NJ Lawmakers Introduce Bleacher Safety Act To Mandate Inspections, Upgrades

New Jersey lawmakers put forward a bill requiring bleachers at sports venues and public assembly sites to meet strict safety standards. The goal is to stop falls and injuries. Sen. Anthony M. Bucco of Morris County and Sen. Kristin M. Corrado of Bergen County back the proposal, called the New Jersey Bleacher Safety Act.

The state Commissioner of Community Affairs gets six months to create safety standards for bleachers under the State Uniform Construction Code, which means existing structures must undergo improvements like adding guardrails or fixing gaps between seats that could trap small feet or cause tumbles, according to Shore News Network.com.

State officials will look at safety guidelines from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and standards written by recognized building code organizations.

Deadlines vary depending on who owns the venue. Schools, municipalities, and counties get one year after regulations take effect to retrofit or replace bleachers — but only if state funding comes through. Private businesses and nonprofit groups running venues with bleachers get two years to finish required upgrades.

Bleachers lacking certification can’t be used.

Facilities with uncertified bleachers must post warning signs telling people the seating doesn’t meet safety standards. After deadlines pass, any bleacher not certified must display a notice barring use until the state confirms required improvements are done.

Those backing the bill say it tackles injuries tied to unsafe bleacher structures. Federal safety data reveals these structures cause thousands of injuries nationwide each year. Many victims are children.

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