When evaluating how safe a playground is then you need to look at surfaces, design and spacing alongside the equipment maintenance and inspections. Obviously playgrounds are a wonderful place that provide your child with fresh air, exercise and fun and are a crucial part in your child's education. But playgrounds also pose a risk of injury so here in this article we shall look at how to make your playground as safe as possible with playground safety surfacing.
Providing your playground with playground safety surfacing is one way that you can limit the amount and severity of injuries that happens when children fall from equipment. When planning to purchase outdoor play equipment for children it is crucial to understand that the surface under the equipment will have to be soft enough and thick enough to take a child's impact once they have fallen.
Surfaces that are unacceptable as playground safety surfacing are concrete, asphalt and blacktop. None of these are recommended to be used. Grass, soil and packed earth are also not appropriate as weather conditions can change these surfaces and their ability to take any impact. Playground surfaces should also be clear of standing water and debris that a child could fall over on such as tree stumps and rocks.
Playgrounds should also be routinely checked to ensure that there are no other dangerous materials like glass or metal that a child can fall on. A playground should be a safe place that children can play in safety without rubbish and other dangerous objects being left there by adults. Playground safety surfacing works well in rubber as the rubber can be safety tested. Rubber mats and woodchips are the perfect combination for wheel chair users that want to enter the playground.
Loose surface materials have regulations to follow, to ensure you get the most protection. They should be twelve inches deep to take impact of equipment that is eight foot high. The material should not be packed down heavily as this will stop the cushioning effect that you need. Similarly no surface material is considered safe if the combined height of the playground and the child standing on the highest point is over twelve feet.
Cushioned playground safety surfacing also needs to extend about 6 foot around the equipment. You may need to even cover further if the product is a swing or long slide. Remember that safety surfacing cannot protect children from injury, but can stop the injury from being more serious. The bigger the height of the equipment then it is more likely that children that fall from it will be injured.
Author Resource:-
Dominic Donaldson is a playground health and safety expert.
Find out more about Playground Safety Surfacing at http://www.timberline.co.uk/product/71/Wetpour.html
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