Site Inspections and Safety Audits

Play is an important part of childhood.  However with any play, it is important that steps are taken to make sure children are safe. A playground should allow children to develop progressively and test their skills.  However, children can be seriously injured in a play environment.  The following are some steps that can be taken to reduce children’s risk while at play when it comes to playground safety. Design & Age Appropriate Equipment: Children differ dramatically not only in physical size and ability, but also in their cognitive and social skills. Therefore, age-appropriate playground designs should accommodate those differences with regard to the type, scale, and layout of play equipment.  Preschool age children (2-5 years) should play on equipment designed especially for them, and school-age children (5-12 years) should have equipment for their size and abilities. Sun exposure is also a safety concern for all children at play and a playground or recreation area should have adequate shade within its design. Protection from the harmful UV rays of the sun can be provided by building a permanent shade structure such as a picnic shelter or fabric shade canopy.

 

Safety Surfacing: It is essential to have proper safety surfacing in and around playground equipment as most injuries occur when kids fall off of the playground equipment.  The safety surfacing must be at the proper depth for the material being used as safety surfacing and to meet the fall height of the playground equipment.  Playground safety surfacing should also be routinely maintained for proper coverage and impact attenuation performance. Engineered wood fiber, shredded rubber, poured in place rubber surfacing and playground grass are all acceptable playground safety surfaces.

Safety Inspections, Audits & Maintenance: Regular equipment inspection and routine maintenance is very important in playground safety.  Inspections are an effective way of identifying and fixing hazards before an injury occurs and can extend the life of the equipment.

Adult Supervision & Playground Rules: Adults actively supervising playground use promotes playground safety.  A playground should be supervised in all play areas.  Established playground rules such as appropriate equipment use and approved play activities is also recommended.  Organizations should customize a playground safety plan to meet their playground needs, site and conditions.


There are many resources available for public playground safety. We recommend that you take a moment and browse the websites below to learn more about playground safety and standards.