Saturday, November 7, 2009

12 Playground Hazards

"The Dirty Dozen" - 12 Playground Hazards

Jarod's Law may have been repealed in Ohio but national safety standards for playgrounds were around before it and will continue long after it. The playground industry has been complying with ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) and CPSC (US Consumer Product Safety Commission) codes for years.

As most of us in the industry are parents and caregivers, we are responsible for providing safer play opportunities for our children. It is our goal to promote children's rights to play in a safe environment and to promote the importance of play in their development.

We encourage you to familiarize yourself with potential playground hazards. Below is an overview of the top 12 safety hazards in playgrounds. Please contact your local Snider & Associates, Inc. representative if you desire a more in depth understanding of safety on playgrounds.
  1. Improper Protective Surfacing
  2. Inadequate Use Zone
  3. Protrusion & Entanglement Hazards
  4. Entrapment in Openings
  5. Insufficient Equipment Spacing
  6. Trip Hazards
  7. Lack of Supervision
  8. Age-Inappropriate Activities
  9. Lack of Maintenance
  10. Crush, Shearing and Sharp Edge Hazards
  11. Platforms with No Guardrails
  12. Equipment Not Recommended for Public Playground

Click here for Other Sources of Playground Safety Information, or call us at 1-800-888-2889 to help.

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