Playground Safety Checklist

PROPER SURFACING

The surface under and around playground equipment should be soft enough to cushion a fall. Maintaining proper surfacing is one of the most important factors in reducing the likelihood of playground injuries.

Surfacing should be checked routinely for trip hazards, kick-out (displacement), debris and proper drainage. When selecting playground surfacing it is important to ensure your surfacing meets the requirements of the ADA standards.

Unacceptable surfaces include:

concrete
blacktop
packed earth
grass

ACCESSIBILITY

Equipment selection and location along with the type of protective surfacing are key components to ensuring opportunities for children with disabilities to play on the playground. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires newly constructed playgrounds and existing playgrounds that are altered to comply with the provisions set forth in the ADA guidelines. These guidelines establish minimum accessibility requirements including access and accessible routes, variety and number of play opportunities and

ADEQUATE SUPERVISION

Play areas should be designed so it is easy for a parent or caregiver to observe the children at play. Posted signs on the playground should be easily viewable by supervisors. Supervisors should understand the basics of playground safety.

AGE APPROPRIATE EQUIPMENT

It is important to make sure the equipment in the playground setting is appropriate for the age of the intended user. Signs and labels must be posted indicating the age of the user for which equipment is intended. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission does not recommend the following for preschool users – free-standing arch climbers, free-standing flexible climbers, chain and cable walks, fulcrum seesaws, log rolls or vertical sliding poles.

PROPER EQUIPMENT

Some playground equipment is not recommended for use on public playgrounds, these include: trampolines, swinging gates, heavy metal swings, free swinging ropes, swinging exercise rings and trapeze bars.

ADEQUATE USE ZONES

Use zones are the area around playground equipment onto which a child would fall. A minimum of 72” is required around all playground equipment. Depending on the type of equipment and motion involved, many pieces of equipment require larger use zones. Use zones must have proper surfacing.

Equipment Spacing and Use Zones

Use zones in front and to the rear of swings should be twice the height of the pivot point of the swing. An 8’-high swing should have a 16’ use zone in both directions

PROTRUSION AND ENTANGLEMENT HAZARDS

A protrusion hazard is a component or piece of hardware that is capable of impaling or cutting a child, if a child should fall against the hazard. Some protrusions are also capable of catching strings or clothing. This type of entanglement is especially hazardous because it can result in strangulation.

Examples of protrusion and entanglement hazards include:

bolts that extend more than two threads beyond the face of the nut
hardware configuration that forms a hook
open “S” hooks; rungs or handholds that protrude outward

HEAD AND NECK ENTRAPMENT

All enclosed or partially enclosed openings must be checked for potential head or neck entrapment. Generally, there should be no openings on playground equipment that measures between 3.5 and 9 inches. Pay special attention to openings at the top of slides, between platforms and on climbers.

TRIP HAZARDS

Playgrounds with high use should be scanned daily for trip hazards, including:

PROPER SURFACING

The surface under and around playground equipment should be soft enough to cushion a fall. Maintaining proper surfacing is one of the most important factors in reducing the likelihood of playground injuries.

Surfacing should be checked routinely for trip hazards, kick-out (displacement), debris and proper drainage. When selecting playground surfacing it is important to ensure your surfacing meets the requirements of the ADA standards.

Acceptable surfaces include:

engineered wood fiber

wood chips

sand

pea gravel

synthetic/rubber tiles

shredded rubber

mats

poured-in-place

impact attenuating synthetic turf

Unacceptable surfaces include:

concrete

blacktop

packed earth

grass

ACCESSIBILITY

ADEQUATE SUPERVISION

Play areas should be designed so it is easy for a parent or caregiver to observe the children at play. Posted signs on the playground should be easily viewable by supervisors. Supervisors should understand the basics of playground safety.

AGE APPROPRIATE EQUIPMENT

PROPER EQUIPMENT

Some playground equipment is not recommended for use on public playgrounds, these include: trampolines, swinging gates, heavy metal swings, free swinging ropes, swinging exercise rings and trapeze bars.

ADEQUATE USE ZONES

Use zones are the area around playground equipment onto which a child would fall. A minimum of 72” is required around all playground equipment. Depending on the type of equipment and motion involved, many pieces of equipment require larger use zones. Use zones must have proper surfacing.

Equipment Spacing and Use Zones

Use zones in front and to the rear of swings should be twice the height of the pivot point of the swing. An 8’-high swing should have a 16’ use zone in both directions

PROTRUSION AND ENTANGLEMENT HAZARDS

Examples of protrusion and entanglement hazards include:

bolts that extend more than two threads beyond the face of the nut

hardware configuration that forms a hook

open “S” hooks; rungs or handholds that protrude outward

HEAD AND NECK ENTRAPMENT

All enclosed or partially enclosed openings must be checked for potential head or neck entrapment. Generally, there should be no openings on playground equipment that measures between 3.5 and 9 inches. Pay special attention to openings at the top of slides, between platforms and on climbers.

TRIP HAZARDS

Playgrounds with high use should be scanned daily for trip hazards, including:

exposed concrete footings

abrupt changes in surface elevation

tree roots

tree stumps

rocks