Playground equipment safety

One of the keys to playground safety is the safety of playground equipment. The equipment should be installed and regularly inspected with the following safety tips in mind:

* Equipment should have no sharp points or edges that can cut children
* It shouldn’t contain spaces that can trap children
* It should be free of tripping hazards
* Check for dangerous hardware, like open “S” hooks or protruding bolt ends
* Make sure elevated surfaces, like platforms and ramps, have guard rails to prevent falls
* Swing seats should be made of something soft, not wood or metal
* Cap all screws and bolts
* Check for hot metal surfaces on slides, which could cause burns
* All equipment should sit on a level surface and be anchored firmly to the ground
* Install all equipment at least six feet from fences or walls
* Check playground regularly to make sure equipment and surfacing are in good condition