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Canopy Safety Requirements
According to the Washington State Farmers Market Manual, wind-blown canopies and umbrellas are the number one cause of insurance claims for farmers markets, but all, or nearly all, of these claims are preventable. Wind is unpredictable and can come without warning, toppling improperly secured canopies and umbrellas. Most wind-blown canopy insurance claims happen at the end of the market day, when the wind picks up and blows over a canopy left improperly secured in the process of packing up a display. As other displays come down, windbreaks are removed. The danger is exacerbated because vendors often detach their canopy weights from their canopies, but leave the canopy standing.
All canopies, umbrellas, and other forms of stall cover must be sufficiently and safely secured to the ground, from the moment the canopy is erected at the start of the market day until the moment immediately before it is taken down at the end of the market day. "Sufficiently" means at least 24 pounds per leg for canopies, and at least 50 pounds for umbrellas. "Safely" means that the method used to secure the canopy does not create its own safety hazards:
*Canopy weights should not cause a tripping
hazard
*Canopy weights should be tethered with
lines that are clearly visible
*Canopy weights should have soft edges to
avoid causing scrapes and cuts
*Canopy weights should be secured to the
bottom of the canopy’s legs, with tethers
stretching up to the inside corner of the
canopy to lower the center of gravity
*Canopy weights should be securely attached
to the canopy.
All canopies, umbrellas, and other forms of stall cover must be sufficiently and safely secured to the ground, from the moment the canopy is erected at the start of the market day until the moment immediately before it is taken down at the end of the market day. "Sufficiently" means at least 24 pounds per leg for canopies, and at least 50 pounds for umbrellas. "Safely" means that the method used to secure the canopy does not create its own safety hazards:
*Canopy weights should not cause a tripping
hazard
*Canopy weights should be tethered with
lines that are clearly visible
*Canopy weights should have soft edges to
avoid causing scrapes and cuts
*Canopy weights should be secured to the
bottom of the canopy’s legs, with tethers
stretching up to the inside corner of the
canopy to lower the center of gravity
*Canopy weights should be securely attached
to the canopy.