Playground Inspections
Minimizing risk and managing potential hazards
By Alan Kavanaugh
Thousands of children are injured on playgrounds across North America each year. The majority of injuries occur from falls. With the continued updates to various CPSC- and ASTM-recommended standards (i.e., children’s playground equipment and surfacing standard), this is an opportune time to discuss what the requirements are in regards to maintaining a safe, operational playground.
© Can Stock Photo / sannare
Various CPSC and ASTM standards and recommendations require all owners of playgrounds to plan for and provide a regular maintenance and inspection schedule for all playgrounds, equipment, and surfacing materials.
In some jurisdictions, the standards are not a requirement per se, but the content of the standards are utilized in any court case or decision when it comes to injury litigation involving playgrounds.
Where does the standard apply?
It applies to all new playgrounds, playground components, and protective surfacing installed after the release of the current standard.
It applies to any additions, replacement parts for, and playgrounds installed after the release of the current edition.
What are your responsibilities?
You are required to maintain a safe playground.
You are required to provide a documented inspection process.
The recommended inspection procedure, according to the current CPSC and ASTM standards, is daily visual inspections and monthly documented inspections with an annual all-inclusive playground-inspection review.
You should also develop a follow-up system whereby once a recommendation has been made after an inspection, a follow-up procedure will ensure compliance or repair over a pre-determined time period.
Isaac Quesada / Unsplash
What should maintenance requirements encompass?
A program of daily and monthly inspection and maintenance schedules created by the owner
A checklist to make it easier to access and track information.
Inspections shall include but are not limited to the following:
a. Checking the entire playground area for hazardous debris and litter
b. Checking for any damage to equipment
c. Checking for any broken, missing, or loose equipment
d. Checking for strings or ropes of any kind and removing them
e. Checking fall surface areas, and repairing and/or maintaining as required.
Inspecting the playspace:
a. Providing a daily and weekly visual inspection of the playspace
b. Providing a detailed monthly inspection, documented, with follow-up
c. Providing an annual written report, noting inspections and actions taken to mediate recommendations, problems, and concerns.
Things To Remember
It is your playground; you are required to inspect, maintain, and repair it.
Conduct a risk analysis or needs assessment. This is the who, what, where, why, and when section.
Identify all areas to be inspected. This makes it easier to develop specific ways of developing an inspection program that will meet the requirements of the various CPSC and ASTM recommended standards.
Talk to risk-management professionals, people in the industry, staff members, and various other organizations.
Alan Kavanaugh, CRM, CCPI (Member NFPA), provided Loss Control Services to municipalities, school districts, industry, and government operations for over 34 years. He has developed a set of training programs (workshops) and audits (safety-related) to help all organizations accumulate and prioritize information, and develop short- and long-term compliance plans. He is based out of Prince George, BC but provides services throughout Western Canada and the United States. Reach him at akavanaugh@noratek.com.