Recreational Equipment Safety Inspection (2022 - 2023)

• Site

• Location
  Address

• Responsibility (Corporate, Council Housing or other)

• Equipment Type

  Select Traditional play equipment Natural / Challenging Outdoor Gym Equipment Skate Park Courts / MUGA Splash Pad / Water play

  • Traditional play equipment
  • Natural / Challenging
  • Outdoor Gym Equipment
  • Skate Park
  • Courts / MUGA
  • Splash Pad / Water play

• Conducted on

  Date

• Prepared by

• Document No.

Site Visit

• Photo(s) of the site for reference

  Media

Area / Boundary

• Is age related signage covering the equipment present along with a means of reporting faults and the location of the site?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are fences and gates free from damage and appear in good working order without protruding/trapping or shearing parts?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• RoSPA information relating to fencing.
  https://www.rospa.com/play-safety/advice/fencing/

• Are seats (inc. benches) in good condition, sturdy and free from damage that could cause an injury?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is the area free from acts of vandalism that could pose a safety or health issue to users?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Hygiene - Is the area free from broken glass, dog or human excreta, condoms & syringes? (especially Sandpits)

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are surrounding trees healthy and the play area free from fallen tree limbs that could cause injury to persons?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is the area free from overgrown weeds, fungus or other plants that could pose a health or safety hazard?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

Extra Comments

• Comments?

• Is this an inspection of a playground (traditional or otherwise)?

  Yes

  No

Equipment

• Photos of assets

  Media

• Guide to Outdoor Gym Equipment

• RoSPA link to Playground Inspections
  https://www.rospa.com/play-safety/advice/inspection-maintenance/

• Where required, is instructional labels displayed for users of the equipment?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• From those sampled; are nuts, bolts, screws, clamps, rubber bumps and other fittings appear secure and in good condition and ‘S’ hooks closed?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is the equipment free from protruding nuts, bolts and nails that could cause an injury to a user?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are posts and foundations firm showing no signs of significant movement?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is equipment free from splintering wood, or fibreglass (especially sliding surfaces)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are steps and ladders and other means of access to equipment safe and free from damage?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is the equipment safe and free from missing floor boards and planks?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are cables and other ropework free from knotting, splicing and lashing?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are cables, tyres and seats free from protrusions?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are the swing seats in good condition or show sign of bad cracking?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are sliding surfaces undamaged and free from burning and/or cracking?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are all structure and surfaces clear of sharp edges?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Do all moving items move freely on their bearings (swings, rotating equipment)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is the ground surface in good condition, free from holes, lifting surface material or other tripping hazards?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is loose fill material or safer surfaces provided in key areas?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Does the area have loose fill material as safer surfacing?

  Yes

  No

• Is the loose fill level 150mm deep for fall heights up to 1.5m?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is loose fill le el at 250mm-300mm for fall heights greater than 1.5m?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is the loose fill level extended past the the arc point of swings 1700mm?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is there 350mm clearance between the swing seat and the loose fill?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Do posts and foundations have 300mm loose fill cover?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Please take additional photos of any unsatisfactory equipment or issue at this point.

  Media

• Is this an inspection of outdoor gym/fitness equipment?

  Yes

  No

• Photos of each piece of equipment

  Media

Safety requirements and Information on use at the Location

• Fitness equipment is not intended for installation in the immediate vicinity of children’s playgrounds in accordance with the EN 1176 series. If installed in connection with playground equipment, on playgrounds or similar installations, they shall be separated from general playing activities by an appropriate distance, fencing or other structural measures.

• Is there a safety sign in the vicinity of the equipment indicating the equipment is for use by youths and adults having an overall height greater than 1400mm only and avoiding over-exertion?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is there a sign showing a general emergency contact number?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is there a sign showing details of how to contact maintenance personnel?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is there a sign showing the address/location of the facility?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are instructional labels displayed on all equipment (picogrammes, functions, safety information)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is the exercise equipment in the immediate vicinity of children’s playgrounds?

  No

  Yes

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is the exercise equipment designed/manufactured purposefully as outdoor exercise equipment?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are foundations and posts stable?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are any foundations causing trip hazards (where foundation are not covered by equipment)?

  No

  Yes

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Where there is a possible fall from equipment greater than 1 metre; has impact damping ground surface been fitted?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is the impact damping surface in good condition?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

Equipment marking (EN16630 section 8)

• Is equipment marked with name and address of manufacturer?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is the equipment marked with year of manufacture?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is the equipment marked with European standard (EN 16630)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is the equipment made from timber?

  Yes

  No

• Can water drain or drip off freely i.e. water accumulation is avoided?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Where timber or associated products are in contact of the ground; is one or more of the following methods used, appropriate timber species to resist rot, post shoe or timber with preservatives?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are there any parts of the timber splintering?

  No

  Yes

  N/A

  Improvement Required

Metals and Finish of Accessible Parts of Equipment

• Are metal parts protected against environmental conditions and corrosion such as by a non-toxic coating?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Do protective coatings appear in good condition?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are ropes, belts and chains corrosion free?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

Rubbers, Synthetics and Consumable parts

• Do rubbers appear in good condition i.e. not cracked or brittle?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Do rubbers appear of suitable thickness to prevent premature cracking?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Where rubbers such as bumps have been replaced; do they appear to have been replaced with the same or similar material (end stops/dampeners should have minimum diameter of 35mm)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are replaceable parts such as rubbers and bearings protected against unauthorised tampering?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

Design & Information

• Is the intended use of the equipment easily identifiable?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is the equipment adequately spaced apart to be accessible by users with limited capabilities?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

Structural Integrity

• Is the equipment connected (permanently) to the surface on which it stands?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are weld seams smooth and unlikely to present a risk of injury?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• The equipment has no protruding nails, protruding wire rope terminations, pointed or sharp-edged components?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• On accessible parts of the equipment; are protruding bolt threads covered? (Nuts and bolt heads that protrude less than 8 mm are permissible on inaccessible parts, provided that they are free from burrs).

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is tubing or extruded section showing signs of fatigue such as splits?

  No

  Yes

  N/A

  Improvement Required

Tread & Grasp or Grip Surface

• Does the tread surface(s) have a slip-resistance finish?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Do grips appear in good condition, good texture and uncontaminated?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

Moving Parts

• Are there crushing or shearing points for the user between moving and/or stationary parts of the equipment during its use?

  No

  Yes

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are pulleys and similar parts protected against users body parts becoming entrapped?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are rotating discs or user stations limited so they do not rotate all the way around (maximum is 105 degrees and dampening starting from 90 degrees)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are any lubricants applied and possibly leaking out affecting the safe use of the equipment?

  No

  Yes

  N/A

  Improvement Required

Entrapment

• Is there a risk of head or neck entrapment? (Entrapment of the head and neck is not considered hazardous, if the lowest part of an accessible opening lies less than 600 mm above the ground surface).

  No

  Yes

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Note: if an accessible opening is at a position greater than 600mm; probes will need to be used to determine risk.

• Are there gaps in which fingers can be trapped while the remainder of the body is moving or continues in forced movement? (Pipes with open ends or other variable gaps in which this type of entrapment can be encountered, are not created)

  No

  Yes

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Note: If opening and holes have a lower edge of more than 1000mm above the ground; probes will need to be used to determine risk.

• Where ends of pipes are closed off; are closures not able to be removed without tools?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Feet and legs – Are gaps in the main direction of travel acceptable I.e. not greater than 30 mm when measured across the direction of travel?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Where ropes or wires are available; is it possible to make a loop?

  No

  Yes

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are weights or resistance adjustable?

  Yes

  No

Weights and Resistance

• Are the resistance or weight setting conspicuous to the users?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are weights and resistance moveable during the use of the equipment?

  No

  Yes

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are locking mechanisms working?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are there any other issues evident?

  No

  Yes

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is this an inspection of a multi sport games area?

  Yes

  No

General Safety

• Is the area level and free of obstacles (holes, ruts, rocks, glass, and other foreign objects)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• If grassed, has the grass been mowed and excess grass picked-up and disposed of properly?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are drains covered with grates?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is the fencing secure and free of sharp edges?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is fencing and gates free from corrosion?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are access gates in good working condition?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Do any areas of the fence or gates have entrapment points?

  No

  Yes

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are tennis court nets secure and free of sharp edges?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are there areas of vandalism including graffiti?

  No

  Yes

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is the basketball backboard in good condition with fixings in place?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is the basketball post securely anchored with no signs of cracking around its base?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are there any other safety concerns noted?

  No

  Yes

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is this an inspection of a skate park?

  Yes

  No

Safety Observations

• Are all surfaces including surrounding surfaces, free of mud, leaves, stones, or other similar materials?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are all access paths in good condition?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Does the structure appear sound and in good condition and have no panels etc. missing?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are all screws/fixings in place and not projecting?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are all transition plates between ramps and ground flush with no projection more than 5mm (ideally 3mm max)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are all guard rails in good condition with no damage and no bars missing?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are all grind rails firmly fixed and all end caps in place?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are there no sharp edges or projections anywhere on the skating surface?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

Safety Documentation

• Have the arrangements for managing safety within play areas been documented?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Has a site specific risk assessment been carried out to ensure reasonable precautions have been taken to avoid injuries?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is there a ground plan available for the installed equipment to show what equipment should be there or identify equipment that may have been installed at a later time?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is there evidence that equipment present at the site meets safety standards/codes for good practice?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Manufacturers Product Specification showing compliance with BS EN 1176 for equipment installed after 1998 at the location

• An Annual level 3 inspection report that concludes equipment installed prior to 1999 either meets BS EN 1176 or where it fails but met the previous BS 5696, it has been risk assessed and an explanation of acceptability stated (detailing whether replacement or upgrade is required)

• A Post Installation Report that makes reference to the equipment complying with BS EN 1176 or where equipment fails this standard but met the previous BS 5696, it has been risk assessed and an explanation of acceptability stated (detailing whether replacement or upgrade is required)

• Is there a suitable Maintenance Schedule available for the play equipment?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is a Maintenance Schedule present on The Play Inspection Company portal as evidence that it has been forwarded to those responsible for inspection, repairs and maintenance?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is there evidence that safer surfaces installed at the site meet safety standards/codes for good practice?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Test certificate provided by the manufacturer from a recognised test house (BSI, CST, RAPRA)

• An Annual Level 3 inspection report that determines the suitability of the safer surfaces

• A Post Installation Report that makes reference to the suitability of the safer surfaces

• Is there evidence that safer surfaces and equipment were correctly installed at the site?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• A Post Installation Report

• An Annual Level 3 Inspection report

Previous Contractors Reports

• Have quarterly inspections/reports been completed in the last year for the equipment at the site (3 x operational by Level 2 RPII inspector and 1 x annual by Level 3 RIPP inspector)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Where high risk faults have been found, is equipment being taken out of use or prevented from being used?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is evidence such as photographs, measurements collected by contracted inspectors being duplicated from one report to the next (absence of time/date stamp)

  No

  Yes

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Do contractor reports identify repetitive faults with play equipment?

  No

  Yes

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are faults being dealt with in a timley fashion (ARD have a contract to make safe/repair any high risk actions up to £1000)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

Routine Inspection

• Have the operatives who are carrying out checks on the play areas attended suitable training (RPII level 1)?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is there adequate supervision coverage (level 2 RPll) to investigate any concerns raised?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are inspections being carried out at the identified frequency for the site?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Does the documentation provide specific details on the individual equipment being checked?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Do the operatives have adequate equipment in order to assist with the reporting of faults and verifying completion of an action/issue?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Are there any significant gaps in the monitoring?

  No

  Yes

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Is there evidence that the team that receives the reports is acting on the findings and either directly or indirectly arranging any necessary work?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

• Does the team processing the reports have access to the Play Inspection Company in order to assess and prioritise repairs?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

  Improvement Required

Sign off

• Comments (optional)

• Signature

  Sign

• Date

  Date