Does play equipment conform to the Canadian standard?

ABSTRACT

In the summer of 1991, play equipment in 254 playgrounds located on the island of Montreal were inspected, using a checklist made up of items drawn from the Canadian standard for the safety of children's playspaces and equipment. The results of the study, covering 605 climbers, 522 swings and 181 slides, made it possible to identify the most and least respected aspect of safety. For example, one out of two pieces of play equipment was installed on a protective surface that did not conform to the Canadian standard; seven out of ten swings had seats made of non-impact-absorbing materials; and six out of ten pieces of equipment had head entrapment openings. Knowing the physical shortcomings of play equipment is an important step in reducing injuries sustained on it. However, to be effective, the prevention of injuries related to play equipment requires a concerted effort on the part of several partners.