (the other was a 3-year-old who fell through a guardrail opening in Texas). From 1991 through 1999, the annual number of bleacher -related injuries treated in emergency rooms across the country averaged 19,100. In 1999 alone, 22,100 injuries were treated in emer- gency rooms, and roughly 6,100 of them were the result of a per- 11 Out with the old, in with the new: Which bleachers would you want your young fans using? Lawmakers hoped that a boards and seats, notes Juggle son falling from or through the statewide standard for these Hinduja, owner of Sinclair bleachers. Nearly 5,000 of those facilities could help prevent Industries, a St. Louis -based cases involved children 15 future accidents and even serve bleacher manufacturer. But years old or younger. as the blueprint for a national retrofits of older bleachers — The CPSC is in the process bleacher -safety standard. for example, adding guardrails of developing national guide - But a bill passed quickly after onto an old five -row bleacher lines for retrofitting bleach- Lee's death — which called for unit — might carry a price tag ers that will be stricter than gaps no wider than 4 inches that's higher than the bleach- Minnesota's. Hinduja joined and guardrails on all bleacher ers themselves, Hinduja says. other manufacturers, mem- units higher than 30 inches — Olson, however, says she's bers of Congress and parents soon gave way to a more seen creative ways of defraying of children injured or killed in watered-down version. As it the costs — including the bleacher falls for a round - stands now, facility operators donation of materials and/or table discussion with CPSC will be required to ensure that: labor by local companies. At officials last year. He says the • All bleachers 55 inches or least one facility operator con- guidelines should (and prob- higher have guardrails, and verted his five -row bleacher ably eventually will) become • No non -retractable bleach- sets into three -row units, which mandated nationwide. "I'm ers have gaps of more than 4 don't require guardrails, and surprised it's taken this inches between floorboards the League of Minnesota Cities long," he says. and seats. has even created no -interest —MiaMn PoMX www.athieticbusiness.com November 2000 ATHLETIC BUSINESS 9