Did you know that more than 200,000 children go to U.S. hospital emergency rooms with injuries associated with playground equipment (according to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)? Since our goal should always be to provide a safe environment for kids to play, consider this your Playground Safety Checklist.
Proper Surfacing
Nearly 80% of playground injuries occur when a child falls from equipment onto the ground. Make sure surfaces around playground equipment have at least 12 inches of wood chips, mulch, sand, or pea gravel, or mats made of safety-tested rubber or rubber-like materials. Often this material can get moved around during continued use so take the time to maintain a cushioned area under the playground equipment.
Equipment Selection
Use only commercial grade playground equipment and have it installed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Residential grade playground equipment will not withstand continual use and will increase the likelihood of exposure to injury. Avoid installing any hazardous types of equipment, including but not limited to the following:
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Animal figure swings and/or spring-loaded equipment.
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Exercise rings (as used in gymnastics) and trapeze bars.
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Seesaws and old-style teeter-totters
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Swings with seats that are made of wood, metal, or hard plastic.
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Swinging ropes that can fray, unravel, or form a noose.
Adequate Supervision
The CDC reports that lack of supervision is associated with almost half of playground injuries. Design play areas so that teachers and staff can easily oversee students or that teachers and staff position themselves (sometimes separately) in areas where there are no hidden areas within the playground.
With Peer-to-Peer sexual abuse increasing at a rapid rate, it’s increasingly important that teachers and staff see all areas of a playground. Carefully screen your playground in advance to determine if there are any blind areas and place your oversight there accordingly.
Fencing
Playgrounds should generally be fenced to enhance safety, reduce anxiety for caregivers, and provide a secure boundary against hazards like traffic, water, or wandering off. Fencing is not necessarily to keep unauthorized people out (but it might help), but more so to keep kids in and away from potential danger.
Adequate Use Zones
To meet minimum playground standards, “use zones” in front and rear of swings should be twice the height of the pivot point of the swing. For example, an 8′ high swing should have a 16 foot use zone in both the front and back of the swing. The minimum distance to each side of the playground equipment should be 6 feet.
Proper Maintenance and Inspection
In order for playgrounds to remain safe, scheduled preventative maintenance should be in place. Routine inspection of playgrounds includes checking equipment for broken or missing pieces, cracks, rust or deterioration, and loose anchoring. Playgrounds should also be regularly inspected for trip hazards, including exposed concrete footings, tree roots, rocks, and abrupt changes in surface elevation.
Be sure and note any problems found during the inspection and fix them as soon as possible. Ideally maintain records of all maintenance inspections, issues and repairs.
Inspection By A Certified Inspector
This may be one you have not considered previously but it’s an ideal way to have a documented inspection of your playground to ensure that it meets national safety standards. Naturally you will need to be prepared to remedy anything that is found to not be in compliant.
To find a certified playground safety inspector in Texas, use the National Recreation and Park Association online registry. We have provided that link here.
