Playgound Safety

Children's susceptibility to injury, and the nature of their injuries differ from those of adults. Children interact with playground equipment in a way that reflects normal child behaviour, which will vary according to the child's age and level of development. Therefore, intervention strategies intended to protect children may differ from those intended to protect adults.

The primary aim of a playground should be to stimulate a child's imagination, provide excitement and adventure in safe surroundings, and allow scope for children to develop their own ideas of play. Ideally playgrounds should encourage development of motor skills and present users with manageable challenges to develop physical skills and to find and test their limits. In order to provide these challenges, a balance must be found between risk and safety.

A playground injury that leaves a child permanently disabled is not acceptable. Playground designers, manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers, consultants and those involved in the maintenance and certification of equipment must take every possible care to identify and eliminate unacceptable playground risks and reduce hazards.

Falls are the most common event associated with significant injury arising from the use of playground equipment. As equipment height increases, additional protection is required, and should be provided by increased use of protective measures. (Australian Standard 4685 - 2004)

The playground is much more than just pieces of play equipment. It involves all areas in the school where students play including the ovals, basketball/netball courts as well as the popular playground equipment.

Play Equipment

The main causes of injury are: falls from equipment onto hard surfaces; collisions between children; and collisions between children and objects such as fixed structures.

Designers, planners and installers of playground equipment may be held liable in the event of an accident that could be attributed to equipment not complying with safety standards. It is crucial that the schools seeks advice prior to undertaking playground modifications.

Schools purchasing playground equipment should ensure that the manufacturer or supplier of the equipment can certify that the equipment complies fully with these standards. The standards apply to all playgrounds and items of playground equipment, whether they are produced by a commercial manufacturer, voluntary group or a single individual.

The above standards were introduced at the end of 2004 and supersede AS 1924 Parts 1 and 2 -1981. This does not mean that playground equipment previously installed must be removed or changed. The intention is that when schools upgrade or modify existing playground structures the changes must comply with the current 2004 standards.

Below are some areas that must be given consideration when installing or upgrading play equipment.

Softfall is a soft impact absorbing material located under play equipment where falls are possible. Softfall is variously known as soft surfacing and undersurfacing. The provision of adequate softfall will minimise the incidence and severity of head injury, and will also reduce the occurrence of long bone injury.

Softfall can include loose fill material such as uncompacted white sand, woodchips or mulch. Synthetic softfall material is becoming a popular choice for undersurfacing but is relatively expensive.

The loose fill softfall material should be retained with a border to keep the softfall in the required area. The border should be flush with the external ground surface or be raised to a height of at least 150mm to avoid creating a tripping hazard. The loose fill softfall should be maintained at a depth of approximately 300mm in fall zones.

Loose fill softfall should be regularly inspected and raked to remove any rubbish or tree debris and prolong the usefulness of the undersurfacing.

Free Height of Fall Free height of fall (FHOF) is defined as "the greatest vertical distance between a part of the equipment, which is a point of intended body support and the ground surface or part of the equipment beneath". (AS 4685.1:2004)

The maximum free height of fall for all equipment (including upper body equipment) in supervised early childhood settings is 1.5 metres.

For all other settings the maximum free height of fall is 2.5 metres (except upper body equipment).

Upper body equipment is defined as equipment from which suspension is intended using the hands without foot support eg. monkey bars, parallel bars, turnover bars, jungle jims, track rides and other suspended style equipment.

A child falling from a piece of playground equipment does not necessarily land directly underneath that equipment. If they jump or are pushed they are likely to falll slightly away from it. If the eqipment is moving, they are likely to fall even further. The area underrneath and around the equipment in whgich they are likely to fall is the fall zone.

The extent of the fall zone is measured from the outer perimeter of the equipment. The following minimum fall zones apply:

Early Childhood Settings FHOF of 500mm requires a fall zone of 1500mm
FHOF of 1000mm requires a fall zone of 1700mm
FHOF of 1500mm (max) requires a fall zone of 1900mm

All Other Settings

FHOF of 500mm requires a fall zone of 1500mm
FHOF of 1000mm requires a fall zone of 1750mm
FHOF of 1500mm requires a fall zone of 2000mm
FHOF of 2000mm requires a fall zone of 2250mm
FHOF of 2500mm (max) requires a fall zone of 2500mm

The fall zone for swings is determined by a specific formula. As guide, for early childhood settings the fall zone should be approximately 2000mm and for other settings approx. 2500mm. The zones apply to both sides of the swing pivot. These zones may be reduced if schools are considering installing a synthetic softfall surface.

Guardrails and barriers are required to minimize the risk of falling from an item of equipment, particularly elevated platforms. The guardrails and barriers should be located around the perimeter of the platform except at entry and exit points.

A guardrail is defined as a rail intended to prevent a user from falling (generally a single rail).

A barrier is defined as a guardrail intended to prevent a user from passing beneath (generally a panel).

For early childhood settings where a platform is 500mm or more but less than 1200mm high, a guardrail or barrier should be provided.

For all other settings where a platform is 500mm or more but less than 1200mm high, a barrier should be provided.

Where a platform is 1200mm or more but not more than 2500mm high (max), a barrier should be provided.

CCA (copper, chrome, arsenate) timber treatments are primarily used on pine timber as protection from rotting and being attacked by fungus, termites or other wood boring insects. CCA timber has been used for over 60 years around the world and has been registered in Australia for more than 20 years.

CCA treated timber is largely used for outdoor structures such as playgrounds, decks, garden furniture, picnic tables, exterior seating and handrails. Other uses include fencing, retaining walls, garden edging and pergolas.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is the statutory authority with responsibility for the regulation of agricultural and veterinary chemicals used in Australia. The APVMA has released a report regarding a review of CCA treated timber and the risks of this material.

The report stated that "From its assessment of the information available, the APVMA concluded that it had insufficient information to be satisfied that the continuing use of CCA is safe for timber used in structures with which the general community (and particularly children) are likely to come into frequent and intimate contact."

This recommendation is not retrospective and there is no requirement for any existing structures to be removed.

The Department of Education and Training is considering options for the management of its CCA treated timber structures. In the meantime advice schools are advised as follows:

For information on CCA treated timber in schools or further information on playground equipment and insection services please feel free to contact the Department's Safety Officers.