Retrofit Bleachers for Safety Concerns

Bleachers are used for viewing sporting events, graduations, parades and many other activities.  Unfortunately, each year thousands of people, many of them young children, are seriously injured in falls from bleachers. Falls from bleachers can occur when there are openings between the seating and stepping surface that are large enough for a person to slip through.  Injury can also occur when missing or inadequate components that assist in access and egress are not addressed such as handrails, aisles guards and non-skid surfaces.

During the recent Risk Control Survey of your department’s property, it was noted that the bleachers in use are missing critical safety measures that would prevent potential injury to spectators.

VFIS recommends your department retrofit the current bleachers in use to include the following safety measures:

• Guardrails should be present on the backs and portions of the open ends of the bleachers.
• The top surface of the guardrail should be at least 42 inches above the leading edge of the footboard, seat board, or aisle, whichever is adjacent.
• Any opening between components of the guardrails or under the guardrail should prevent passage of a 4 inch sphere. This would include any opening that is more than 30 inches above ground.
• Materials and methods used for retrofitting should prevent the introduction of new hazards, such as bleacher tip over or collapse.
• Bleachers should be inspected by a qualified individual or company at least every two years and a written certification should be obtained.

The option of replacing bleachers as opposed to retrofitting should always be given consideration.

Additional information can be obtained from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, publication # 330 titled “Guidelines for Retrofitting Bleachers “online at www.cpsc.gov.