Play is an essential part of every child’s life. It provides the mechanism for children to explore the world around them and the medium through which skills are developed and practiced.

Risk taking and challenge have an especially vital role in children’s play and development.

Well designed, supervised, and maintained playgrounds and play equipment provides an additional stimulus for children and gives them an opportunity to improve their motor skills and test their physical abilities in a controlled and supervised environment.

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Sections 3 and 4 places a duty, as far as is reasonably practicable, on employers to protect people who may be affected by their work activities from risks to their health and safety. Within the meaning of the Act, the provision of play equipment for use by children who are members of the public, but who are not employees of the Council is regarded as work activity for this purpose.

The Health and Safety Executive if investigating an accident would look for a systems approach to health and safety and for compliance with BS (EN) 1176 and BS (EN) 1177.

The general requirements of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 extend to the provision of playgrounds and play equipment.

• Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
• Occupiers Liability Acts 1957/1984
• Disability Discrimination Act 1995
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

PLAY EQUIPMENT STANDARDS

• BS EN 1176: Playground Equipment (11 Parts)
• BS EN 1177: Impact Absorbing Playground Surfacing
• BS EN 15312: Free access multi-sports equipment

The European Standards are not retrospective or a legal requirement, but they represent good practice. However, it does not mean that older facilities, constructed to previous standards are no longer safe.

Ensure that playgrounds and play equipment are appropriately sited and designed.

Ensure that new equipment/safety surfaces are designed and installed to the appropriate   standards.

Ensure that where any new equipment/safety surface is installed, appropriate certification and documentation is obtained.

Ensure that play equipment and surrounding areas are cleaned appropriately.

Ensure that risks associated with play activities are assessed and that control measures   are adopted.

Within school settings ensure appropriate levels of supervision during play periods.

Ensure that all playgrounds and play equipment is regularly inspected and maintained.

Designing for play is an ongoing process. Successful play spaces are not simply ordered from a catalogue, put in the ground, and left. They require careful thought and planning, continuing care, and maintenance.

When new play equipment is to be purchased or playgrounds refurbished, an appropriate procurement process should be adopted to ensure compliance with appropriate legislation and good practice standards.

Involvement of a professional contractor/designer experienced in designing play spaces is critical.

When procuring equipment and/or services, establishments must undertake adequate checks to ensure the competency of those to be hired.

Further information can be found on Play England

Children really enjoy using play equipment and all the challenges it offers. Playground equipment is particularly good at providing for more active play, including movement such as climbing, swinging, sliding, and rotating.

All new equipment should comply with British Standards European Norm specification and guidance for play equipment.

Equipment manufacturers can advise on the best types of equipment for different play experiences.

The Association of Play Industries (API) is the trade association of equipment suppliers and manufacturers. Members of the API have been checked for reliability and offer a wide variety of types of products, as well as design advice.

Impact absorbent surfacing (safety surfacing) can be provided in a variety of materials. Where used the depth of material must comply with the regulations relating to the critical fall height, and this must be considered in relation to the maximum height of the equipment.

Although impact absorbing surfaces cannot prevent accidents, they may reduce the level of injury. The type of surface under play equipment is a risk factor which must be considered when providing play equipment.

A surface with test requirements is not required for low level play equipment items, less than 600mm fall height, that do not introduce a ‘forced movement’ on the user. Items with higher fall heights or those producing ‘forced movement’ still require a tested surface to reduce life threatening head injuries to a child.

The extent of surfacing around static equipment is dependent on the fall height of the equipment. For example, where the fall height is 2.0 metres surfacing should extend 1.83 metres.

A different calculation applies for moving equipment and advice should be sought from the independent competent person carrying out annual inspection and maintenance.

Equipment manufacturers/suppliers must submit documentary evidence of compliance with BS EN 1176 and BS EN 1177.

Where equipment is unable to meet a standard, an explanation of acceptability or evidence of third-party testing by a recognised body or a risk assessment should be provided.

Appropriate test certificates should be obtained indicating that the surfacing meets the impact absorbency requirements for the equipment to be used.

The installer should provide written confirmation that the equipment and surfacing have been installed to the manufacturer’s instructions and to the relevant standard where appropriate.

Where considered necessary, a post-installation inspection, including indicative surfacing tests, should be carried out by ROSPA  (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) or other appropriate body.

Appropriate ancillary items, such as gates, fences, litter bins and seating if provided should be constructed and installed to apply to the requirements of BS EN 1176.

Cluttered play areas cause supervisory and accident problems for schools and the installation of any ancillary equipment should be an integral part of an overall plan. Ancillary equipment should not restrict the statutory recommended open play areas, or their safety run-off zones.

Where practicable, the space beyond playgrounds and their safe run-off zones should be considered for furniture and equipment locations.

In some playground environments, establishments may have additional features such as sand pits ROSPA - Sand pits or skateboarding areas ROSPA- Skateboarding . Further advice and guidance available from ROSPA on diverse types of equipment.

In Buckinghamshire managed Schools/Playgrounds, overhead hand ladders; “monkey bars,” should be used only under close direct adult supervision, by children who have sufficient arm strength and body management skills to undertake the traverse without swinging their bodies. The accompanying adult should be prepared to provide physical support for the child at any time should fatigue or potential loss of control become apparent.

This type of supervision should only be undertaken by staff that have the physical ability, strength, training, and skills to provide the appropriate physical support when appropriate. It would not be appropriate for this type of supervision to be undertaken by staff who are pregnant or staff who have any type of back problem, heart condition or other medical condition which might be exacerbated by having to make a sudden intervention of this type.

This might be necessary to reduce trip hazards and prevent damage to surfaces. Any weed control should be carried where possible at the beginning of the school holidays. Springtime would be the time of year when this would be likely to be most effective but if weed growth makes the area hazardous further control may be necessary.

Spraying should only be undertaken if the employee has been trained and certificated. DEFRA Code of Practice states that everyone who uses pesticides professionally must be trained, but also in some situations the law requires that users must have an appropriate certificate of competence. The type of certificate needed will depend on the product you are using and your individual circumstances.

Unfortunately, there is as risk that some public sites will be vandalised. It must be recognised that poor maintenance procedures are likely to increase the possibility of vandalism. It is therefore important that any graffiti is removed promptly, and damaged equipment is repaired as quickly as possible to prevent it from deteriorating and enticing people to vandalise it. Ensure the site/ equipment is checked for drug paraphernalia or other hazardous materials.

The design, installation, use and maintenance of playgrounds and equipment should be subject to a risk assessment. This should identify hazards and the necessary measures necessary to control risk to a reasonably practicable level.

Typical hazards to consider will be:

• Slips, trips, and falls associated with equipment use
• Use of equipment by children with special needs
• Damaged or faulty equipment and safety surface
• Inadequate or poor levels of supervision
• Inclement weather
• Older equipment/use of second-hand equipment
• Poor maintenance and inspection regimes
• Use of equipment by inappropriate age groups
• Use of equipment by large numbers of children
• Children wearing inappropriate clothing

Within school settings the safe use of equipment provided for the physical development of pupils relies on adequate arrangements for supervision and control being established and followed within the school. For public play areas parents need to provide adequate supervision to children

Supervising staff must be familiar with the equipment, the rules for its use and the levels of response which may be expected from children in its use.

The number of persons required to supervise should be determined by the risk assessment. As a rule, the younger children are the greater the level of supervision required.

The more hazardous the equipment the greater the level of supervision required. The risk of injury increases with the increasing fall height of the equipment.

Equipment requiring close supervision should only be provided if it is possible to provide adequate supervision for it on a regular basis. This may have significant staffing implications. An example of equipment requiring close supervision is overhead hand ladders or “monkey bars.”

Within school settings pupils only be allowed to use the equipment when playground supervision is provided in the area in which the equipment is located.

Pupils using the equipment must wear suitable footwear and clothing. Pupils should be shown the correct usage of the equipment.

Within school settings parents bringing their children to school or waiting to collect their children in the afternoons may - allow other children in their care to play on the equipment although it is not suitable for their age group.

If an accident occurs a claim will be likely. The use of the equipment by children other than those who attend the school should be strongly discouraged. Sign(s) should be displayed in a prominent position near the play equipment stating that it is provided solely for the use of the children who attend the school under the supervision of their teachers.

The Play Area Inspection Training course is aimed at those who are responsible for routine (daily/weekly) play equipment inspections. The aim of the course is to give delegates the confidence to carry out routine inspection with a greater understanding and knowledge This course is for staff responsible for managing and maintaining a safe playground environment, i.e., caretakers, bursars, and headteachers etc. It is recommended that refresher training is required every three years. Contact healthandsafety@buckinghamshire.gov.uk for further information

BS EN 1176-1 requires that the equipment and its components should be inspected and maintained according to the manufacturer’s instructions at a frequency not less than that stated by the manufacturer.

The HSE and British and European Safety Standard BS EN 1176 strongly recommend that all inspections of play areas are to be carried out on an annual basis. It should be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The inspection looks at vandalism, minor and major wear, long-term structural problems, changes in standards, compliance and design practices, risk assessment etc.

17.1 Routine inspection

This looks at the equipment's basic condition, especially faults due to recent vandalism. Such inspections should be recorded on a simple sheet or book. The equipment supplier should provide a checklist – RoSPA can produce checklists if required. Frequency will vary with the site and local usage although weekly should be seen as a minimum.

17.2 Operational inspection

This looks in more detail at the equipment, at vandalism and certain types of minor wear. Such inspections may be carried out by the manager or his/her staff and should be recorded. With a good, routine hands-on check linked to the annual inspection, the quarterly check may not be necessary.

17.3 Annual inspection

This should be carried out by a specialist not connected with the playground operator or manager. It looks at vandalism, minor and major wear, long-term structural problems, changes in Standard compliance and design practice, risk assessment etc. Such inspections are offered by insurance companies, playground equipment manufacturers, commercial companies, and safety organisations, such as RoSPA. This inspection should be carried out by a registered RPII Inspectors Register of Play Inspectors International

Inspection record sheets and records of work actioned should be kept for the life of the equipment. They should include the date the work was carried out and the reasons for it.

Records of annual inspections by the play equipment inspector should be kept during the life of the equipment as they will be required if a claim is made following an accident.

Faults identified during the inspection should be rectified immediately if they are hazardous.

If this is not possible then the equipment should be taken out of use until such time as it has been made safe.

Hazardous equipment which is beyond economic repair must be taken out of use immediately, appropriately signed and be removed from the site and safely disposed of as soon as possible.

When it is necessary to remove equipment from the site the ground underneath must be made good afterwards.

When repairs are required, always use the manufacturer’s correct replacement parts, or provide parts of equivalent or better quality. If the original manufacturer no longer exists, obtain advice on suitable replacement parts from a play equipment inspector.

Most playground accidents are due to collisions, slips, trips, and falls are not normally reportable. Incidents are only reportable where the injury results in a user either being killed or taken directly to a hospital for treatment. Both are only reportable if they were caused by an accident directly arising/in connection with a work activity. This includes incidents arising as a result of poor condition of the premises or equipment e.g., badly maintained play equipment; or the school had not provided adequate supervision, e.g., where risks were identified, but no action was taken to provide suitable supervision.

Should an incident occur involving a piece of play equipment that equipment needs to be taken out of use immediately, photographs taken of the area, statements taken, and the incident uploaded to the AssessNet System. The investigation must outline the actions to be implemented in a timely fashion.

Play England: Design for Play

ROSPA: Playground Advice and Information