Citation

Martin J, Cooper CD. J. Paediatr. Child Health 2005; 41(11): 587-591.

Affiliation

The Children's Hospital at Westmead, New South Wales, Australia. janem3@chw.edu.au

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1440-1754.2005.00727.x

PMID

16398844

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Recognition of the cost of injuries sustained in playgrounds has led to the development of Australian/New Zealand Standards for playground safety. This study assesses compliance of public playgrounds in South Western Sydney with the current Standards. METHODS: Playgrounds in South Western Sydney were randomly audited for compliance with Australian/New Zealand Standards for playground equipment pertaining to fall height, type of undersurface material, adequacy of maintenance of undersurface materials and adequacy of the safe fall zone. Comparisons were made with an audit of playgrounds in New South Wales undertaken in 1995 by Kidsafe. RESULTS: Of the 257 pieces of equipment from 87 playgrounds audited, only three (3.4%) playgrounds and 65 (25.3%) pieces of equipment complied with all criteria assessed. Compared with the 1995 study, there has been a significant improvement in equipment complying with height standards (84.4% vs 72.2%, P < 0.0001) and appropriate undersurface material (66.8% vs 45.4%, P < 0.0001). Pinebark is now the most common appropriate undersurface material used but is poorly maintained, particularly in high-traffic areas. Of 131 pieces of equipment with an appropriate undersurface material, only 38 (29%) had an adequate safe fall zone. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in playground safety have occurred; however, very few playgrounds meet the Australian/New Zealand Standards. Compliance with Standards pertaining to maintenance of undersurface materials and safe fall zone is poor. Mechanisms need to be developed to support councils in the upgrading and maintenance of existing playgrounds.