Playground Safety Tips

Ensuring that the playground area is safe requires careful planning and monitoring. Remember that infants and toddlers (ages 0-2), preschool-age children (ages 3-5), and school-age children (ages 5-12) have different developmental needs and abilities, and may need developmentally different. Different age groups may need different playground equipment in areas separated by fences to ensure that playgrounds are safe and fun for everyone. Here are some guidelines to assess playground safety.

Regularly inspect surface and playground equipment for broken, worn, or missing parts. Remove, repair, or replace items immediately.

Cover sand boxes when not in use so animals won't use them as a litter box
Provide some shade in the play space, either from natural sources like trees or from a tent, awning, or other shelter
Place metal playground equipment, such as platforms and slides, in the shade to prevent burns. A slide that faces north will receive the least direct sunlight.
Place equipment that has moving parts, such as swings, on the outside of the play area
Teach children to stay away from the front and back of the swing area
Keep outdoor play equipment at least 6 feet away from pavement, fences, trees, buildings, walkways, and other play equipment
Provide guardrails or barriers for platforms or ramps over 30 inches high
Cover all protruding bolts or screws with plastic safety caps
Close S-hooks completely on swings
Never attach any ropes or cords to play equipment
Safely anchor to the ground permanent outdoor equipment such as swing sets or climbers

Tips For Playground Surfacing

Surface materials should be a minimum of 6 inches deep for equipment less than 4 feet high and 9 inches deep for equipment up to 8 feet in height. The material should extend at least 6 feet beyond all sides of edge of stationary equipment. For swings, surfacing should extend in back and in front, two times the height of the suspension bar. Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends an initial fill level of 12 inches. It will compress to about a 9-inch depth of surfacing over time. The surfacing will also compact, displace, and settle, and should be periodically refilled to maintain at least a 9-inch depth.
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