Spring is coming, which means more time spent outdoors and, hopefully, more kids and families enjoying your park or playground! That said, there’s a lot of work to be done to help get your playground ready for warmer weather.
It is important to conduct routine inspections of equipment and surfaces to ensure they meet safety standards. Here’s a short Playground Inspection Checklist of areas to inspect from the folks at Playground Guardian:
- Play equipment: Metal, Plastic and Painted or Coated Surfaces
- Hardware
- Safety Surfacing
- Disinfecting & Sanitization
Playground Equipment: Metal, Plastic, and Painted or Coated Surfaces
The first step on our playground inspection checklist is to look for hazards on your playground. Playground inspectors, especially CPSI-certified inspectors, like the team at Playground Guardian, always look for exposed or damaged footings, broken or cracked clamps as these issues can result in serious life-threatening injuries.
It is also important to look for rusted or flaking metal, damaged or peeling paint, and cracked or broken plastic. Though they may seem minor, any of these issues can lead to larger problems, such as injury or equipment failure, if not taken care of immediately.
Hardware
It may seem obvious to look for loose or protruding bolts or screws. But, it's easy to overlook these small items. Given that these fasteners hold together most playground equipment, it is vital that they be present and tightened correctly to prevent equipment failure or injury. Additionally, fasteners need to be the right size to prevent catching on clothing and causing injuries.
Safety Surfacing
While many understand the importance of checking the play equipment, safety surfacing is equally important in making sure your playground is safe and ready for use. Falls to the surface is the reason for the majority of playground injuries, so it is important to make sure there is adequate fall attenuation.
- Make sure tree roots are not compromising surfacing material
- There are no trip hazards due to torn or damaged unitary surfacing
- Border around playground is in good condition
- Transitions from one safety surfacing to another (such as poured-in-place to loose fill) are smooth and unbroken
- Loose fill surfacing material is not scattered
- Loose fill surfacing is at an appropriate depth for safety
Disinfecting & Sanitization
Prior to COVID-19, most people probably didn’t consider how dirty playground equipment can be. When conducting an inspection, disinfect and sanitize hand holds, rails and frequently touched play components. Additionally, consider a routine cleaning and sanitizing schedule for your playground equipment. You may want to consider installing a hand sanitizer at your site to encourage use before entering the play area and when leaving.
Other Considerations
Routine playground inspection is essential to keeping your playground safe. Luckily, Playground Guardian has you covered! We offer playground safety inspection services and audits, performed by CPSI-certified inspectors. Park Protector inspection software helps you perform and track inspections and store audit, inspection, and maintenance notes all in one place.
