Playground Safety

Inspection

By: Jessica Bahan

Background Information
Mark Twain Elementary was established in 1975 in
Westerville, Ohio.

Kindergarten and students 1st 5th grade use the

playground.

Playground was renovated and remodeled in 2003.

Sources
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Topics Covered
Slides

Barriers
Steps and Metal
Surfacing and Equipment Materials

Entrapments
Swings
Trip Hazards

Seesaw
Log Roll

Slides 5.3.6
Chute Exit Region
o At least 7 inches and no more than 15 inches above
protective surfacing for a slide greater than 4 feet high.

Straight Slides
o Sides on all sides must be at least 4 inches.

Slide: Inspection
Exit is 11.5 inches

Side is about 7.5 inches

Barrier 5.1
From top to bottom the barrier should be 38 inches or
higher

From bottom of the barrier to platform it should be less

than 3.5 inches.

From platform to the ground the height is greater than

48 inches.

Barrier: Inspection
Barrier is 38 inches all
together

Space between platform and

barrier is about 1.5 inches

Steps 5.2.1 and Metals 2.5.3

Stairways
o Tread depth, open riser, must be equal to 8 inches or
less.
o Bare metal should be avoided for steps. Use other
materials that may reduce the surface temperature, such
as wood, plastic, or coated metal.

Steps and Metal: Inspection

Tread depth is 8 inches

Coated metal (Painted)

Surfacing 2.4 and Equipment

Materials 2.5
Surfacing
Acceptable surfacing is shock absorbing. It reduces the
likelihood of life-threatening head injuries.
Some acceptable materials are sand, wood chips and
shredded rubber.
Never use less than 9 inches of loose-fill material.

Equipment Materials
Wood chips should at least be 9 inches for a fall height of
10 feet.

Surfacing and Equipment

Materials: Inspection
Wood chips were about 3 inches which is 6 inches less
of what the requirement is.

Entrapments 3.3
Head Entrapment
Serious concern, could cause strangulation and death.
Greater than 3.5 inches and less than 9 inches is a
hazard.

Entrapment: Inspection
Both areas are 9 inches wide.

Swings 5.3.8
So children arent struck by a moving swing, the
recommendation is no more than two single- axis
swings hung in each bay.

Edges of seats should be smoothed and rounded

Distance between supporting structure and swing

should be 30 inches.

Swings: Inspection
Two swings are on one bay.

Swings were 30 inches away

from support.

Seats are rounded and

smooth.

Tripping Hazards 3.6

Most common trips hazards are anchoring devices and
containment walls.

Bright colors are effective so children do not trip or

contrasting colors are effective as well.

Tripping Hazards: Inspection

Containment wall

Not a vibrant color

Protruding bolt

Used Tires 3.7 and Seesaws

5.3.5
Used under seesaws

Good protective surfacing because they absorb shock

This will help prevent limbs from being crushed
between the seat and the ground, as well as cushion
the impact.

Used Tire: Inspection

Used tires used effectively.

Log Roll 5.3.3

Must have handholds to assist with balance.

Highest maximum point of log roller is 18 inches.

Log Roll: Inspection

Has handholds.

Height was 14 inches.

Violations
Surfacing

Trip Hazards

Why are these violations?

National Program for Playground Safety reports that an
average of 15 children yearly will die on the
playground. These are typically caused by hangings,
head and neck injuries.

Questions?

References
http://www.cpsc.gov/pagefiles/122149/325.pdf

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/healthwellness/articles/2013/04/09/playground-safety-funwithout-the-injuries