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Playground Safety
National Playground Safety Week is April 23-27, 2012
Each year, more than 2,300 children are injured on school playgrounds in Utah. That is enough students to fill 100 average Utah elementary school classrooms.
Most of the common safety hazards are the result of everyday use and wear-and-tear over time. Common hazards include improper surfaces beneath playground equipment, loose nuts and bolts, cracked slides, and worn swings.
Data from the Student Injury Reporting System showed that from 2005-2008:
- 70.5% of elementary school injuries occurred on the playground or playfield.
- More playground injuries occurred during 5th grade than any other grade.
- Two-thirds (65.2%) of elementary school injuries occurred during recess. The most common activities during which injuries occurred were playing on bars (20.7%), running (18.0%), and walking (11%).
- Falls were the cause of 30.7% of all playground injuries, followed by tripping or slipping (26.9%) and collisions (21.3%).
- The top five injuries received included possible fracture/broken bones, cut/laceration, bump/bruise/contusion, sprain/strain/tear, and possible concussion.
(Source: Elementary School Injuries in Utah, 2005-2008 fact sheet)
Playground Safety Checklists
Common Playground Safety Hazards |
- Broken equipment such as loose bolts, missing
end caps, cracks, etc.
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- Broken glass & other trash
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- Hazardous or dangerous debris
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- Displaced loose-fill surfacing
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- Holes, flakes, and/or buckling of unitary
surfacing
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- User modifications (such as ropes tied to parts
or equipment rearranged)
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- Worn, loose, damaged, or missing parts
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- Rusted or corroded metals
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(Source: Public Playground Safety Handbook from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)
Types of Surfacing Materials
Appropriate Surfacing |
Inappropriate Surfacing |
- Any material tested to ASTM F1292, including
unitary surfaces, engineered wood fiber, etc.
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- Carpet not tested to ASTM F1292
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- Shredded/recycled rubber mulch*
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- Wood mulch (chromated copper arsenate
(CCA)-treated wood product)*
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*Loose-fill materials will compress at least 25% over time
due to use and weathering. Never use less than 9 inches of loose-fill material.
Shallower depths are too easily displaced and compacted.
(Sources: Public Playground Safety Handbook from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission; What Lies Beneath article from Parks & Recreation, November 2005; S.A.F.E. Fall Surfacing from the National Program on Playground Safety)
Data
Resources
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