Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions concerning the safety of playgrounds and recreational sports areas, liabilities, certification, and more. The answers provided are typical of what you can expect from Safe to Play training seminars, as well as the contents of our book – Safe to Play.
Frequently asked questions
Impact area – what is it?
Impact area is the ground under and around equipment requiring impact attenuation such as timber, grass, sand, gravel or
Falling height – what is it?
Falling height is a technical value used to determined the proper impact attenuation for the impact area. Basic rules for determining
Impact attenuation – is it always needed?
No. When there’s no forced movement and the falling height is less than 60 cm, an impact area may be hard, such as paving (note:
Accidents – will they occur?
Yes, they do occur. This might feel bad, but it’s a reality. Considering that children are in the process of developing their motor skills and
Liability for safety – who bears it?
Overall responsibility lies upon the service provider, be it the municipality, housing company, or privately owned company. There must be
Shelters – must they fulfill safety requirements?
No, but they must not be dangerous either. A shelter could be considered to be a public service, but their safety isn’t assessed using
Small play areas – must they be inspected annually?
Of course! Another question is what’s inspected and by whom. If there’s only a sand box and a swing, it’s relatively simple task to
Read more Small play areas – must they be inspected annually?
Private trampoline in a public space – can someone donate?
No. Trampolines, in general, are not meant for public spaces, which includes a housing company’s yard. Private-use trampolines usually have
Read more Private trampoline in a public space – can someone donate?
Making own equipment – is it allowed?
Yes, but then the maker assumes responsibility for the safety of the equipment for its entire lifespan. The proper construction of equipment
A tongue frozen to metal – who is liable?
Nobody. It seems that everyone has done this once. Some do it twice. This problem seems to occur most commonly at daycare centers in Northern
Installing of play equipment – can I do it on my own?
Yes, however, some aspects should be taken into consideration. Proper installation is more challenging than it may first seem. Warranties usually
Read more Installing of play equipment – can I do it on my own?
Swings on grass – can it be installed there?
Yes and no… No: the impact attenuation of grass is normally considered to be 100 cm. Swings typically have falling height of
Accidents in daycare centers – is the manufacturer liable?
There are many more children in a daycare center’s yard than in a normal, public park. Children there are well acquainted with
Read more Accidents in daycare centers – is the manufacturer liable?
Frozen impact area – does it matter?
Not really. When winter comes, surfaces everywhere tend to harden and become slippery, requiring more for careful movement. Impact on frozen surfaces
Safety sand has completely hardened – what to do?
Hard surfaces tend to begin at a depth of 20 cm. As time progresses, looser layers become thinner and thinner. Before sand’s ability to
Non-complying exercise equipment – what to do with?
The current situation with pre-2015 installed exercise equipment is similar to what occurred in 1999 with playground equipment, when
Read more Non-complying exercise equipment – what to do with?
Spare-parts – should only original ones be used?
No, but for parts that are self-made, the repairer bears the manufacturer’s responsibility. Hence, the repairer must know the safety
Impregnated timber – can play equipment be manufactured from it?
Of course. The impregnation process must not contain chromium or arsenic, but copper that is a common reagent in green colored impregnation, is
Read more Impregnated timber – can play equipment be manufactured from it?
Different surfacings – What is the best?
Different materials have different properties. None of them is the best in all aspects. When considering impact attenuation, the best are
Certification – is it mandatory?
Most often it is not, unless required by the order. However, it has irrefutable benefit in proving and keeping up with your own
Certification – What’s the benefit from it?
Certification is an impartial and trustworthy process of ensuring the competence of the person. This can help new professionals to enter the
Safety inspections – who is allowed to conduct them?
Every person must be competent in what he or she does and different levels of inspections demand very different levels of competence.
Read more Safety inspections – who is allowed to conduct them?
Inspection of playgrounds – how to conduct them?
Visual and operational inspections are carried out according to a checklist that has been prepared by a competent person according to
Post-installation inspection – who is allowed to carry it out?
In general, everyone must be competent when completing their tasks – no matter what they are. In this case, it means knowing standards
Read more Post-installation inspection – who is allowed to carry it out?
If an accident occurs – what is the inspector’s liability?
It’s very likely that accidents will occur on the equipment which may have been inspected shortly before. Accidents aren’t necessarily anyone’s
Read more If an accident occurs – what is the inspector’s liability?