HD26 - Safety of School Playground Equipment
Executive Summary: This study on the safety of school playgrounds was conducted by the Department of Education in response to House Joint Resolution 473, which was sponsored by Delegate Mary Christian. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a need for statewide standards to ensure the safety of school playgrounds, the age-appropriateness of playground equipment, and the repair and replacement of broken or obsolete equipment. Methodology Information was gathered from school division personnel by means of two different surveys, a Division-wide Playground Safety Information Request and an Elementary School Playground Safety Information Request. Consultants, professional and parent organizations, manufacturers, and physical education directors from other states provided input into the review process. Literature searches and review of documents developed by public and private agencies provided additional information. Types of Playground Equipment Information concerning types of playground equipment was gathered from fifty-seven (57) elementary schools, using the Elementary School Playground Safety Information Request (See Appendix F). This survey revealed that the predominate types of playground equipment used on public school playgrounds are various types of climbing apparatus, sliding boards, swings, chinning bars, horizontal ladders, seesaws, fireman's poles, tire swings, trapezes, and merry-go-rounds. Based on the study of information reviewed relative to types of playground equipment, it seems that a variety of equipment can be appropriate for the various student age groups in the elementary schools, if the equipment reflects the physical dimensions of the age group for which it is being installed. It appears that the inclusion of some types of equipment with certain age groups may provide greater opportunities for misuse (i.e., swings, slides, seesaws). It is recommended, therefore, that the school principal evaluate equipment carefully to determine if it meets the needs of students served at that particular school. Moreover, distinct playground areas for primary and upper elementary students should be established, and greater emphasis needs to be placed on the close supervision of all playground activities. It is important that those with responsibility for playground safety at the school building level ensure that appropriate resilient surfaces are in place under equipment and that these surfaces receive regular maintenance. Injuries Sustained on Public School Playgrounds A review of the results of the Division-wide Playground Safety Information Request provided information about the injuries sustained on public school playgrounds in the Commonwealth. Reporting procedures for playground injuries vary considerably in school divisions. It is difficult, therefore, to get an accurate account of rates and severity of injuries sustained across the Commonwealth. However, sixty-five (65) LEAs reported a total of 5,700 injuries during the 1990-91 school year. Based on LEA reports, of the 348,976 students enrolled in schools which have playgrounds, 1.75% of the children in these schools sustained an injury requiring professional medical attention. This apparent high rate of injuries may be due to broad interpretation of the word "professional" in "professional medical attention" which was the wording used in the survey. It is assumed that attention by the school nurse for minor injuries was interpreted as "professional medical attention." Abrasions, cuts and puncture wounds constituted 53% of all reported injuries for the 1990-91. The next largest category was strains or sprains which made up 14% of all injuries. Head injuries accounted for 13%, broken bones, 5%; eye injuries, 3%; and other injuries, 12%. Playground Safety Initiatives A review of playground safety initiatives in other states revealed that nine (9) states have guidelines for playground equipment and seven (7) states have guidelines for playground surfaces. The degree of development and detail of guidelines for playground equipment and surfaces varies considerably. Letters were sent to several organizations requesting information concerning their support of playground safety initiatives, regulations or guidelines. None of the organizations responding indicated support for specific initiatives; however, all responding indicated concerns about the safety of playground equipment. The publication, "Accreditation Criteria and Procedures of the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs," distributed by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, was reviewed for guidelines pertaining to playground safety. These guidelines should be considered if it is determined that statewide guidelines, standards or regulations should be established. The National Safety Council has published extensive guidelines in its publication "Safety First Checklist - The Site Inspection System for Playground Equipment." (See Appendix R). This publication would make an excellent resource in the possible development of statewide guidelines, standards or regulations for the safety of playground equipment. Primary Manufacturers of Playground Equipment National standards exist on the federal level and from testing agencies. During the fall of 1991, the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission will be establishing revised playground safety guidelines, based on research presented in the COMSIS Corporation report, "Development of Human Factors Criteria for Playground Equipment Safety." The American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) has set several technical standards for properties of materials used in the construction of playground equipment and resilient surfaces. School Division Recommendations Concerning Statewide Standards A review of the results from the surveys to elementary schools and school divisions indicated that the majority of those responding feel there is a need for uniform, research-based standards to ensure the safety of school playgrounds and equipment; the age-appropriateness of such equipment; and/or the repair and replacement of broken and obsolete equipment. Implications of Day Care Licensing Requirements A revision of the minimum standards for licensed child care centers, before and after school child care programs, and child day care camps serving school age children was called for in House Bill 1035, which was passed by the 1990 General Assembly. Revisions resulting from this bill potentially have implications for public school facilities used for before and after school child care programs. Study Team Recommendations The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a need for statewide standards to ensure the safety of school playgrounds. Therefore, on the basis of all the information reviewed, the project team has these recommendations: • Playground safety information packets should be produced and disseminated to all elementary schools. These packets should include the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's video and standards. • State guidelines, standards or regulations should be established. These guidelines should be based on the playground safety standards under development by the USCPSC. These standards are scheduled to be released during the fall of 1991. The standards also should correlate with the Department of Social Services standards established for licensing day care and before and after school program facilities. • Any standards, guidelines or regulations should include recommendations for establishing separate play areas, with appropriate playground equipment, for the various age groups that are housed at each school. • Standard reporting forms and procedures for collecting information concerning playground injuries should be developed. This would provide accurate data regarding the extent of injuries on public school playgrounds. • If state guidelines, standards, or regulations are established, financial assistance should be made available to school divisions in order to aid them in achieving compliance with the regulations, thereby reducing the risk of serious injury to Virginia school children. |
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