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Playground safety
Playgrounds are important for children’s growth and development, but they also are places that children commonly get hurt. Each year in the U.S., an estimated 200,000 children go the emergency room because of accidents at a playground. To keep children safe from these preventable injuries, schools need to take proper precautions.
Risk factors for playground injuries
There are many reasons that children get injured at playgrounds. Some of the factors that increase the risk of kids getting hurt are:
- Improper use
- Poor supervision
- Poor maintenance
- Inappropriate design
- Installation errors
- Site planning issues
Common equipment dangers
Some types of playground equipment are less safe than others. To reduce the risk of equipment-related injuries, we recommend installing equipment that follows the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard.
See common equipment dangers below.
Surface material
- Asphalt or concrete: Hard surface can cause serious injury if a child falls.
- Grass or dirt: Surface isn’t thick enough to cushion falls, so can cause injury.
Slides
- Slide material: Metal can get very hot on sunny days and cause burns. Wet slides can cause slips and falls.
- Slide exit zone: Objects in this zone can hurt children.
Swings
- S-hooks: Can catch on clothing and strangle a child.
- Ropes: The material breaks down overtime and can strangle a child.
Additional equipment dangers:
- Fall zones: Areas below climbing structures should be protected to avoid injury.
- Improper spacing: Enough space is needed between play structures to avoid accidents.
- Bolts or hooks: Objects like this without safeguards could cut or impale a child or catch on clothing.
- Enclosed openings: A child could get their head or neck stuck in an opening that is fully or partially enclosed (like a space between fencing).
Accessibility
Playgrounds should be accessible to children of all abilities to ensure that every child can enjoy a variety of activities. To help ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):
- Accessible routes: At least one of each type of equipment and 50% of all equipment must have an accessible route. These routes should be at least 60-inches wide, connect the entry and exit points of equipment, have no more than a 1:16 slope, and not have any barriers.
- Ramps: Structures with 20 or more elevated play components must have ramps connecting to at least 25% of these components.
- Options for elevated platforms: Provide transfer platforms for children who’d prefer to leave their wheelchair below elevated platforms. Provide a clear space for wheelchairs to park on elevated platforms. This allows children to play with activities on elevated platforms (e.g. tic-tac-toe, telescope, etc.)
- Surface material: When choosing surfacing material, consider both the impact absorption and accessibility.
Playground plan review and inspections
The plan review process helps make sure that playground equipment will keep children safe. Public Health conducts plan reviews for new and remodeled public and private school playgrounds. We recommend submitting your application before purchasing and installing equipment. As part of the plan review process, Public Health also does preoccupancy inspections of the playgrounds. Learn more about School Plan Review.
Getting an annual inspection is also a good way to reduce playground risks. During a playground inspection, a certified inspector will evaluate the playground equipment and area to check if anything poses a risk to children’s safety and to make sure the playground follows safety standards. Contact the National Playground Safety Institute at certification@nrpa.org to learn about Certified Playground Safety Inspectors in your area that can conduct annual audits/ walkthroughs of an existing playground.