Playground Safety

Ed Stallard Certified Playground Safety Inspector Mesa Public Schools

The playground… • The place where children run, laugh, take risks and explore the possibilities • The place where imagination and spontaneity rule the moment • The place where play claims a major role in childhood development

Skills learned at the playground… • Agility • Strength-building • Self-expression • Coordination • Creativity • Independence • Social • Sharing

Why playground safety?

• A child assumes that a playground is safe to play on • A child assumes the risk of play • A child is not aware of a potential hazard associated with that moment or act of play

With children at play… No hope of having an injury-free play area

Two Primary U.S. Playground Safety Documents… • CPSC Publication #325, 2008…Public Playground Safety Handbook • ASTM F1487-07… Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use Federal Guideline & Recommendation National Voluntary Standard

U.S. Organizations concerned with Playground Safety… • NPSI-National Institute • CPSC-Consumer Products Safety Commission • ASTM-American Society for Testing and Materials International • IPEMA- International Manufacturers Association • NPCAI-National Playground Contractors Association • NPPS-National Program for Playground Safety

So, what to look for… • Age-appropriate • Head entrapment • Neck entrapment • Entanglement • Pinch-points • Sharps • Surfacing • Lead Paint • Fall zones • Obstructions • Fatigue and wear • Corrosion

Priority 1 Hazards… • Death • Brain Damage • Permanent Paralysis • Loss of Vision • Loss of Speech • Loss of Limb • Organ Destruction

Hazard Factors… • Possibility • Probability • Consequences

Playground Injury Factors… • Improper use/poor supervision • Poor maintenance • Inappropriate design • Installation issues • Site planning issues

National Playground Safety Institute Vision: Every playground will have… • A safe play environment • Age appropriate equipment and activities • Compliance with standards and guidelines All of this, and children having fun!

Playground Safety Program… • Identify safety hazards • Rank the hazards • Apply knowledge Establish a comprehensive playground safety program

Mesa Public Schools Playground Safety… • Training video • Training booklet • Playground hip pack