NEWS No news is bad news!
As the Environmental Protection Agency continue to delay their report into Rubber Crumb, what importance is being put on the safety of our children?
The USA Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) report on the dangers surrounding rubber crumb continues to be put on hold. It is believed that the report has been completed, but is being delayed for reasons unknown.
Conspiracy theories abound, most notably ‘how to dispose of old tyres’; they are a product of the modern world. More and more cars results in even more tyres requiring disposal in an ecological manner, and that, at the moment, is a big stumbling block.
Secondly, that a ‘Trump’ man is now heading up the EPA, and the President’s environmental credentials are well known.
Staying in America, the lack of clarity, confirmation - call it what you will - has prompted the Consumer Product Safety Commission to offer the following advice to parents of children exposed to rubber crumb.
Advice for Communities Concerned about Recycled Tire Surfaces
“We recognise that communities, parents and state and local officials are concerned about recycled tire materials used in playground surfacing. The study’s findings will provide a better understanding of potential exposures children may experience by using playgrounds with recycled tire surfacing. While this short-term study won’t provide all the answers, the information will help answer some of the key questions that have been raised.
Communities, parents, state and local officials are encouraged to explore Federal Agency websites (CPSC -
https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety- Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Crumb-Rub ber-Safety-Information-Centerand EPA -
www.epa.gov/tirecrumbs) to review the research results available to date on the use of recycled rubber tires for playgrounds and artificial turf fields.
In addition, concerned individuals can check their state’s public health agency websites to determine if there are state-specific recommendations.
Whilst no specific chemical hazards from recycled tires in playground surfacing are known
by the CPSC at this time, the following precautions to limit exposure are recommended:
• Avoid mouth contact with playground surfacing materials, including mouthing, chewing or swallowing playground rubber. This may pose a choking hazard, regardless of chemical exposure
• Avoid eating food or drinking beverages whilst directly on playground surfaces, and wash hands before handling food
• Limit the time at a playground on extremely hot days
• Clean hands and other areas of exposed skin after visiting the playground, and consider changing clothes if evidence of tire materials (e.g., black marks or dust) is visible on fabrics
• Clean any toys that were used on a playground after the visit”
These bullet points are echoed here in the UK by HSE, and the advice would certainly still apply even if the product is eventually deemed safe.
Yet, it is fair to say that dirt never killed anyone and, whilst millions of pounds are being poured into artificial surfaces here in the UK, courtesy of the Football Foundation, the FA Facilities Fund and the Premier League, little or no regard is given to improving already existing natural turf pitches.
One could say that a central hub, with its attendant changing facilities and clubhouse, is the way forward, and that may well be the case in urban areas. In rural areas, however, the cost of travel to and from city hubs is enough to put parents off, let alone having to juggle the other family members requirements. It would seem that the days of Little Johnny going for a kick-
about down the local park are numbered!
Additionally, concerns have been highlighted on two fronts; disposal of old carpets and extreme surface temperatures.
In Holland, the USA and Canada, artificial pitches are being replaced by natural turf or hybrids such are the various concerns surrounding these plastic pitches, whilst the Rugby Foootball Union (RFU) has suspended its programme of installations in the light of all these concerns.
We applaud the RFU’s move and simply wish that the footballing fraternity would follow suit until such times as the outcome is known.
Pitchcare has always stated that there is a requirement for artificial surfaces within our industry, but not at the risk to our children's health and the wider environment. All we are asking is for a modicum of common sense until such times as there’s a definitive statement from the experts on the safety of rubber crumb infills.
Innocent until proven guilty is a good maxim to live by but, in this instance, perhaps the reverse should be true?
The article's author, Peter Britton, has been closely following developments in recent years and welcomes the support of other industry publications.
Articles you may find interesting on the Pitchcare website:
The New Asbestos? Don't Swallow Is anyone listening? Save Our Spaces
The rubber crumb debate ... and more Two new courses added by Reesink
Two new training courses - Air-cooled Engines and Basic Electrics and Hydraulics - have been introduced by Reesink Turfcare.
Neil Adams, Turf Division Training Manager commented; “With these two courses we're going back to basics. There’s so much technology used in machinery maintenance now with diagnostics tools and the like and, whilst that is incredibly helpful, our customers are telling us they want to learn the
6 PC December/January 2019
foundation of these subjects such as how to do a complete engine strip down. Both courses offer a solid start for those new to the industry and a fantastic refresher course for those with a few more years under their belt.”
The one-day Air-cooled Engines course covers understanding the operation and function of a four-stroke engine, learning how to identify components and operate in-line diesel injection and petrol fuel systems, diagnosing and repairing common faults.
The two-day Basic Electrics and Hydraulics course includes understanding and reading electric and hydraulic symbols and schematics, how to use and demonstrate safe practices with electrical instruments and test equipment and how to diagnose and repair electric and hydraulic systems failures effectively.
Further information can be found at
www.reesinkturfcare.co.uk.
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