Central Manitoulin Bleacher Safety

In Central Manitoulin we pride ourselves on being part of a small, close knit community where members residing here look out for one another.  This petition has been created with the safety of all those who will be using the new bleachers at the ball diamond in mind-namely our precious children.  Sitting at the very top row of these bleachers you may have noticed the significant gap between the bench and the wall that boasts a hole of over one foot the full length of the bleachers.  This gap sits above a cement slab that the bleachers are built on, that in the event of a mis-step or sit, one could easily fall behind the bleachers down about eight feet to the cement below.  When the town was phoned regarding this gross safety concern, the answer was that the bleachers met National Safety Standards.  How these bleachers could possibly meet this standard is beyond me, as when building a simple deck, the spindles on the railings can be spaced no more than 3.5 inches apart to prevent children from getting their heads through the railings and falling.  Not to mention that most decks are not eight feet high.

What we are asking is that the Township of Central Manitoulin fix the bleachers so that children, parents and people sitting on the top bench can rest easy knowing that there is no possibility of slipping through the back of the bleachers and falling down.  The gap can easily be fixed by mounting sheets of plywood across the back rests, which could then be painted to be esthetically pleasing, displaying our hometown ball teams new name as 'Home of the Mindemoya Brewers'.

The safety of our community should take precedent over budget.  Period.  Please support this petition!

Dear Township of Central Manitoulin and Public Works,


    We are writing this letter to make you aware of a health and safety concern regarding the new bleachers at the Mindemoya Baseball park. 


    In Mindemoya we pride ourselves on being part of a small close knit community where we look out for one another.  We expect the same from our council.  When it was remarked by many community members that there was an unsafe gap at the top of the bleachers, we were told that the bleachers met the 'National Safety Standards' and that fixing the bleachers would become a 'slippery slope', wherein the town would not only have to fix this oversight, but any other problem regarding the bleachers deemed unsafe by members of the community.  How the bleachers could meet the National Safety Standard is unfathomable, as when building a deck, the railing spindles can be no more than 3.5 inches apart to prevent a child from falling through.  The gap behind the entire top bench of the bleachers, which falls to a concrete pad below, has a hole that is over a foot wide.  This makes it very possible for not only children, but smaller adults to fall backwards off of the bleachers and onto the concrete slab that the bleachers are built upon below.  This oversight, whether it conforms to the National Safety Standards or not, does not meet OUR COMMUNITIES safety standards.  As such, we are petitioning our council to have this gap fixed to prevent the occurrence of injury or even death.  We do not feel that posting a sign which warns parents and patrons to be diligent when climbing and using the bleachers is sufficient.  The gap should be effectively closed to ensure that accidents do not occur at the expense of our children, friends, family, neighbours and guests.


    As this issue is a timely one, we expect it to be addressed post haste to ensure that the health and safety of our community is put first.  We thank you for taking this important matter very seriously as many of us have, and look forward to making this right.


Sincerely,


The community members of Central Manitoulin

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