Playground Safety Standards: The Key to Keeping Students Safe
by Dr. Melinda Bossenmeyer
Playground Safety Standards
As a retired principal, I understand the importance of recess time for students. It’s a chance for them to blow off steam, socialize, and engage in imaginative play. But creating a safe and fun environment goes beyond simply having a playground structure. Playground safety standards have become increasingly crucial, and for good reason. The Public Playground Safety Handbook[1] was last updated in 2008 by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).[2] It is the bible for keeping kids safe on the playground with guidelines regarding playground structures and playground surfacing or the physical environment in which children play.
Gone are the days of simply hoping for the best. Today, there are both voluntary guidelines and mandatory guidelines for everything from design and installation to maintenance, all with the goal of minimizing risks for children.
Certified Playground Safety Inspections
California, for instance, mandates inspections by certified professionals also known as Certified Playground Safety Inspectors (CPSI).[3] These CPSIs undergo training by the National Recreation and Parks Association. The CPSI certification program provides a three-day training on playground safety issues including hazard identification, equipment specifications, surfacing requirements, and risk management methods. CPSI certification requires passing an 8-hour Certified Playground Safety Inspector Exam. It is not unusual for large urban school districts to send district representatives to the training for the convenience of in-house annual inspections.
While California is the only state to mandate these inspections in schools at this time, similar measures may be coming to other states as well.
Safety is a Shared Responsibility
Safety is a shared responsibility. Manufacturers strive to create equipment that’s both challenging and secure. Likewise, installers and inspectors play vital roles.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)[4] have established these important standards. These are constantly reviewed and updated to reflect the latest safety knowledge. ASTM standards guard against injuries caused by falls to a surface. Most school playground structures are placed on a soft surface like sand, woodchips, or a mat-type surface. These surfaces are placed to cushion the fall of a child who may fall from a swing or deck on a play structure. The National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS)[5] points out that more than 70 percent of all injuries that occur on the playground involve falls and the majority of those injuries involve children falling onto unsafe surfaces. It is critical to recognize the role of appropriate surfacing materials in the prevention of injuries.
Guidebook: Public Playground Safety Handbook
All schools should take playground safety standards very seriously by ensuring regular inspections are conducted and any issues are addressed promptly. As mentioned earlier in this article, The Public Playground Safety Handbook, published by the CPSC, is a valuable resource for all schools and childcare facilities. It’s FREE. Print out a copy today for future reference.
This handbook offers specific guidance for a variety of settings, from parks to schools. It also includes updates on revisions made over the years, demonstrating the ongoing commitment to improving playground safety.
We share the goal of providing a safe and enriching environment for all our students. By adhering to these safety standards, we can ensure that recess remains a time of joy and discovery for everyone and minimize the number of injuries.
[1] Public Playground Safety Handbook, 2008 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. https://www.cpsc.gov/
[2] U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. https://www.cpsc.gov/
[3] Certified Playground Safety Inspector, National Recreation and Parks Association. https://www.nrpa.org/certification/CPSI/
[4] ASTM International. The Society for the Testing of Materials. https://www.astm.org/
[5] National Program Playground Safety (NPPS) Univ of Iowa. Fall Surfacing https://www.playgroundsafety.org/safe-resources/fall-surfacing
