Does your facility have a playground? If so, then that place that brings so much joy to the children you serve could also be a huge liability for you. Playgrounds pose a number of safety concerns—especially those that were built more than three or four years ago. Here, we share five ways in which your playground may not be safe.

1. Poor surfacing – According to the National Safety Council, nearly 80% of playground injuries are caused by falls. It’s true that the best way to reduce injuries is by preventing falls in the first place, but they do happen, which is why you need the right surfacing. The safest playground surfaces include:

• • Recycled rubber tiles
  • Recycled bonded rubber
  • Engineered wood fiber
  • Poured in place rubber
  • Recycled loose fill rubber
  • Synthetic turf

These types of surfaces are best because they minimize the impact of falls. Conversely, if a child falls onto dirt, grass, concrete or asphalt, they are more likely to suffer a serious injury. Playground surfacing should extend at least 6 feet in all directions from the play equipment.

2. Lack of guardrails and barriers – For some children, the more dangerous a playground looks, the more excited they are to try it. But, as previously noted, most playground injuries are caused by falls—and falls from a great height could result in an emergency room visit or even death.

For preschool children, you need to install guardrails on structures that are higher than 20 inches, and barriers for structures that are higher than 30 inches. For elementary school children, the requirements are a little less stringent—guardrails for 30 inches and barriers for 48 inches.

3. Insufficient line of sight – Parents and supervisors should be able to scan the playground quickly and find the children for whom they are responsible. While hidden nooks and crannies might be fun for kids, they can be challenging for supervisors who may looking to round up the group. Walk around your playground to see if there are any areas where it’s difficult to see most of the equipment.
4. Improper equipment spacing – When equipment is placed too close together, it increases the likelihood that children will run into each other. For example, if a climbing structure is right next to the swings, a child coming off a swing might collide with one who is entering or exiting the play structure.
5. Broken equipment – Assign someone in your organization to perform weekly inspection of playground equipment. You never know when an edge can become too sharp or a piece can break off, putting a child at risk for injury. Additionally, this staff member or volunteer should check the mechanical components of swings, spinners, seesaws and other apparatus.

Want to know how safe your playground is? Take Church Mutual’s Playground Safety Assessment to find out.