Standard of Care • California Health & Safety Code §115725-§115730• Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Pub. No. 325

– Handbook for Public Playground Safety• American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F1487

• Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use

• American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F1292• Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surface

Systems Under and Around Playground Equipment• American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F1951

• Standard Specification for Determination of Accessibility of Surface Systems Under and Around Playground Equipment

• Americans with Disabilities Act

Types of Playground Inspections

• Routine and periodic – high frequency

• Comprehensive – low frequency

High Frequency Inspections

• Identify hazards and routine maintenance tasks such as litter, surfacing, maintenance, vandalism, and proper equipment functioning

• Daily, every other day, weekly

• Inspect area for general and obvious hazards

• Immediate corrective actions for routine maintenance tasks

• Less training and experience required

High Frequency Inspection Forms

• Playground name

• Time

• Date of inspection

• Weather conditions

• Name of inspector

• Name of person who corrects hazard

• Date and time of corrective action

High Frequency Inspection Forms

• Codes for conditions and corrective actions

• Supervisor name (printed, signed)

• Date supervisor signed and received the inspection form

Comprehensive

• Low frequency• Determines compliance with current safety

guidelines and standards• Focuses on compliance with the standards of

care• CPSC Pub. No. 325, Handbook for Public Playground

Safety• ASTM F1487, Standard Consumer Safety

Performance Specification for Playground Equipment for Public Use

Low Frequency Inspection Forms

• Playground name

• Time

• Date of inspection

• Weather conditions

• Name of inspector

• Name of person who corrected hazard

• Date and time of corrective action

Low Frequency Inspection Forms

• Codes for conditions and corrective actions

• Supervisor name (printed and signed)

• Date supervisor signed and received the inspection form

Playground Signage

• Separate children into age appropriate activities

• Preschool (ages 2-5)• Tot lot

• School age (ages 5-12)

Playground Signage

• Encourage public to report playground hazards to the City

• Explain rules and regulations

• Hours of operation

• Requirements for small children to have adult supervision

• Specific playground equipment rules

Playground Signage• Place signs at entry points to the play

area• Place specific playground equipment

rules near the entry area for that piece of equipment

• Is typically a large sign with easily read lettering and yellow background

• Use universal pictograms

Playground Inspectors• On-the-job observation skills

• Trained and tested at various playground sites to observe skill levels and decision making

• Audited by supervisor on playground safety inspection program

• Use playground safety inspection forms

• Follow playground manufacturer equipment inspection schedule.

• Identify training resources for playground safety

• Attend playground safety instructional seminars

• Attend a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) course

Playground Maintenance• Follow

• Standard playground equipment repair procedures• Playground equipment manufacturer maintenance

instructions schedule• City playground safety maintenance program

• Perform specific maintenance duties• Conditions of equipment• Environmental hazards• Surfacing materials