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Playground Safety Checklist…

Can Children Grasp Handrails Easily?
Handrails, climbing bars and overhead rungs should measure 1.25 inches in diameter, although .95 to 1.55 inches is acceptable.
Is the slide exit adequate for the children?
The slide exit region of all slides should be at least 11 inches long. It should be positioned 7 to 15 inches off the ground if the slide is over 4 feet high. The slide exit of smaller slides should not be more than 11 inches off the ground. All slide exits should have curved or rounded edges.

Is The Platform At The Top Safe?
There should be no gaps between the platform and the top of the slide chute. The platform should be horizontal and at least as wide as the slide; a width of 22 inches is recommended for free-standing slides. A child also needs a panel or bar to hold onto as he/she reaches the top of the slide and sits down to descend.

Is The Slope Too Steep?
The slide incline should average 30 degrees or less. No span of the slide should be steeper than 50 degrees.

Are Stairs And Steps Spaced Evenly?
Unless the risers are closed, all steps and stairways used by preschoolers must be 9 inches or more apart; those used by older children must be at least 12 inches apart. Any that are 3.5 to 9 inches apart should be closed to prevent entrapment of the head or body.

How High Should Guardrails Be?
For preschoolers, guardrails are recommended for platforms 21 to 30 inches high. For school-age children, guardrails should be installed on platforms 31 to 48 inches high. Guardrails on elevated surfaces should begin no more than 23 inches above the platform for preschoolers; 28 inches above the platform for school-age children. The upper part of the guardrail should be no more than 29 inches high for preschoolers and 38 inches high for school-age children.

Are Fulcrum See-Saws Too Steep?
The maximum attainable angle between the ground and the teeter-totter seat touching the ground should be 25 degrees.

Are Swing Seats Safe?
Swing seats should be made of rubber or plastic, not wood or metal. They should not be large enough to hold more than one child at a time. Tot (bucket-type) swing seats should support the child on all sides and be at least 24 inches from the ground.

Are The Swings Hung Properly?
Hangers at the top of the swing should be spaced no less than 20 inches apart, to limit side-to-side motion. Unidirectional swings (e.g., traditional swings) should be placed at least 30 inches from the support structure and at least 2 feet apart. No more than two swings should be hung in one bay.

Do Stairways Have Handrails On Both Sides?
Beginning with the first step, handrail height should be between 22 and 26 inches for preschoolers; between 22 and 38 inches for older children.

Do Elevated Surfaces Have Protective Barriers?
With the exception of slides and most climbing equipment, any walkway platform or other elevated surface higher than 30 inches that is used by preschoolers should have a protective barrier. Older children need one for surfaces higher than 4 feet.

Are Overhead Rungs Spaced Properly?
Adjacent rungs of horizontal overhead ladders should be more than 9 inches apart so that a child's head cannot become trapped. Rungs used by preschoolers should be a maximum of 12 inches apart; those used by school-age children should be a maximum of 15 inches apart. No rung should turn when grasped.

(Recommendations of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) .

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