Miss Martha's Creative ELP

Regulation 5.10.3.3: Safe Use Zones For all play equipment that is thirty (30) inches or higher from the ground, including climbing equipment, slides, swings and other similar equipment, the licensee shall ensure that the surface under and around the equipment, including recommended use zones, is of approved resilient material that protects children if they fall. * Materials in the use zone shall consist of wood chips, pea stone, mulch, engineered wood fibers, sand, safety-tested shredded or rubber like material or rubber mats designed for protective cushioning; * Materials used in the use zone shall follow the recommendations listed in the most recent publication of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Public Playground Safety Handbook regarding critical depth of tested materials determined by the height of the highest climbing surface of the equipment; * Materials used in the use zone shall be installed and maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions; * If the loose material such as sand, mulch, or shredded rubber is used in use zones, the licensee shall ensure that the material is raked regularly and replenished to maintain depth and resilience; and * If the resilient material in use zones freezes, staff shall ensure that children will not play on the equipment until the resilient material has thawed and is once again resilient.

“The depth of woodchips in the safe use zones for the swings and large climbing structure was very low and almost bare in some places. Corrective Action: Immediately stop using the swings and play structure. Fill the wood chips to the required depth outlined in the most recent publication of U.S. Consumer Product Safety 64 Commission's Public Playground Safety Handbook regarding critical depth of tested materials determined by the height of the highest climbing surface of the equipment. Send a photo of the updated cushioning in the safe use zones to Licensing Field Specialist Stark. Create a maintenance plan for the critical depth of the safe use zones. Send a detailed description of the plan to Licensing Field Specialist Stark. Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 5.4.2.4: Each crib and port-a-crib shall have a firm, tight-fitting mattress covered by a tight-fitting crib sheet.

“Two cribs were observed without fitted sheets. One had a thick blanket wrapped around the crib mattress. The classroom teacher explained that the sheets were in the laundry and they were using this blanket for the infant while they waited for the laundry to come back. After discussion, it was determined that it would be safer for the infant to sleep on the disinfected non porous mat than the thick blanket and the blanket was removed from the crib. Corrective Action: Immediately stop using blankets in place of sheets. Create a new laundering system that ensures access to clean fitted sheets at all times. Send a detailed description of the new system to Licensing Field Specialist Stark. Status: Appeal Period.”