Comprehensive Playground Safety Inspection

• Audit Title

• Site

• Conducted on

  Date

• Prepared by

• Location
  Address

Housekeeping

• There are no damaged fences, gates, benches, or signs on or around the playground.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• There is at least one trash receptacle in area that is not full or overflowing.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• The entire playground is free from debris or litter such as tree branches, soda cans, bottles, glass, etc.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Surfacing

• Do surfaces around playground equipment have at least 10 inches of wood chips, mulch, sand, or pea gravel, or are mats made of safety-tested rubber, rubber-like materials, or poured-in-place rubber.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• 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.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Are there surfacing materials that have been displaced under heavy use areas such as under swings, or at slide exits.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

General Hazards

• There are no user modifications to the equipment, such as strings and ropes tied to equipment, swings looped over top rails, etc

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• There are no 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.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Protective caps are securely installed and equipment is free of sharp edges or damage.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Elevated surfaces, like platforms and ramps, have guardrails to prevent falls.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Equipment is free of potential clothing entanglement hazards.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

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

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• There are no trip hazards, such as exposed footings or anchoring devices and rocks, roots, or any other obstacles in a use zone.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Deterioration of Equipment

• There are no loose, broken, or missing components on the equipment (e.g., handrails, guardrails, protective barriers, steps, or rungs).<br>

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Equipment is free from rot, rust, cracks and splinters.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Equipment is securely anchored.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Security of Hardware

• There are no missing bolts or nuts, loose fastening devices, loose clamps, or worn connections.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Moving parts, such as swing hangers, merry-go-round bearings, and bushings are not worn. Merry-go-round gear covered to prevent injuries.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

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

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Equipment Use Zones

• There are no hanging tree limbs that are rotted or hanging at eye-level.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

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

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Drainage

• Playground area is free from standing water, puddles, or any type of vessel which can hold water; drowning hazard.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

ADA Compliant

• Is there accessible path from the building or parking lot to the edge of the play area and an accessible path from the edge of the play area to the play equipment.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Supervision

• If Playground was in use at time of inspection, was there Active Supervision; staff positioning themselves so that they can always observe all children — watching, counting, and listening.

  Yes

  No

  N/A

Finding

• Finding Description

• Reference

• Add media

  Media