Unit 3

Task 4

About playgrounds

By Adisa Nicholson
The problem
A children's play area is usually a playground or a designated area with toys on
it.

Usually they are public places when outdoors..

Playgrounds are found in parks, restaurants, schools and public houses.

The most common accidents in the playground is bumping into walls or

people or slips and falls. The more serious accidents are uncommon.

But what other than adult supervision can help prevent accidents in the play
area?
 The design of a playground
What sets playgrounds apart from others is how they are
designed. Over recent years there has been more
though and care into how they are designed health and
safety wise.

The following playground equipment

is not recommended for
public playgrounds

Trampolines
Trapeze bars

Monkey bars

Special flooring is used to reduce the impact of falls

and trips. Sometimes this is made of rubber.
Hazards in play areas
If the playground is in a public place, the four following
points things will be overlooked.

Toys being regulated.

People being moderated

Accidents getting treated, recorded and reported.

A first aid kit being readily available.

Refusing sick children entry to prevent spreading illnesses

A register being taken

Children not forgetting to take their medication

Litter being collected

To reduce the risk to young children, playgrounds are

designed so that they don't have many hazards.

All playgrounds have necessary gates and barriers.

The risk to the management
If an accident was to happen in the playground the
manager's job would be on the firing line as there would
be a public outcry.

Children are not deemed responsible for practicing health

and safety and are under no legal obligation to follow or
enforce it.

The main legal duties lie with the employer, not the
employee.

In the case of Musgrave Road Park, it is the

responsibility of Birmingham City Council to
maintain health and safety.
How can the risk be reduced?
Cleaning up the playground
Having the appropriate health and safety procedures

Replacing unsafe equipment with safer equipment

Removing equipment such as climbing frames

Chopping down trees and bushes

In this specific case of Musgrave Road Park which is 100 years old
Swings were replaced with safer swings. The old swings enabled people to swing
themselves 360 degrees around which is dangerous.

The climbing frame which had sand beneath it was removed.

The mesh which covered the windows and the graffiti has been removed .

There was trees with the roots growing underground which looked like ramps.
A blind person could trip over those huge roots. These trees have been removed.

The park is maintained by Birmingham City Council.

What was the result?
Less accidents

Less trips to the first aid kit

Happier parents

A more colorful playground

A more cleaner playground

In this specific case of Musgrave

Road Park
Swings were replaced with safer
swings. The old swings enabled
people to swing themselves 360
degrees around which is
dangerous.

The climbing frame which had

sand beneath it was removed. Musgrave Road Park now
 What was the result?

In this specific case of Musgrave Road Park

The work was carried out by Tomlinson as part of an SRB6 regeneration.
References
http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/nursery/regulations.htm

http://www.rospa.com/playsafety/info/20_fences.htm

http://www.queensnursery.com/nursery/health_safety.html

http://kidshealth.org/parent/fitness/safety/playground.html

http://www.playgroundsafety.org/safety/index.htm

http://www.matta-products.com/products

http://www.howstuffworks.com/kids-safety-tips3.htm

http://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/feb08.pdf

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolsafety/playgrounds.shtm
(access page 10 of the pdf to find age appropriate equipment)

Specific to this presentation

http://www.birminghammail.net/what-is-on-in-birmingham/birmingham-days-out/2008/08/22/a-walk-in-the-park-
musgrave-road-recreation-ground-and-play-area-winson-green-97319-21586463/

http://www.playgroundpartnerships.org/pdf/Health%20and%20Safety%20Officers%27%20Task%20Sheet.pdf

http://www.gftomlinson.co.uk/project-detail/17/Leisure/Musgrave-Park-.html