Public Playground Safety Basics

For Child Health Liaisons

“Public” Playground Means:

Equipment for use in the play areas of parks, schools, child care facilities, institutions, multiple family dwellings, restaurants and recreational developments.

What’s the Law in the U.S?

There is no U.S national playground safety law. Several states have passed public playground

safety laws (Colorado is NOT one of them).

Injury Statistics

To Gain Insight Into How and Why Injuries Occur.

Injury Overview

40 million children between the ages of 2-12 are injured every year.

205,850 estimated playground equipment related injuries.

76% public. 24% residential.

Hazard Patterns – Falls 79%

68% falls to surface 10% falls to other parts

of the equipment 1% unknown 4 out of 5 accidents are

due to falls

Hazard PatternsImpact 11% - Misc. 10%

Impact with stationary equipment 8%.

Impact with moving equipment 3%.

Miscellaneous injuries: Generally contact with

pinch points and sharp edges.

Priority 1 Hazard

Any hazard that could cause an injury which could result in:

Death Brain damage Permanent paralysis Loss of vision Loss of speech Loss of limb Organ destruction

Major Cause of Death & Seriously Debilitating Injury

ENTANGLEMENT of clothing, strings or ropes (#1 cause of deaths)

FALLS to hard underlying surfaces (#2 cause of deaths)

IMPACT by moving swings, tipped or loose equipment (#3 cause of deaths)

Why Do Children Die on Playgrounds

Falls – A 7 year old boy died when he fell from top of a 10’ high slide hitting his head on a concrete footer.

Entanglement – A 3 year old girl died when the string from her mittens became entangled on the side rails of the slide, causing her jacket to pull up around her neck.

Entrapment – A 2 year old boy died when his head became entrapped between the horizontal rails of a climber.

Impact – A 6 year old girl died when she was struck in the head with a heavy animal swing form.

Ages of Those Injured on Playgrounds

< 2 yrs = 3% 2-4 yrs = 27% 5-9 yrs= 56% 10-12 yrs = 12% 13-14 yrs = 2 %

Causes of Playground Injuries

43% equipment use and lack of supervision

37% poor maintenance 10% improper

equipment 7% poor installation 3% poor layout

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Hazard Identification

Purpose: to Reduce the Number and Severity of Life Threatening and Seriously Debilitating Injuries

Head Entrapment

Playground equipment built before the year 1991 will have head entrapments.

Children less that 5 years of age are more likely to get head entrapment when they go feet first.

Head entrapment probes are used to test bounded openings between 3 ½ to 9 inches.

Bicycle Helmets and Head Entrapments

There is a “hidden hazard” of strangulation if a child wears a helmet while playing on playground equipment.

Two children have died from wearing bicycle helmets during play and died due to hanging from the helmet strap.

Arch Climbers

NOT recommended for pre-school age (children can go up, but can’t come down.

If attached to a platform it’s o.K.

Balance Beams

Height 2-5 yrs< 12 inches 5-12 yrs<16 inches

No trip hazards

Guardrails & Barriers

2-5 year oldGuardrailsGreater than 20 inchesMin. Height of 29 inchesMax. Opening at lower boundary

23 inches

Protective barriersGreater than 30 inchesMin. Height 29 inchesNo opening allows passage of

torso probe

5-12 year oldGuardrailsGreater than 30 inchesMin. height of 38 inchesMax. opening at lower boundary

28 inches

Protective BarriersGreater than 48 inchesMin. height 38 inchesNo opening allows passage of

torso probe

Metal Slides

Not recommended in Colorado

May be O.K if there is adequate shading

Slides Continued

Use zone for slides must be the height of the slide plus 4 feet with a min. Of 6 feet.

Note: use zone is the surface under and around a piece of play equipment onto which a child might land when falling from or exiting the equipment.

Swings

Only two swings per bay. Only one rotating (tire)

swing per bay. May not have infant

swing and regular swing in same bay.

Swings Continued

Use zone for swings is twice the height of the swing frame. It must extend both in front and in back.

Other Hazards

Tires on playgrounds must have adequate drainage holes so water does not pool.

Pools and Sand Boxes

Wading pools must be emptied after every use!

Sand boxes must be covered when not in use so water does not collect inside.

Wooden Structures

Not recommended for Colorado’s dry climate.

Constant maintenance required to prevent splinters.

May be treated with creosote or have a lead paint surface.

Playground Surfacing

Purpose: to Reduce the Severity of Injuries Due to Falls

Pea Gravel

Gravel loses some resilience in cold weather.

Recommended that 7 inches of pea gravel for equipment that is 6 feet high.

May become a fall hazard when tracked on concrete.

Requires continuous maintenance.

Children may put in their noses and ears.

Sand

Becomes compact in Colorado winter weather and loses its resiliency.

Sanitation concerns because it is susceptible to fouling by animals.

High maintenance because of displacement under swings and slides.

Wood Chips

Requires good drainage. Should be topped every

3 years. Displacement will occur

under slides and swings. Lightweight so easy to

rake and maintain.

Shredded Rubber

Lightweight so easy to rake and maintain.

Non-toxic if swallowed. Does not decompose. Most resilient product on the

market. Does not get as hot as sand

or pea gravel. More expensive than wood

chips.

Unitary Synthetic Materials: Rubber Tiles/pour in Place Rubber

Good surface for infant or toddlers to crawl.

ADA compliant. Clean and easy to

maintain. Must be professionally

installed. Weather must be mild

when installed. Very expensive.

Grass

Not Allowed As a Cushioning Material Under Equipment!

Exemptions to Surfacing

Ground level play -

Standing or seating equipment does not need

surfacing

Playground Safety

Be Pro-active Not

Re-active!