Summer vacation is just around the corner for some, and for others, it has already arrived. With this in mind, it’s time to make sure that our playground areas are in tip-top shape. Please take a few minutes to thoroughly inspect each of your play areas to make sure there is adequate cushioning material, and to make sure all play structures are safe.
When inspecting your play equipment, please check for loose bolts and loose or defective chains. Also, make sure that boards or play surfaces are secure, and check for sharp edges or rusty hardware. A good coat of paint may also be needed. Every piece of the play equipment should be solid, so if you find anything defective or broken, please repair or replace the part immediately.
Please also make sure you have an adequate amount of the proper cushioning material at your play areas. A few of you have specialized product, such as rubber material, but the majority of you should have hemlock shavings for cushioning. This helps reduce the potential for injury in the case that someone falls while on the play structure or swings. Optimally, you should have 12” of shavings under any play structure or swing set. This will have to be regularly raked back into place, as normal activities, such as using the swings, or jumping off play structures, tends to push the cushioning material away from where it’s needed.
A good way to make sure you always have enough cushioning material is to make a mark with paint or even a sharpie pen on the post of the play structure or swing set exactly 12” up from the ground. Then, all you need to do is make sure that the shavings are always raked up to the mark.
If you find that you don’t have enough cushioning material under your play structures, please contact your property supervisor and discuss having a vendor deliver some hemlock shavings (or another specialty material, if you already have it) to the play area. Also, if you have sand under a play structure or swing set, please contact your property supervisor, and discuss having this replaced with hemlock shavings. Sand doesn’t provide much cushioning in the event of a fall.
These simple steps can help provide a safer play area for those who use them.
Please contact your regional maintenance supervisor if you have any questions or concerns.