Check play equipment and surfacing at schools, daycares and parks for hazards before children use it.
Falls to the surface cause many playground injuries, so surfacing depth and condition matter as much as the equipment.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission publishes a public playground safety handbook, and some states have their own rules. Use them with this checklist.
13 items. Complete it digitally or on paper, whichever your team prefers.
A daycare’s morning check finds a loose bolt on the slide platform and wood chips thin under the swings. The slide is taped off until tightened, and chips are raked back the same morning.
CPSC’s public playground safety handbook is the common reference for equipment and surfacing, and many states and insurers point to it for schools, parks and child care. A dated record of each check and repair shows the site was looked after regularly, which matters if a child is hurt.
| Site | Main playground, grades K to 5 |
|---|---|
| Surfacing | Rubber tiles; one lifted at slide exit |
| Equipment | Climbing net rope frayed at one knot |
| Hardware and edges | All bolts tight, no sharp edges |
| Openings | Checked with gauge, no entrapment found |
| Area | Gate latch sticks; glass by fence removed |
| Action | Net closed with barrier, tile reset; work order 22, checked by Ava, 8:00 am |
Sample for Maple Street Elementary in Dayton, Ohio. The frayed net is closed off on the spot rather than waiting for the work order, because a rope can give way mid-climb, and the openings line says a gauge was used, which is stronger than writing OK.
Daily visual checks plus regular detailed inspections.
Trained staff; certified inspectors for detailed audits.
Falls onto hard surfaces.
CPSC guidance and your state rules.
CPSC guidance calls for at least 9 inches of wood chips or mulch for most equipment up to 8 feet high, and loose fill packs down with use. A marked depth post helps, especially in the kick-out zones under swings and at slide exits.
Yes, especially in summer, since bare metal and dark plastic in direct sun can get hot enough to burn skin. Touch surfaces during an afternoon check and note whether shade or a time limit is needed.
More for the same job
EZTime tasks can repeat on a schedule, ask for a photo when they are done and warn a manager when one is overdue. Book a demo to see it with your team.