Understand the Play Environment
Understand the Play Environment
Foreign Materials ¨ ¨ Playground is free from animals, nests, and animal droppings. ¨ ¨ All toys and found objects, like rocks and branches, are away from the equipment. ¨ ¨ All bodily fluids and accidents are properly and safely cleaned up. ¨ ¨ Playground is free from trash and broken glass. Wear gloves that protect against blood-borne pathogens when cleaning up drug paraphernalia, bodily fluids, or other dangerous materials. Look inside tunnels and tube slides before and after recess to make certain that there are no hidden hazards and that children are not hiding to avoid going back to class. Surfaces ¨ ¨ Sidewalks and pavement game areas are free from loose particles such as sand, gravel, mulch, and shredded rubber. Loose particles scattered onto a hard pavement may cause a child to slip and fall.
Missing or loose hardware ¨ ¨ Components should not have missing or loose hardware. If the hardware is missing, the integrity of the piece it was attached to may be compromised. Closely observe any hardware that is loose or missing to determine if a hazard is present. Report such conditions to the owner or their representative. Movement ¨ ¨ Some play components have flex built into their design. (Example: Net climbers, including mast; swing structures; slide bedways, etc.) ¨ ¨ If you notice increased movement in these components, check for secure hardware and intact parts to determine if the flex is normal or abnormal (hazardous).
If the movement is new or appears to increase, investigate the source of the movement. Always keep the children off of the equipment if there is any doubt or concern about its integrity, and report the concern to the owner and/ or the person responsible for inspecting and maintaining the playground. Swings Because of the frequency of use and the movement of swings, they wear out more frequently than other types of equipment. Be sure: ¨ ¨ Swings are free from any broken or damaged swing seats. ¨ ¨ Swing chains are not severely worn, broken, kinked, or twisted. ¨ ¨ Chains hang freely and are not wrapped around the toprail of the swing structure.
¨ ¨ Grassy play areas are free from wildlife habitats like molehills and other trip hazards. ¨ ¨ Safety surfacing is intact with no ruts or deep depressions. ¨ ¨ All loose-fill materials are at appropriate depth. Daily raking and leveling by custodial staff helps keep loose-fill surfacing material in good shape for play. Do not allow children to play on equipment if there are exposed concrete footings or unacceptable surfacing. 2. Playground Equipment Hazards Broken, missing, or damaged parts ¨ ¨ Playground equipment is free from conditions that may pose danger to a child. In many cases, you may need to make a decision about whether a hazard is present. For example, if a knob on a play panel no longer turns, it is broken but is not presenting a hazard to a child. If that same knob is missing and a bolt end is exposed, a hazard may be present. Alert the
Group Activity #3
The clamp on this equipment is missing hardware which must be replaced.
As a group, go outside to the play area and perform a pre-play site inspection. Be sure to check all areas mentioned in this section: ¨ ¨ Weather ¨ ¨ Foreign materials ¨ ¨ Surfaces ¨ ¨ Broken, missing, or damaged parts ¨ ¨ Missing or loose hardware ¨ ¨ Movement ¨ ¨ Swings
All moving components must be well-anchored and lubricated.
Daily Dozen Checklist The National Recreation and Park Association has identified 12 of the leading causes of injury to children on the playground. For more information about playground safety and to purchase copies of the checklist, go to www.nrpa.org/playgroundsafety.
Toys are encouraged in the play environment but not on the playground equipment.
In addition to having unacceptable surfacing around it, this seesaw’s exposed concrete footing and potential pinch point poses a hazard to children.
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Preserving the Play Environment • Promoting the Value of Play • Protecting Children
Preserving the Play Environment • Promoting the Value of Play • Protecting Children
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