Photo Credit: Courtesy of Maile S. Armstrong
Each year, more than 200,000 children nationwide are hurt seriously enough on playgrounds to require emergency treatment or hospital admittance, according to the Virginia Department of Health. As startling as that statistic sounds, parents and caregivers still expect playgrounds to be safe.
As the manager of a playground, you have the responsibility to ensure that no child is hurt. You may assume it can’t happen because it’s just a playground--it doesn’t require helmets, safety pads or harnesses--yet the risk is there unless you manage it through properly installed equipment and continuous vigilance by you and your staff.
State governments and the Consumer Product Safety Commission provide extensive information on building playgrounds. This article focuses on equipping staff with the tools to maintain the safety of a playground once it is built according to specific standards.