Playground Safety Resources

Back To School Safety Alert: Playgrounds

With school starting very soon, school districts should make certain that each of their school playgrounds are inspected and repaired prior to the return of students. Check your playground to assure that surface materials, under and around play apparatus, are of the appropriate type, depth and are free from holes and depressions. The fall height from an apparatus dictates the depth and type of surfacing material needed. Fall height for SWINGS is the vertical distance between the pivot point and the protective surfacing beneath it.

If the pivot point where the chains connect to the swing support is 10' above the protective surface it would take a minimum of 9" of shredded/recycled rubber or 9" of wood chips. 9" of sand can only provide protection from a fall height of 4', 9" of pea gravel will only provide protection for a fall height of 5' and wood mulch (not treated chromate copper arsenate or CCA) will only provide protection for a fall height of 7'.

Make certain you check all apparatus for loose bolts, rust, sharp surfaces, protrusions, entanglement and many other hazards. Inspect playgrounds at least weekly to detect new hazards and/or broken equipment. Remember, it is better to close a play apparatus or a playground than to allow children exposure to unsafe conditions.

For more information download: Public Playground Safety Handbook (2010)

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has a Public Playground Safety Checklist available at: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/playpubs.html