A playground audit is a comprehensive examination of a playground. The purpose of an audit is to review a playground for compliance with current Australian Standards.
A detailed audit comprises of some of the following inspection requirements and risk assessments.
Play Equipment – General
1
Equipment Installation –installed as per manufacturers recommendations and/or as per Australian Standards?
2
Maximum heights – no greater than: Supervised early childhood – 1800mm? Other settings – 3000mm? Upper body equipment (Other) 2200mm? Climbing – 3000mm foot support to surface below? 4000m minus 1000m hand support to surface below?
3
Fall zone requirements – compliant with Australian Standard?
4
Free Space – is provided with no overlapping of spaces? Standing – 1000mm radius & 1800 height? Sitting – 1000mm radius & 1500 height? Hanging 500mm radius & 300mm above & 1800 below hanging grip position?
5
Handrails – single or two hand rails are provided on appropriate access ways – ramps, stairways, ladders (except rung ladders) and bridges. Height to top of rail 600mm-900mm above foot support?
6
Storage (SEC, halls etc)– portable items locked away when is not in use?
7
Grip requirements – between 16 mm and 45 mm diameter?
8
Grasp requirements – <60mm?
9
Entrapment (head/completely bound openings) – no accessible complete bound openings between 89mm, 130mm and 230 mm to prevent head/ neck entrapment (use probes) or entrapment of clothing/body accessible position above 600mm?
10
Entrapment (head & neck/partially bound openings)- no partially bound entrapments accessible position above 600mm?
11
Entrapment (clothing/toggle) – no entrapment of clothing/body when getting off equipment? (use toggle)
12
Entrapment (fingers 8mm & 25mm) – general equipment – no finger entrapments accessible position above 1000mm?
13
Entrapment (fingers 8.6mm) – chains – no finger entrapments accessible in chains.
14
Entrapment (fingers 8.6mm & 12mm) – chain connectors/junctions – no finger entrapments accessible between ≥8.6mm – <12mm?
15
Are there any trip hazards?
16
Soft-fall areas – loose-fill minimum depth of 30cm with suitable stable edges, free from plants/roots, debris, foreign objects and checked daily for hazards?
17
Protruding parts -are rust, bolt ends, nuts, sharps or loose fittings eliminated, rounded, recessed or covered with protective caps, and no sharps, as per AS?
18
Timber fittings and joints secure, free from excess warping and splinters and
19
Protective paint, covering – in good condition?
20
Plastic & fibreglass – free of cracks, damage or wear?
21
Equipment/components – is all equipment/components present, secure and maintained?
22
Tyres – free from exposed wires, and have effective drain holes, pest free?
23
Crushing or shearing points eliminated between all parts of the equipment?
24
Buffers/stoppers – present and in good condition?
25
Vandalism & graffiti – free?
Swings
26
Swing seats – are of the impact absorbing type e.g. rubberised?
27
Swing chains – compliant with AS4685 when tested with finger probes?
28
If toddler seats are present do they have means of restraint? Is the restraint in good working order?
29
Seat ground clearance – is at least 350mm? SEC 300mm? Tyre seat (types 1, 2 & 3 swing) 400mm? Contact Type 5 tyre seat min 100mm?
30
Type 3 (basket) is there a secondary means of attachment if primary joint collapses ?
31
Are all swing seats free damage and in good condition?
32
Fall zone & Soft-fall is provided? In the swing extension h 2 x 0.867 = plus: Supervised early childhood 1750mm – 2250mm? Other than supervised early childhood 1750mm rubber / synthetic & 2250mm loose
Slides
33
Is the slide in good condition with no cracks or fiberglass protruding through surface or imminent danger?
34
Toggle Test – Does the toggle pass the test when set at 200mm from edge of slide?
35
For any slides that are not embankment slides with fall height above 1m. Is a crossbar present?
36
Do tunnel slides comply with minimum internal dimensional width of 750mm?
37
Is the soft fall compliant and in good condition around slide? (Optimal 300mm or rubber)
38
Is slide guarding present for any slides above 2000mm?
39
Fall zone requirements – comply with the AS? Starting – FHOF – apply table (radius) Sliding – @600mm high 1500mm radius Run-out – Type 1 =2000mm, Type 2 = 1000mm beyond r/out, 1000mm to sides.
See Saws and Rocking Equipment
40
Springs/bearings & moving parts – working & condition?
41
Ground clearance – min of 230mm
42
Fall zone – min of 1000mm (types 1-4) Types 5 & 6 as per manufacturer’s instructions
43
Hand supports must be present and between 16-45mm diameter
44
Hand/foot holds – do not turn/move without use of tool?
Rotating Equipment
45
Maximum fall height – 1000mm?
46
Is the equipment in good condition with no visual damage or excess wear?
47
Fall zone – min 2000mm from outside edge of equipment. Giant revolving disc 3000mm?
Nature Play
48
Are all timbers in good condition?
49
Are there any timber, ropes, nuts, bolts or screws missing?
50
Are any timber elements in need of replacing?
51
Do any timber areas need treatment, sanding, or oil/sealers?
52
Are there any finger entrapments?
53
Are any areas showing cracks, splinters or breakage?
Track/Cable Ride
54
Track Ride – present and in good condition?
55
Are stoppers present and in good condition?
56
Do landing decks have radius on platforms of no less than 25mm on the leading edge, or shall have impact attenuating properties that do not introduce a trip hazard?
Zip Lines
57
Is there 2m of soft fall at end and sides of zip line/s after the 45 degree angle of seat?
58
Is the seat minimum of 400mm from ground level?
59
Is rider freely able to exit seat while in motion?
60
Is there optimal lose impact – attenuating material of 300mm or more?
61
Is cable and bumpers is good condition?
Music Items
62
Are the musical items in good working order?
63
Are there any parts missing?
Tree Shade and Shade Structures
64
Trees overhanging equipment Visually in good health?2.5m clear of equipmentFree from noticeable pests (bees, wasps etc)?
65
Shade structure free from rips, tears, holes etc?
66
Is the shade structure 2.5m clear of the play equipment?
Surrounds
Playground edging secure and maintained?
Trees/Shrubs –grounds free of dead trees/branches. Branches lopped to a reasonable height to allow safe access around base for users?
Fences and gates – in good condition, checked for hazards and appropriately maintained, self-closing & latches working?
Landscaping – stable and free from obvious hazards?
Pathways – slip free and adequately drained at all times?
Drains – adequately covered with grates?
Sports areas – are all surfaces in good condition, and maintained?
Is the grass mowed and trees maintained?
Collision hazards – sprinklers, tap risers etc clearly marked and in good condition?
Plants – have all plants been assessed to determine hazardous plant species?
Amenities
Toilets – all facilities kept tidy, accessible & regularly cleaned?
Drinking water/fountains– facilities accessible and clean?
Seating – in good ergonomic working order and maintained?
Rubbish bins – are they regularly emptied and cleaned?
First aid training – do staff have current first aid certificate (valid for 2 years)? Is there a current list of First Aiders displayed? Staff PD available?
Some of the faults or non-compliances identified are relatively easy and inexpensive to rectify. Others however, may involve considerable expense and effort and may not be able to be carried out in the short term. In such cases consideration should be given to the removal or isolation of the item from use. Some pieces of equipment, depending on the number and nature of the faults, may be uneconomical to repair or modify and consideration should be given to their removal or isolation from use in the short term, with view to their replacement in the longer term. Pieces of equipment which have many faults and non- compliances and are dangerous should be removed as soon as possible, regardless of whether a replacement is planned. All repairs or modifications carried out on play equipment should only be completed by suitably qualified and experienced personnel who have a good understanding of the Australian Standards for Playgrounds. All equipment and spare parts should only be purchased from recognised commercial playground manufacturers and suppliers to ensure that they also meet the
requirements of the Standards.
