S.A.F.E. — EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE

Your first visual impression of a playground is important. Does it look safe and well maintained? NPPS recommends that parents become proactive in helping maintain public playgrounds.

What types of routine maintenance should be taking place?

Maintenance routines should be determined for each specific playground. Public agencies should establish maintenance plans based on manufacturer's recommendations and CPSC guidelines.

  • Wood equipment should be free of splinters, large cracks, or deterioration. A wood preservative, applied once a year, will help protect from deterioration. Preservatives should meet CPSC guidelines.
  • Metal equipment should be free of rust and deterioration. Metal equipment may need to be repainted periodically. All paints and other similar finishes should have no more than 0.06% lead by dry weight. Playground equipment that was purchased prior to 1978 may need testing for lead paint unless the manufacturer documents that non-lead paint was used.
  • Plastic equipment should be free of cracks.
  • No broken or missing parts should be present.
  • S-hooks on should be closed.
  • Trash should be picked up.
  • No openings on playground equipment should range between 3.5" - 9" inches where children's heads or bodies could be trapped.
  • There should be no v-shaped openings or open areas close to the top of slides where strings or ropes could get caught and cause strangulation.
  • Cushioned surfaces should be placed in the use zone for play equipment.
  • No more than two swings in a bay or support structure.
  • Mechanisms on teeter-totters and other equipment where fingers could get pinched should be closed.
  • All hard animal swings that could ram into a child should be removed.
  • Proper drainage in the playground area. Water should not collect under or near equipment, especially under slide and swing areas, where ice could form and cause falls.

If you spot problems that you can remedy yourself, like pick up trash, go ahead and correct the problem. If you observe other safety problems, like broken equipment, you need to contact the department in charge of the area.

Download NPPS' maintenance checklist (PDF) to print and use.

NPPS also has assessment tools for child care centers and school environments. To learn more about how to conduct a complete assessment of your play area, visit our Products section.

To learn more about maintenance, watch Nuts & Bolts of Playground Maintenance video.