Playgrounds offer countless opportunities for children to grow, laugh and develop critical life skills. Remember spending sunny afternoons gleefully climbing, or swinging high into the sky alongside friends or classmates? All children deserve the opportunity to create joyful memories they can cherish for life. A safe, fun playground makes that possible.
Kids and parents should not have to fear for safety when it comes time to play. How can you be sure your playground is as safe as possible for hours of play? In this guide, we’ll point you in the right direction. We’ll cover everything you need to know from how to make a playground safer to playground equipment safety standards in Canada. Whether you’re building a playground for a school, park, daycare or just wondering how to inspect any playground equipment for safety, we’ve got you covered. Let’s get started!
Although some playground injuries are unavoidable, following safety standards is key to keeping kids safer.
You can never underestimate the importance of playground safety standards. When kids enter a playground, they are often overwhelmed with excitement to explore colourful equipment and test their skills. If a playground is unsafe, children are limited in what they can do and enjoy, and they might get hurt. Thankfully, there are actions you can take to help prevent playground injuries.
With the right knowledge and equipment, you can bring joy and play to the kids in your community without worrying if it is done right. Here are the most important factors to consider when it comes to designing a safer school or community playground:
According to the Canadian Paediatric Society, at least 29,000 children under the age of 15 are treated each year for playground-related injuries. Children between the ages of five and nine have the highest risk of injury. Falls are the number one cause of injuries seen in the emergency room, accounting for up to 75 percent of cases. Head injuries most commonly occur from swing falls.
Because falls can potentially lead to serious injuries, it’s particularly important to pay special attention to playground surfacing. With shock-absorbent surfacing, you can drastically reduce the risk of injury.
There are two main types of playground surfacing:
Out of the many available options, the best playground surfaces to lessen the chance of major injuries include:
Playgrounds on hard surfaces with a fall height aren’t compliant. You should avoid the following surfaces beneath playground equipment:
Choosing the right surfacing material is not enough to ensure proper safety, though. You also need to make sure surfacing is the appropriate depth for the equipment and extends far enough to soften a fall, which is why maintenance is such an important consideration. Keep in mind the following factors to make your playground surfacing optimally safe:
By reducing the height of playground equipment and increasing the depth of protective surfacing, you greatly boost your playground’s fall protection.
When choosing a location for installing your playground, the right spot can make a big difference when it comes to safety. Consider the following factors when selecting a location for your playground:
Playground layout is another important factor to keep in mind during the designing stage. For example, you do not want to install a swing set with another piece of equipment placed closely behind it. Proper spacing is important! Here are the top things to think about regarding layout:
A safe, modern playground should be designed to suit the needs of different age groups and help keep children safe from the equipment they should not use. For example, toddlers are less coordinated than elementary schoolers, so they can’t play on the same equipment safely. Creating a separate play area for toddlers gives them a safe space to have fun while the older kids use a play area more suited to their development level.
Age-appropriate play areas help prevent injury to young children who have not developed the skills or strength for larger pieces of equipment, and they also keep older children from getting stuck or injured on small playground equipment. Consider the following types of age-appropriate play equipment, and see how they differ:
When you are deciding where to place your equipment, avoid cramming too much in one area and make sure there is plenty of space behind swings and at slide exits.
Playground signs can be useful in separating play areas or warning children about potential dangers, like equipment that may have become hot from sitting in the sun. Use signs to point both kids and adults to age-appropriate play areas.
Place a sign at the entrance that displays playground rules, park hours and playground owner contact information. All signs can be customized to fit the playground theme or colour scheme, to keep the mood cheerful throughout.
You can also include fun educational signs to enhance the experience. Help children learn interesting facts about bugs, trees or native plants with thoughtfully placed signs. Stimulating, playful signs can be incorporated into any playground style in order to provide a learning experience for kids while they play.
According to guidelines established in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada (MUTCDC), signs should be placed to warn motorists of a school or playground. They advise placing a speed limit sign with the school zone or playground zone sign to remind drivers to slow down and stay alert.
Most playgrounds undergo a lot of use, which can lead to wear and tear. Even the toughest playground equipment should be inspected regularly because you want to ensure that weather and use haven’t caused any damage. Additionally, sometimes children attempt to alter playground equipment to suit their fantastical adventures, and equipment modification is usually not a good thing.
To keep your playground as safe as possible, develop a regular maintenance plan. Strive to keep an organized record of installation, inspection, maintenance and repair for each piece of playground equipment — thorough documentation is key to maintaining compliance and keeping repair costs low. Any replacement or repair should follow manufacturer instructions and safety standards.
Although you can ask a certified inspector to investigate your playground, you can also perform regular inspections on your own. Use this playground safety checklist to periodically self-inspect your playground and look for the following:
Common playground hazards to look for in other playgrounds as well as your own include:
If you notice any signs that your playground is unsafe, you should immediately close the playground until equipment is repaired or replaced.
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) developed standards about safe materials, installation, equipment, surfacing, layout, maintenance and other information to help keep children safe in playgrounds. To make sure your playground is safe and CSA-compliant, ask an inspector certified by the Canadian Playground Safety Institute (CPSI) to visit your playground.
The CSA safety guide is available to purchase online. Here are some CSA standards according to the 2020 edition, to give you an idea of what to expect:
You can reduce playground injuries by following CSA guidelines.
Children, parents and teachers all benefit from outdoor playtime in the sun and fresh air. Everyone is happier after time spent at a well-maintained playground that was designed with safety in mind. PlayPower Canada makes playground safety simple, so you can spend less time worrying about following regulations and more time enjoying the sight of little faces lighting up.
Since 1947, PlayPower Canada has been the premier source for fun, innovative, CSA-compliant and high-quality playground equipment in Canada. We carry the most trusted brands that customers love, from Little Tikes Commercial to innovative Miracle Recreation equipment.
Concerned about your budget? We are here to help provide solutions for all of our customers. We’ll help you find a playground that suits your budget, space and playground dreams. If we don’t have what you need, we offer custom design solutions so that your ideal playground is within your reach.
Whether you are looking for safe playground equipment for schools, the community or place of worship, look no further than PlayPower Canada — a name you can trust and people who care. Contact us to learn more or request a quote on playground equipment today.
