FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
SHANNON GODWIN
515-333-4093
MONDAY - APRIL 16TH
2007
NSSI attends
California Association of School Business Officials Conference, provides Guest
Speaker on Playground Safety
The
National Safe Surfacing Initiative (NSSI) is pleased to announce today that it
has successfully attended the 2007 CASBO Annual Conference and California
School Business Exposition.
Throughout
the exposition, risk managers, business officials, facilities directors and
insurance executives stopped by the NSSI safety surfacing exhibit to discuss their
playground safety concerns with NSSI staff.
With the advent of recent California
legislation AB1144, slated to go into effect January of 2008, California
schools will be required to meet ASTM (American Society for Testing and
Materials) and CPSC (Consumer Product safety Commission) standards and
guidelines in their outdoor play and fitness environments. These guidelines will be enforced on both
playground equipment and safety surfacing, causing some concern for school
administrators.
Because
of NSSI's extensive testing of playground safety surfacing and our experience
with retrofitting hundreds of playgrounds in the Midwest, we were uniquely
positioned to offer important advice to assist school administrators in making
the right decision with regards to playground safety.
In
addition to exhibiting at the Business Exposition, Shannon Godwin, Communications
Director for NSSI and also SAFE playground certified by the (NPPS) National
Program for Playground Safety, was a presenter on Saturday the 14th
and Sunday the 15th with sessions for risk managers and facilities
directors centered on meeting CPSC guidelines, playground design, supervision
and safety surfacing. Roughly 100
attendees were present for both sessions where they received a twenty question "working"
quiz based on CPSC guidelines and NPPS recommendations.
"The
state of California has taken a significant leadership position in providing
for the safety of children. This is an
important first step when you consider that 80% of all school injuries happen
outside the school building," stated Shannon Godwin, Communications Director
for NSSI. "Testing by the NPPS and NSSI
has shown that schools that follow published playground safety guidelines and
have a properly trained staff can drastically reduce playground injuries."
Elizabeth
Heal, California Program Manager, added, "Based on the adoption of AB1144,
it is more important than ever for schools to take advantage of the California
Playground Surfacing Program a relationship between the NSSI and the California
School Board Association. We will
continue to schedule site assessments and playground upgrades throughout the
busy summer season to help schools get in compliance with the recent
legislation."
The National Safe Surfacing Initiative provides a full portfolio of playground
safety audits, inspections, designs, and certifications as well as DuroMat
Extended LifeŽ playground safety surfacing to bring playground surfacing into
compliance with federal and state guidelines. NSSI also provide unique
financing and fund-raising solutions enabling communities, schools and child
care centers to invest in safer playground surfaces while lowering maintenance
costs and liability risks.
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