TABLE 1.
Playground safety score items and proportion of sites meeting safety standard for each
| Type of play equipment | % of playgrounds meeting safety standard for item | Item used in construction or maintenance safety score |
|---|---|---|
| Climbers (n = 100) | ||
| 6-ft fall zone | 92 | Construction |
| Appropriate surfacing | 66 | Maintenance |
| Free of debris (n = 37) | 65 | Maintenance |
| Height of climber <6 feet | 34 | Construction/maintenance |
| Free of rust (n = 99) | 72 | Maintenance |
| Free of trip hazards | 64 | Maintenance |
| Free of cracks/holes | 65 | Maintenance |
| Free of entrapments | 93 | Construction |
| Free of broken/missing parts | 69 | Maintenance |
| Free of peeling/chipping paint | 61 | Maintenance |
| Free of snag hazards | 77 | Construction |
| Swings (n = 57) | ||
| Appropriate fall zone | 47 | Construction |
| Appropriate surfacing | 30 | Maintenance |
| Free of debris (n = 42) | 57 | Maintenance |
| Appropriate swing material | 100 | Construction |
| Appropriate swings per bay | 86 | Construction |
| No mixed-age use | 93 | Construction |
| Appropriate distance between swings | 51 | Construction |
| Appropriate distance from supports | 93 | Construction |
| Other equipment | ||
| Sprinkler free of hazards (n = 17) | 76 | Maintenance |
| Sandbox free of hazards (n = 0) | NA | Maintenance |
| Supervision | ||
| Locking, secure gates | 11 | Construction |
| Adult present with child (n = 24) | 83 | NA - Supervision |
| Children in view on equipment | 84 | Construction |
| Children in view in crawlspace (n = 35) | 89 | Construction |