Is the frequency of public playground injuries on the rise?

by
Ken Kutska
Wheaton Park District

According to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), in 1977, 93,000 playground-related injuries required hospital emergency room treatment.

In the just released 1990 Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) publication, using the results of a 1988 NEISS-based special study, the adjusted estimate of playground equipment-related injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms in 1988 was 170,200. Of these, we estimate that 119,600 involved equipment designed for public use and 41,000 involved equipment designed for home use.

The CPSC report examines public and home playground equipment-related injuries and deaths. It was prepared as part of the Commission's Fiscal Year 1990 activities to address playground equipment-related safety hazards. Ninety-five percent of these accidents happen to children 12 years of age or younger. Seventy-five percent were under the age of 9 and 33 percent were under the age of 6.

For both public and home playground equipment, falls to the ground below the equipment accounted for about 60 percent of all injuries reported. For public playground equipment, falls to the ground from climbers were the most frequently reported, about 23 percent, or all causes of injury. Falls from swings were involved in about 16 percent of all injuries; from slides, about 13 percent; and from other equipment, about 5 percent.

Eighty-nine percent of the falls to the ground were from under 8 feet; 66 percent were from under 6 feet; and 26 percent were from under 4 feet. Using diagnosis as an indicator of the severity of injury, about nine out of 10 of the serious injuries associated with both public and home playground equipment resulted from falls to the ground. Fractures were the most commonly reported injury.

For both public and home equipment, the arm and hand areas, followed by the head and face areas, were the portions of the body most frequently involved in injuries resulting from falls. The majority of injuries involving the arm and hand were fractures. The majority of injuries involving the head and face were lacerations, contusions and internal injuries.

Falls from public playground equipment tended to be from greater heights than falls from home equipment. For both public and home equipment, falls from climbers tended to be from greater heights than falls from other types of equipment. The data suggested that natural and paved surfaces were involved in a larger proportion of injuries from falls to the ground. Protective surfaces may have reduced the frequency as well as severity of injuries reported.

Head injuries were involved in about 75 percent of all fall-related deaths associated with playground equipment as reported to CPSC from 1973 to September 1989.

Who is responsible for developing safe equipment?

Developing a safe playground is everyone's responsibility. Injuries in the public playground appear to be on the rise as documented by the CPSC report, but where can a public entity focus its attention in an effort to make playgrounds safer?

We know that falls to the ground account for 60 percent of all playground reported injuries. Assuming that your agency has satisfactorily addressed playground safety surfacing, proper maintenance techniques and playground supervision should be the next concern.

The risk managers and claims investigators for Landscape Structures, Inc. evaluated a 5-year history of claims involving their equipment. Their analysis indicated a trend in reduction of accidents associated with equipment design and product failure while there was an increase in incidents associated with maintenance practices of the operator. The breakdown of incidents associated with this 5-year history was that 5 percent related to site planning, 10 percent to installation, 14 percent to equipment design and product failure, 28 percent to maintenance, and 45 percent to misuse or lack of supervision.

Many of these accidents could have been prevented, but it will take a team effort of those involved to help with prevention. The quality of products and services should be the main determining factor in the playground equipment selection process, not just the lowest bid. Choosing the lowest bid is the logical thing to do when the materials are the same and the labor is performed under strict supervision by a trained professional. The installation of playground equipment does not always follow these characteristics, however. Adequate manufacturer support services and installation training will become an area of great importance to assure the success of developing a safe playground.

The user is the one at risk. User and consumer education will become increasingly important. They must play reasonably and know their limitations. They must follow instructions and be accompanied by a responsible adult. The public also has the responsibility to contact the playground owner if they feel a hazard exists on the playground. The playground was installed for their use and enjoyment.

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The site planner is responsible for the selection of age/site appropriate equipment and resilient surfacing including proper spacial relationships between and around the site amenities and equipment. The site planner is responsible for many other factors affecting playground safety, but, generally speaking, no single play structure can adequately provide a safe play experience for children of all ages. Most public play areas will require two or more separate structures if this is your goal.

The manufacturer must provide safe equipment that conforms to all safety standards and guidelines including clear and concise installations and maintenance instructions. Everyone should require adequate product liability insurance coverage to guarantee their proper performance. The contracted installer is responsible for the installation of the equipment according to the manufacturer's recommendations and must also provide insurance to guarantee his work. Those responsible for maintenance must develop a preventative maintenance program. The maintenance should conform to manufacturer's recommendations. This area of manufacturer's clear and concise maintenance guidelines will become another area purchase consideration in the very near future.

Careful records of inspections and repairs must be kept and the development of a good training program for these maintenance personnel will have to be developed. A good program must be supported and must be adequately funded. The owner must be informed because he has the ultimate responsibility to sec that each party has and will continue to perform according to expectations. The development of a safe, yet challenging, play experience for children with the least amount of risk can only be achieved through a team effort. The participants should be selected for their expertise and not because they were the lowest bidder.

What have you done lately to make your playground safer? Have you removed any unsafe or broken equipment? Have you added more surfacing materials? Have you purchased any new equipment? Have you done any employee training for those who install, repair and inspect your playgrounds? Have you put your playground files and inspection forms in order?

What should I do first to make my playgrounds safer? You have made the first step by addressing the subject. Before you do anything, open a file and begin to document your efforts. It is recommended that everyone complete an audit of each of your playgrounds as it complies to the current CPSC guidelines.

There are many checklists to help you through this process. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Playground Safety Checklist is highly recommended.

Once this step is completed, it need not be repeated until one modifies the play area or the CPSC Playground Safety Guidelines. Each playground audit should be reviewed and any deficiencies noted. Once this step is completed for all sites, your agency should create a plan for corrective action based on your agency's resources.

About the Author
Ken Kutska is Superintendent of Parks and Planning/or Wheaton Park District. He is the author of Comprehensive Public Playground Safety Program.