Playground safety is not static; industry best practices and expectations evolve. In 2025, with the updated CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook, legal, risk, and facility professionals need to stay ahead of new compliance nuances, hazard expectations, and liability risks. This is where CPSI services and playground safety consulting can make the difference in reducing exposure and strengthening case strategy.
What is a CPSI, and What Services do They Offer?
Certified Playground Safety Inspectors (CPSIs) are credentialed through the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the National Certification Board. They are trained to perform systematic evaluations of playgrounds to identify hazards, rank risk, and guide remediation. A CPSI, professional playground safety consultant, and/or forensic engineer may provide services such as:
- Playground safety audits and inspections
- Hazard identification and ranking (entrapment, entanglement, crush/shear, protrusions)
- Equipment design review and specification evaluation (alignment with ASTM F1487)
- Expert witness and litigation support services (report preparation, testimony, independent review)
- Risk assessment and liability exposure analysis
- Maintenance, repair, retrofit, and remediation recommendations
- ADA access and accessibility compliance assessments (e.g. ASTM F1951, ADA/ABA standards)
- Documentation and record management programs (inspection logs, maintenance history)
In litigation or claims involving playground injuries, CPSI‐qualified experts bring technical credibility and a recognized standard of care to dispute resolution.
Understanding the 2025 Updates in the CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook
In July 2025, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission released a major revision to its Public Playground Safety Handbook, the first such update since 2015. While these guidelines remain voluntary, they often reflect the evolving consensus of ASTM standards and industry best practices, which courts and insurers will watch closely. Below are several key changes and their practical implications:
New Signage and Labeling Requirements
- Expanded guidance aligning warning signage with ASTM F1487
- Explicit recommendation for warning labels on playground equipment posing entanglement/strangulation risks
- Identification of helmets with chin straps as potential entanglement hazards
- Requirements for visibility, durability, and placement of signage
Expanded Guidance on Supervision and Caretaker Behavior
- Awareness of strangulation risks (drawstrings, cords, hats)
- Advice against simultaneous sliding (adult + child)
- Recommendations on equipment heat checks, avoiding ropes/leashes near structures
Surfacing/Impact Testing and Materials
- Reinforcement that ASTM F1292 lab testing is required, and ASTM F3313 field testing is recommended
- Tighter guidelines for loose-fill rubber mulch (must comply with ASTM F3012)
- Stronger caution against rubber mulch from recycled tires or engineered wood fiber under toddler zones
ADA and Accessibility Considerations
- Clearer references to the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design
- Emphasis on maintaining loose-fill surfacing to meet ASTM F1951
- More attention to accessible routes, transfer platforms, and accessible play zones
Specifications for Fencing and Gates
- New specifications for fences to conform to ASTM F2049 (e.g., no footholds or handholds, no entrapment openings, no protrusion hazards)
Spinning Equipment and Rotational Elements
- New guidance on clearance, crush/entrapment zones, and alignment with ASTM F1487 for rotating play equipment
These updates reflect how the industry is pushing toward safer design, greater awareness among those who purchase, install, and maintain public playground equipment, and increased scrutiny of liability in playground incidents. Although the updated Public Playground Safety Handbook outlines best practices, it is important to recognize that playground safety depends on multiple factors. A playground may remain safe and compliant even if all recommendations are not implemented exactly as written.
When Legal, Risk, and Insurance Stakeholders Should Partner with a CPSI
For Legal and Claims Professionals
- When to engage a CPSI: During liability investigations, defense or plaintiff evaluations, or claims involving playground injuries
- How to use CPSI services: Retain experts to review compliance with CPSC, ASTM, and ADA standards; analyze causation, maintenance, or supervision issues; and prepare defensible reports for litigation or mediation.
For Insurance Carriers and Risk Managers
- When to engage a CPSI: During underwriting, claims assessment, or post-incident evaluation of playground exposures
- How to use CPSI services: Experts can perform inspections, hazard audits, and risk assessments; evaluate potential liability; and document findings as requested to support claims decisions or risk mitigation strategies.
For Municipalities, School Districts, and Parks Departments
- When to engage a CPSI: When planning new playgrounds, retrofits, or reviewing existing equipment for safety compliance
- How to use CPSI services: Conduct audits, identify hazards, and receive detailed reports to guide maintenance, design decisions, and safety policies that help reduce liability.
For Facilities and Design Teams
- When to engage a CPSI: During playground design reviews, equipment selection, or post-installation inspections
- How to use CPSI services: Use expert guidance to validate equipment and surfacing compliance, recommend design adjustments, and inform maintenance and operational protocols
Real-World Impact: How Rimkus’ CPSI Professionals Bring Value
The Rimkus Child and Adolescent Safety team includes multiple CPSI-certified experts skilled in playground safety, biomechanics, human factors, and technical forensic analysis. For example:
- Dr. Karol Silva, Ph.D., M.P.H., CPSI, CPST – Specializes in child and adolescent development, caregiver supervision, risk communication, and child injury prevention
- Dr. Niky Zaragoza-Rivera, Ph.D., CPSI, CPST – Expert in injury biomechanics, risk assessments, equipment compliance, and safety management
- Dr. Ming Xiao, Ph.D., P.E., CPSI – Focuses on biomechanical injury analysis, design review, and technical causation assessment
These professionals provide:
- Independent inspections and hazard analyses
- Forensic reconstruction of playground injury events
- Expert reports, depositions, and courtroom testimony
- Design reviews and risk advisory for new or retrofit playground projects
When a case or risk program involves playground exposures, the combination of deep technical expertise and recognized credentials (CPSI) supports a credible path forward.
Next Steps
If you’d like to discuss how CPSI services or playground safety consulting can support your legal, insurance, or municipal needs, get in touch with our Rimkus experts today.
About the Author
Dr. Karol Silva, Senior Consultant, is a Certified Playground Safety Inspector and Child Passenger Safety Technician on our Human Factors team.