Playground equipment, be it situated in a park, school or childcare centre is a valuable asset, both from a monetary and
experience points of view.
Playground Inspections are an important part of maintaining your play areas. Safety Inspections are designed to bring to your
attention items that are or are most likely to develop into unsafe or unhealthy conditions because of stress, wear, impact,
vibration, heat, corrosion or misuse. Playground safety inspections need to be on-going, as well as, periodic, with effective
maintenance corrective action taken.
You can benefit from a structured Playground Inspection Program in that it can help you to:
✓ Comply with your duty of care obligations
✓ Reduce potential playground injuries
✓ More efficiently budget maintenance
✓ Reduce your exposure to litigation in case of an accident.
Types of Playground Safety Inspections
Playgrounds and play equipment can cause very serious injuries if they are not maintained in a safe condition.
Playground Safety Inspections are an important part of your responsibility of maintenance.
We recommend the following 3 Levels of Safety Inspection Programs:
Level 1: Visual
This is a visual inspection and should be conducted weekly, monthly or as required to detect hazards and identifies obvious hazards that may be due to adverse weather, vandalism or wear and tear.
Using tools developed in house, we offer a routine inspection service, tailored to your needs.
Level 2: Maintenance
This inspection is additional to a routine inspection and should be conducted on a quarterly basis and must include all aspects of a children’s playground.
It involves the assessment of the equipment performance.
It involves the identification of risks and hazards, starting from the path leading into the playground to the shade that covers the play equipment. It deals with the assessment of the play equipment performance as well as the playground surfaces.
We inspect each component in a methodical manner, identifying and recording issues. These include but are not limited to wear and tear, vandalism or damage.
A written report is generated. From this report, the operator or owner of the playground will be able to determine the issues that require urgent attention through to those which are categorised as minor and can be handled at a later date. The risk ratings are based on the International Standard ISO3100.
Owners and their staff may undertake their own regular inspections. However, it is of benefit to have an independent experienced inspector look over your playground in case something is overlooked.
The inspection will assess:
• The stability of equipment
• Operational functionality level of equipment
• Condition of components for wear
• Vandalism
Level 3: Safety and Compliance
This is an annual inspection where the playground is assessed against the relevant current Australian Standards to determine compliance.
It is an essential requirement for all new installations
– see Post Installation Inspections.
An annual comprehensive inspection not only include Levels 1 and 2 above but also examines the overall safety and condition of the play equipment, its foundations and the condition and impact properties of the playground surfaces.
A detailed report is provided that includes risk benefit assessments [in accordance with ISO 31000] that have been assessed on all non-conformances and safety hazards which have been identified.
The annual inspection ensures the safety and compliance of play spaces which may experience wear and tear over time, accompanied by a detailed report of the compliance issues.
Pre-installation advice includes, but is not limited to, the review of playground equipment and surfacing as per Australian Standards:
• Appropriate fall zones and impact areas
• Certification of playground surface by installers [i.e. quality, zones and impact attenuation properties]
• Positioning of the play equipment and ancillary items such as trees and garden beds
• Review of potential entrapment issues [i.e. head, neck, finger, etc]
• Finished level of surfacing markers
• Trip free interfacing of surfaces
• Assessment of entrances and exits, fencing and other adjacent spaces
• Review of handrails and guardrails
A post-installation comprehensive inspection is provided to verify that the play space is ready for use and that the equipment supplied and installed conforms with the current Australian Standards for playgrounds.
This is a complete comprehensive inspection examining the quality of the installation, verification of the required safety areas and the overall construction of the playground asset.
It is generally performed prior to playground completion and may include inspections during the construction phase to anticipate any safety issues that may arise that were not anticipated during the planning and design phase.
A written report is provided which includes recommendations for rectifying non-conformances and making repairs. Each identified non-conformance is risk assessed according to ISO 31000.
Get In Touch For Inspection Services
Whether you need routine, operational, or comprehensive inspections, The Playground Inspector is ready to assist. Our expert team is dedicated to ensuring your playground remains safe and compliant with national standards. Contact us to discuss your specific requirements and schedule an inspection tailored to your needs.
Impact surface testing is executed in accordance with the testing processes detailed in Australian Standards – AS/NZS4422 and specified by Department of Education and Communities requirements. Common impact attenuation surfaces include wet pour rubber, synthetic grass, bark chip, sand and even well-maintained natural turf.
By Australian Standards, play equipment with a fall height greater than 600mm must have a certified impact attenuation surface installed to help prevent head and neck injuries when a playground user falls from play equipment onto the surface below. Long bone injuries can still occur. Forced movement play equipment, such as a slide, swing, rocker, seesaw or carousel will require an impact attenuation surface, regardless of the height of the equipment above the surface.
The unitary surfaces of rubber and synthetic grass should be tested from their installation date and then on a three [3] yearly basis to ensure the surface is maintaining its impact performance properties [as recommended by the Australian Standards].
Using the latest technology, a calibrated Platinum Wireless Value HIC Impact device, a surface impact test or drop test is conducted on the playground surface to determine its critical fall height rating. This critical fall height must be equal to or greater than the free height of fall of the equipment. This test measures the shock absorbing properties of a surface. The device is dropped onto the surface, and it records the force of impact and the time of deceleration.
Loose fill [bark mulch or sand] playground surfaces do not require regular impact testing if the previously certified material and its volume is determined to meet the requirements of the Australian Standards, and the material depth is maintained above 200 mm.
Having an uncertified playground surface not meeting the requirements as specified in AS4422 can result in any of the following:
✓ an increase in user injuries,
✓ more severe injuries,
✓ may expose the playground operator/owner to litigation.
Testimonials Proven Safety Record
Our clients consistently trust The Playground Inspector for our dedication to safety and precision in soft fall testing. Feedback from our valued clients highlights the significant impact our services have had on enhancing the safety of their playgrounds, ensuring compliance with Australian Standards, and providing peace of mind.
Get in Touch for Soft Fall Testing
Ensuring your playground meets safety standards is a critical responsibility, and The Playground Inspector is here to assist. If you have questions or need to schedule our comprehensive soft fall testing service, we invite you to contact us. Our team is ready to provide the support and information you need to maintain a safe and compliant playground environment.