Playgrounds
‘Sustainability’ is the definition of preserving, conserving, and updating children’s playground equipment with cost effective decisions. Community Resource Advocates is designed to assist board members to research “best known practices” and to offer solutions for sustainable options. CRA (Community Resource Advocates) is not recommending, suggesting, or promoting any specific contractor. CRA only shares professional advice that is promoted as ‘sustainable’ for the health and welfare of the communities’ assets.
Inadequate maintenance on playground equipment can lead to severe injuries. Approximately 28% of all playground injuries are caused by inadequate or improper maintenance according to the safety playground manual curated for Maricopa County Districts”
In case of injury the courts expect a regular program of preventative maintenance. Therefore, CRA suggests that the person or committee responsible for playground safety develop and keep detailed records on a Playground Maintenance Program.
Playground Equipment Maintenance Checklist
A maintenance schedule for the playground equipment should include detailed audits performed at least once a year. General maintenance inspections should be performed more frequently giving detailed attention to moving parts and other components that can be expected to wear. Some manufacturers supply these checklists for both general maintenance and detailed audits with their maintenance instructions but in most HOAs these instructions are long lost.
In general, if a piece of equipment is repaired after an injury occurs, the repair itself cannot be used to prove negligence. Therefore, any hazard that contributed toward a playground injury should be repaired. Further legal protection is obtained if such measures are a part of an on-going maintenance evaluation process. Repairs must be performed correctly according to manufacturer’s specifications so hiring any professional must have the credentials to repair.
In addition to inspections, if sand is located around the equipment, it is often used as cat litter and should be raked out weekly with gypsum applied and raked in to neutralize the mineral salts in pet urine.
Sustainable practices will consist of ‘preventable policies.’ Community Resource Advocates will educate on preventable actions as well as assisting in creating a sustainable program for your playground equipment in your community.