Playgrounds are fun places where children can run, jump, climb, slide and socialize with peers. Close adult supervision is important in preventing playground injuries. Safe playgrounds should have impact-absorbing surfaces such as wood chips, sand and shredded rubber, which are safer for kids than hard surfaces like asphalt or concrete. Also, clothes with drawstrings and loose jewelry should be avoided as they can catch on equipment or strangle kids.
Supervision
Children will naturally run around, climb, and play, but this can also result in injuries. Injuries can occur from falling off equipment or misusing playground equipment. According to expert witness Melinda Bossenmeyer, in 40% of injury cases, lack of supervision is considered a contributing factor. To help prevent injuries, schools need to train supervisors in proper 안전놀이터 procedures. This includes understanding the hazards, legal responsibilities, and safety guidelines.
The playground should be split into supervisor zones so that no one person is responsible for a large area at once. If any areas can’t be observed from a single spot, make sure to have another trained supervisor stationed nearby so they can monitor those blind spots. It’s also important to section off areas of the playground for different ages. That way, kids aren’t on equipment that is meant for older kids and vice versa. Constantly scanning the playground and moving from zone to zone will also make it harder for students to slip through the cracks when adults aren’t watching.
Proper Surfaces
While equipment designed for different ages plays a big role in playground safety, the ground or surfacing kids play on also makes a significant impact. Surfaces should be soft and offer children shock absorbency if they fall. Choosing the right surfacing material starts with a budget and design considerations. Some surfaces have a lower initial cost but require more time and money to maintain over the long-term.
Loose-fill surfacing materials, such as wood chips, engineered wood fiber and shredded rubber, offer low upfront costs but need frequent refilling to ensure they’re at the recommended depth. This is because they compress over time, and debris like nails and glass may be concealed within the material. Synthetic unitary surfacing materials, such as pour-in-place (PIP) rubber and modular rubber tiles, provide higher initial costs but have longer lifespans and are customizable to fit your business theme. These surfaces also meet ADA requirements and are easy to install around ADA equipment.
Safety Certifications
When a playground is inspected, it is important that the inspector has a certification. This is because the inspector performs duties that protect children from hazards and commercial properties from insurance liability. There are several safety certifications for playground inspectors available. These include the Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) certification program. Those who want to become certified must complete 30 hours of safety courses and pass a 100-question closed-book exam. The CPSI certification is valid for five years.
It is important that a parent, teacher or other trusted adult supervise children while they are playing on the playground. It is also important that the equipment and layout of the playground is designed so that children can be easily observed. In addition to supervision, it is important that children share and take turns on the equipment. This will prevent them from being injured by pushing and shoving each other on the equipment. This is also a great opportunity to teach kids about the importance of playing nicely together.
Maintenance
The equipment on a playground needs to be properly maintained. Insufficient maintenance causes many injuries each year. Formal inspection processes need to be created and conducted on a routine basis. These inspections should be done by trained/authorized individuals. The inspectors should pay particular attention to the surfacing, which tends to need replacement and maintenance more often than the equipment itself.
Inspect the equipment for wood splinters, loose bolts or sharp edges that may harm children. The metal equipment should be inspected for rust, which can also cause an injury to a child. Any gaps that could trap a body part, such as between ladder rungs or openings in guardrails should be closed. The playground should be cleaned regularly with a cleaning agent recommended by the manufacturer. This should be done with a cleaning checklist employees can follow for consistent results. The equipment and surfacing should be free of debris, such as broken glass or poisonous plants.
The Bottom Lines
Safety playground is a great place for children to play, but it can also be dangerous if the equipment and ground surface aren’t maintained properly. Parents, relatives, teachers and child care providers should inspect the area regularly for problems. Injuries on playground equipment are most common when kids fall. Soft surfaces, like wood mulch or chips, shredded rubber or sand, reduce the number and severity of falls.
