Playground Inspections
Grassroots Playscapes provides the most comprehensive inspection available
in Hawaii by observing more than just equipment guidelines and maintenance.
Safety is a byproduct of several factors that equipment alone cannot
satisfy.
Our inspection process is specifically developed for preschools but can also
be applied to other institutional facilities as well. A thorough site visit
is conducted by a certified playground safety inspector (CPSI) who will meet
with staff and talk to children to ascertain how
the playground is being used. Both positive and negative aspects are
documented and included in a thirty page report that clearly identifies
areas of concern and provides guidance to address them (see
sample pages).
The inspection is designed to make your playground a functional space within
acceptable levels of risk. Conducted primarily for HAEYC accredited
facilities, our rates are reasonable and financial assistance is available
to qualifying schools. Inspections are provided as a service to
the community of caregivers and is not used to endorse any products or
services.
Equipment and Safety Guidelines
The pursuit of safe playgrounds has ushered in an era where the act of
play has given way to guidelines and regulations. The U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM),
has provided the framework for manufacturers to produce standardized
equipment. The result of these efforts is an oversimplified structure
that kids soon grow tired of. With boredom comes restlessness,
fighting, and the pursuit to challenge "safe" equipment in unexpected
ways.
Injuries related to playground equipment are collected by CPSC from
hospitals across America. In 1999, it is estimated that over 156,000
injuries occurred on public, playground equipment. Nearly 80% of these
injuries were due to falls to the surface below the equipment. Where
injuries occurred, 79% of public playgrounds had protective surfacing
and 74% of the equipment was reported to be in "good" condition.
Certainly there are measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of an
injury, but they clearly do not prevent the majority of injuries from
occurring.
For further info......
Injuries and Deaths Associated with Children's Playground Equipment, US
Consumer Product Safety Commission
National Electronic
Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) On-line
Perform queries that quantify playground related hospitalization injury
data between 1991 and 2007.
Advice for Playground Safety
Limit Elevated Play Structures
Provide play events that settle into the landscape
and are not exclusively elevated. Children can have as much fun on the
ground as they have six feet off the ground.
Location Location Location
Locate elevated structures and active features in
areas of the playground that do not conflict with other users while
allowing ample physical and visual accessibility.
Make Necessary Alterations
Due to the seriousness or frequency of injuries,
administer repairs promptly and thoroughly. Wishful thinking is not
going to protect children who are expecting our protection.
Provide Diversity
Enrich the play area with a diversity of
activities to avoid risky behavior due to boredom. Events should not be
limited to physical challenges but also include activities that exercise
a child's imagination and develops social and problem solving skills.
Guidance not Restrictions
Allow children to explore their boundaries by
letting them confront challenges at their own pace with guidance that
instructs rather than enforces excessive limitations.
Keep it Clean
Keep the play area clear of toy debris by
providing storage that is accessible to children. Encourage a sense of
ownership by asking children to clean up after themselves.