FILE: EBBG/JGFB-R PLAYGROUND SAFETY The safety of each individual piece of playground equipment and the layout of the entire play area has to be considered when evaluating playground safety. The installation of a protective surface under and around all equipment is crucial. A playground should allow students to develop progressively. Each challenge presented should be appropriate for age - related abilities and it should be one that students can perceive and choose to undertake. Playground supervision is a key element to playground safety. Teachers and volunteers responsible for playground supervision should be present, attentive, and well-trained. PURCHASE OF PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT No playground equipment shall be purchased by any school, P.T.A., or outside agency for use by students of the Cumberland County School System without prior approval from the Director of Plant Operations. The Director of Plant Operations, in conjunction with the Purchasing Officer, will coordinate the purchase of all playground equipment. The Director of Plant Operations' approval of equipment will be based upon guidelines established by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and recommendations from the Cumberland County Schools DAP Playground Equipment Committee. As necessary and according to the Americans with Disabilities Act, consideration will be given to designs that provide access for and support and use for the disabled student. The purchase of merry-go-rounds, overhead ladders, seesaws, and swings will not be allowed. Because fifty-eight percent of all public playground injuries result from falls to the surface, careful consideration should be given to the purchase of climbing apparatus. Serious falls can occur when K-3 students are using climbing equipment which is too high. Horizontal loop ladders that are 6 feet 8 inches in height should be purchased for fourth grade and above. LOCATING EQUIPMENT ON PLAYGROUNDS The playground should be organized into different areas to prevent injuries caused by conflicting activities and students running between activities. Active, physical activities should be separated from more passive or quiet activities. Equipment should be placed so that overcrowding in one area is avoided. Apparatus with the heaviest usage should be separated from other equipment. If different age groups are using the playground, then equipment for the younger children should be located in a different area from that of the older children. Color coding the equipment can be used to clearly demarcate the areas.
The site should be free of visual barriers that may obstruct the view of monitors. Equipment should be located away from the street to reduce potential of play absorbed children darting into traffic. Site location for all new equipment should be determined by the Director of Plant Operations. INSTALLATION OF EQUIPMENT Proper assembly and installation of playground equipment are crucial for structural integrity, stability and over-all safety. The persons who assemble and install playground equipment shall not deviate from the manufacturer's instructions. Preferably, equipment will be installed by the vendor representative. After assembly, equipment shall be inspected thoroughly by Grounds Foreman before its use. Manufacturer's assembly and installation instructions and all other materials collected concerning the equipment shall be kept in a permanent file. MAINTENANCE, INSPECTION AND RECORD KEEPING Frequent equipment maintenance is a major factor in keeping the playground safe. Teachers using the playground shall inspect it prior to each use, and immediately report any maintenance problems/hazardous conditions to school administrators. There shall be two comprehensive inspections per year - one in the late summer before school starts and another in the spring after freezing and thawing has taken place (end of February - first of March). These shall be performed by physical education personnel at each school site and record of inspection will be forwarded to the Safety Office. The inspection shall include completion of the PLAYGROUND SAFETY CHECKLIST. In addition, playgrounds will be inspected on a periodic basis by the Safety Office and by maintenance personnel. Inspections and maintenance must be documented. Accurate documentation of playground equipment can be a strong defense against claims of negligence arising from allegations of broken or unsafe equipment. Work orders shall be submitted on all equipment which needs repair. If repairs cannot be made immediately, equipment shall be removed from service until repaired. Older equipment which does not meet CPSC guidelines and cannot be retrofitted shall be scheduled for removal. When inspecting a playground the following shall be investigated: * Check for equipment which does not have adequate protective surfacing under and around it and for surfacing materials that deteriorated. The critical heights shown in the table below may be used as as guide in selecting the depth of loose fill materials that will provide the necessary safety for equipment of various heights.
CRITICAL HEIGHTS (in feet) OF TESTED MATERIALS UNCOMPRESSED DEPTH Uncompressed Depth Compressed Depth Material 6 Inch 9 Inch 12 Inch 9 Inch Wood Mulch 7 ft. 10 ft. 11 ft. 7 ft. Double Shredded Bark Mulch Uniform Wood Chips 6 ft. 10 ft. 11 ft. 6 ft. 6 ft. 7 ft. 12 ft. 6 ft. Fine Sand 5 ft. 5 ft. 6 ft. 4 ft. * Coarse Sand 5 ft. 5 ft. 6 ft. 4 ft. Fine Gravel 6 ft. 7 ft. 10 ft. 6 ft. Medium Gravel 5 ft. 5 ft. 6 ft. 5 ft. Coarse sand shall be used as surfacing for all future playground installation. Check for sharp points, corners and edges which could cut or puncture students' skin. All metal edges should be rolled or have round capping. Special attention to sharp metal edges on slide bed for sharp or rough edges caused by deterioration. Check for protrusions projections which can entangle student clothing. Check for missing or damaged protective caps or plugs. Check for pinch, crush or shearing points that can pinch or crush fingers or catch clothing and long hair. Check for potential clothing entanglement hazards, such as open S-hooks. Check for areas of entrapment. A component or a group of components should not form openings that could trap a child's head. In general, an opening may present an entrapment hazard if the distance between any interior opposing surfaces is greater than 3.5 inches and less than 9 inches. Check for trip hazards, such as exposed footing on anchoring devices and
rocks, roots, or any other environmental obstacles in the play area. Check all equipment and other playground features for rust, rot, cracks, and splinters, with special attention to possible corrosion where structures come in contact with the ground. Check for unstable anchoring of equipment. Check for any loose or worn connecting, covering, or fastening hardware devices; for example, check the S-hooks at both ends of suspending elements of tire swings and all connection points on flexible climbing device for wear. Check for obstacles in equipment use zones. Check the entire play area for drainage problems, with special attention to heavy use areas such as those under slide exit regions. MATERIALS USED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT A major concern for playground equipment materials is corrosion or deterioration. Metals shall be painted or treated to prevent rust. Wood shall be either naturally rot and insect-resistant or treated to avoid deterioration. It is recommended that all wooden structures be replaced with metal or plastics. Equipment made from plastic coated metal, performed plastics, or heavy polyethylene is preferred. PLAYGROUND SURFACING Equipment is not to be installed over concrete, brick, blacktop or even packed earth according to the CPSC. Surfacing material shall absorb and distribute the shock from a fall of 200 Gs force. Reference: Attenuation of Surface Systems Under and Around Playground Equipment, ASTM and A Handbook for Public Playground Safety, Volume II, CPSC. EDUCATION AND TRAINING County Student Activities Director shall establish a comprehensive playground supervision program. Because children will use playground equipment in ways for which the equipment is not intended, even after designs and mechanical hazards have been addressed and information and education programs undertaken, playgrounds may still be associated with some accidents and injuries. Thus, close
supervision of children as they play and intensive classroom and home instruction about safe behavior on playground equipment make an important contribution to playground safety. Director of Plant Operations shall provide guidelines for playground equipment and surfacing to maintenance personnel. COMMUNITY SCHOOL USE All elementary schools shall post signs clearly indicating playground rules. This signage shall state that Cumberland County Board of Education is not liable for injuries sustained during nonschool use. It will also include a rule that requires adult supervision for young children. STUDENT ACCIDENTS All school related student accidents shall be reported to the Safety Office. The Safety Office will provide to the Director of Plant Operations statistical analysis of playground injuries on a periodic basis. In addition, if accident investigation reveals equipment or surfacing deficiencies, a work order will be submitted and the Director of Plant Operations will be notified. ENFORCEMENT Enforcement authority rests with the Assistant Superintendent of Operations in conjunction with other Superintendent level employees where appropriate. Ref: Adopted by the Cumberland County Board of Education, November 3, 1994. NOT INCLUDED IN POLICY REFERENCES: A Handbook for Public Playground Safety, Vol. I: General Guidelines for New and Existing Playgrounds, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission A Handbook for Public Playground Safety, Vol. II: Technical Guidelines for Equipment and Surfacing, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Handbook for Public Playground Safety, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Attenuation of Surface Systems Under and Around Playground Equipment, American Society for Testing and Materials
The Sign Told Me How to Play - A Lesson in Risk Reduction, Dr. Frances Wallach Play It Safe, A Guide to Playground Safety, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Health and Safety News, North American School Business Administrators Trust