Make sure surfaces around playground equipment have at least 12 inches of wood chips, mulch, sand, or pea gravel, or are mats made of safety-tested rubber or rubber-like materials.

Check that protective surfacing extends at least six feet in all directions from play equipment. For swings, be sure surfacing extends, in back and front, twice the height of the suspending bar.

Make sure spaces that could trap children, such as openings in guard rails or between ladder rungs, measure less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches.

Ensure protective caps are securely installed and equipment is free of sharp edges or damage.

Make sure elevated surfaces, like platforms and ramps, have guardrails to prevent falls.

Equipment is free of potential clothing entanglement hazards.

Equipment is free of pinch, crush, shearing points or exposed moving parts.

Looking for tripping hazards; i.e. exposed concrete footing, tree stumps, and rocks.

Equipment and playground area free from presence of rot, rust, cracks and splinters.

Equipment safely anchored.

Check for dangerous hardware, like open "S" hooks or protruding bolt ends.

Make sure play structures more than 30 inches high are spaced at least 9 feet apart.

Playground area free from drainage problems.