Public Playground Safety Handbook
Programs:
24/7 Centers, Child Development Center, School Age Care
Resource Type:
Operating Procedure
Published:
08/26
CPSC created its playground safety guidelines as a detailed working blueprint to help local communities, schools, day care centers, corporations, and other groups build safe playgrounds. This handbook includes technical safety guidelines for designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining public playgrounds.
Table of Contents
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Structure Bookmarks
- 1. INTRODUCTION
- 1.1 Scope
- 1.2 Intended Audience
- 1.3 What is a Public Playground?
- 1.4 Public Playground Safety Voluntary Standards and CPSC Handbook History
- 1.5 Significant Revisions from 2010 to Present
- 1.6 Background
- 1.7 Playground Injuries
- 1.8 Definitions
- 2. GENERAL PLAYGROUND CONSIDERATIONS
- 2.1 Selecting a Site
- 2.2 Playground Layout
- 2.3 Selecting Equipment
- 2.4 Surfacing
- 2.5 Equipment Materials
- 2.6 Assembly and Installation
- 3. PLAYGROUND HAZARDS
- 3.1 Crush and Shearing Points
- 3.2 Entanglement and Impalement
- 3.3 Entrapment
- 3.4 Sharp Points, Corners, and Edges
- 3.5 Suspended Hazards
- 3.6 Tripping Hazards
- 3.7 Used Tires
- 3.8 Overhead Obstructions
- 4. MAINTAINING A PLAYGROUND
- 4.1 Maintenance Inspections
- 4.2 Repairs
- 4.3 Maintaining Loose-Fill Surfacing
- 4.4 Recordkeeping
- 5. PARTS OF THE PLAYGROUND
- 5.1 Platforms, Guardrails and Protective Barriers
- 5.2 Access Methods to Play Equipment
- 5.3 Major Types of Playground Equipment
- APPENDIX A: SUGGESTED GENERAL MAINTENANCE CHECKLISTS
- APPENDIX B: PLAYGROUND TESTING
- B.1 Templates, Gauges, and Testing Tools
- B.2 Test Methods