Verification Playground - Safety Issues in Playgrounds

 

Verification Playground is a free resource for playground owners, managers and operators who want to make sure their playgrounds meet the most up-to-date standards. It has forums where you can ask questions and get answers from other members, and a tool called EPWave that lets you run simulations on your playgrounds to check your designs are valid.

Safety issues in playgrounds involve a variety of hazards. Among them are falling objects, entanglement, falls, and injury from equipment. Some injuries can be fatal and are a significant cause of emergency department visits by children. Several countries have adopted voluntary standards aimed at improving safety in playgrounds. These standards address two important components: the surface absorption level (g-max) and the equipment height.

g-max

The g-max of playground surfaces is an important factor in determining the severity of head injuries from falls to the ground. Laboratory studies have shown that a life threatening head injury is less likely to occur if the child’s head’s peak deceleration during impact does not exceed 200 times the acceleration due to gravity.

Using the right material

The playground surface should be of the proper thickness and absorb enough shock to reduce the risk of head injuries. This is a complex issue because of the multiple variables that go into selecting the appropriate materials, including the material’s physical properties such 검증놀이터 as tensile strength and elongation capacity, and chemical and mechanical properties such as friction and elasticity.

In addition, the material should be able to withstand wear and tear over time so that it remains functional. This is a complex task that requires the use of specialized testing equipment, and can be expensive.

* Surfacing hazards*

Most injuries on playgrounds are from falls to the ground, so it is important to regularly inspect the surfaces under play structures for cracks or other signs of wear and tear. These surfaces should be made of thick, resilient materials such as rubber or artificial turf that will provide adequate cushion (impact attenuation) for fallers if they were to jump or fall onto the surface.

If your playground is equipped with loose-fill surfacing, be sure to sweep the area frequently to ensure that it remains clean. Sweeping may also be necessary if the playground has poured-in-place surfacing or rubber tiles/mats that need to be checked periodically for wear and tear.

Supervision

Having an adult on the playground at all times is essential to ensure children are safe from wandering off, bullying and injury. It is estimated that over 40% of injuries on playgrounds are related to inadequate supervision.

It is important that your playgrounds have clear rules to make it easier for staff to enforce them. It is also important that children understand the rules so they are aware of what is expected of them on the playground. It is not a good idea to allow kids to break the rules, as this can lead to disciplinary issues and can make it more difficult for them to learn how to follow them.