Safety Warnings

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12. Check the openings between rollers and sliding surfaces of roller slides for foreign materials that could be
potentially hazardous to users.
13. Make sure that all suspended climbing ropes, chains, or cables are secured at both ends.
14. Make sure that all suspended climbing ropes, chains, or cables cannot be looped back on itself.
15. Do not allow others to attach items to playground equipment that are not specifically designed for use with the
equipment, such as, but not limited to, jump ropes, clotheslines, pet leashes, cables and chains as they may cause
a strangulation hazard.
16. Users need to remove their bike or other sports helmet before playing on the playground equipment.
17. Users need to be dressed in well-fitting and full foot enclosing footwear. Examples of inappropriate footwear are
clogs, flip flops, and sandals.
18. WARNING: Lawn swings are designed for use by children two years of age and older. The use by children
under the age of two can result in entrapment between the seat and back rest because the child’s body may pass
through the opening, causing entrapment of the child’s head. Such entrapment may result in strangulation.
NEVER place children in a rearward facing position or with legs between the seat and backrest.
IMPORTANT: UNITED STATES CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY
COMMISSION’S (USCPSC) Outdoor Home Playground Safety Guidelines:
One of the most important things you can do to reduce the likelihood of serious head injuries
is to install shock-absorbing protective surfacing under and around your play equipment.
The protective surfacing should be applied to a depth that is suitable for the equipment height
in accordance with ASTM Specification F1292. There are different types of surfacing to
choose from; whichever product you select, follow these guidelines:
1. Loose-Fill Materials:
a. Maintain a minimum depth of 9 inches of loose-fill materials such as wood
mulch/chips, engineered wood fiber (EWF), or shredded/recycled rubber mulch
for equipment up to 8 feet high; and 9 inches of sand or pea gravel for equipment
up to 5 feet high. NOTE: An initial fill level of 12 inches will compress to about
a 9-inch depth of surfacing over time. The surfacing will also compact, displace,
and settle, and should be periodically refilled to maintain at least a 9-inch depth.
b. Use a minimum of 6 inches of protective surfacing for play equipment less than
4 feet in height. If maintained properly, this should be adequate. (At depths
less than 6 inches, the protective material is too easily displaced or compacted.)
NOTE: Do not install home playground equipment over concrete, asphalt, or
any other hard surface. A fall onto a hard surface can result in serious injury to
the equipment user. Grass and dirt are not considered protective surfacing
because wear and environmental factors can reduce their shock absorbing
effectiveness. Carpeting and thin mats are generally not adequate protective
surfacing. Ground level equipment – such as a sandbox, activity wall,
playhouse or other equipment that has no elevated play surface – does not need
any protective surfacing.
c. Use containment, such as digging out around the perimeter and/or lining the
perimeter with landscape edging. Don’t forget to account for water drainage.