Childcare Facility Playground Safety Assessment Report Analysis

This report presents an assessment of a commercial childcare facility's playground, focusing on potential risks to children's safety. The analysis examines various aspects, including the surfacing under and around equipment, the presence of foreign objects, and the depth of loose-fill materials. It also evaluates general hazards such as sharp points, uncovered pipe ends, and entanglement risks. The report further considers equipment deterioration, the security of hardware, and the adequacy of drainage. The playground's general upkeep, including cleanliness and the presence of litter, is also evaluated. The assessment concludes that the playground meets safety standards to a certain extent but identifies areas needing improvement, such as addressing the uncovered pipe ends and ensuring proper drainage. The report references relevant literature, and emphasizes the practical application of safety knowledge.

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Risks to Children’s Safety
Student’s Name
College
Date

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Introduction
The playground of interest is the commercial childcare facility, found alongside the major
highway. I carried out the assessment at 3pm, on 10th Monday.
Surfacing
The equipment in the commercial children facility had significantly adequate protective
surfacing around it. The equipment had a rubber protection especially under and around the
equipment. As the analysis went on, it was difficult to identify whether the surfacing material
were free from debris and the foreign objects. The equipment especially those that were meant to
be used for playing, were covered and it would be hard to identify whether they had any
meaningful foreign objects or the debris although the probability was very high that there were
some debris. The equipment like the swings were evidently having sufficient depth especially
those that were in heavy use areas. Similarly, to the text chapter seven, the commercial facility
recognized that it is essential to provide suitable surfaces that would represent the good practice
especially for the equipment that appeared new.
General hazards
All the equipment had no noticeable dangerous corners, sharp points or edges because the
facility appeared to have almost all the equipment which won my trust for their positive side. On
the contrary, almost all the pipe ends identifiable were not covered with protective plugs. In
almost every equipment, there was no protrusion and projections like bars and bolts except for
one or two especially those that were constantly touching the ground. In almost all equipment,
there were no recognizable clothe entanglement that would cause danger and havoc to children
playing in the playground. Out of all equipment, there was one that appeared to have some crush

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and sheering especially because of the constant friction with the shoes from the playing children.
However, it is important to note that generally, there were no exposed moving parts. Most of all,
it is acknowledgeable that the area was free from any environmental obstacles that would cause
danger to the physical life of children.
Unlike the requirements from the outdoor safety in chapter seven, the commercial activities had
an identifiable number of points of hazards although they were not significant. It means that
there is agreat need for them to work on that. It is essential that the responsible parties check on
the constant wear and tear of the equipment because it was apparent that there were new
equipment and old equipment. The old equipment appeared to have the issues hence the need to
constantly and promptly change.
Deterioration of the equipment
One could observe from and close look that the equipment was free from rust, rot and cracks.
Those equipment that would stand erected into the ground had a special metal that is considered
antirust and that would not easily develop cracks or wear easily. One would also easily realize
that the equipment on the playground were in good condition and that they had no issues like
breaking. Being that it is a commercial facility and in a very prime area, the visible fences,
benches and even signs were in a very good, undamaged condition. Most importantly, the
equipment especially those that are anchored in the ground appeared to be properly anchored. As
stipulated in the text, it appeared that the playground abided with what is supposed to be done as
far as deterioration of the equipment is concerned.
Security of the Hardware

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It is acknowledgeable that all the connections and the fastening devices are secure and in a very
stable condition. It cuts across all moving equipment like the swing rings and swing hangers.
Any reasonable person would easily recognize on a closer look that almost every hardware of the
equipment was safe and in good condition except for just a few equipment because of the tearing
and wearing out. In comparing the hardware of the equipment and the outdoor safety, one
realizes that according to the text, it stipulates that all the equipment should be safe and usable. It
is however not the case with all the hardware of the equipment. According to East et al. (19) he
states that there is a law of commonality where by all the equipment should be safe for them to
be regarded as safe. Any fault equipment makes all the equipment unsafe.
Drainage
Since the commercial facility is in the prime area just alongside the major highway, it is obvious
that the drainage must be satisfactory. Nevertheless, from the close observation, there were
possible instances of blockage especially if there was heavy downpour before the area is cleaned
from dirt, objects like the bottles and plastic paraphernalia. On the contrary to the stipulation of
the text, the facility did not consider using adequate tunnels just in case there is blockage in one
of the tunnels.
General Upkeep of Playgrounds
The entire playground is free from litter and miscellaneous debris except that it is only cleaned in
the evening after the activities of the day in the area have closed.

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Conclusion
It is undoubted that the playground is intended for all the ages and that it is also suitable for the
children with disability. The reason for the selection of this playground is that it is one of the
playground in the prime areas that everyone tends to assume that they are safe. It only meets the
safety standards (90%). There is a great need to fill the remaining 10%. I would admit that the
assignment has really helped me understand the topic better. I agree with Zaragoza, Julien and
Barry (12) that practical or field activities enhances classroom understanding.

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References
East, Dana, et al. "An assessment of child care facility playground surfacing safety in Calgary,
Alberta." Environmental Health Review 61.17 (2018): 19-11.
Zaragoza, Julien M., and Barry J. Fraser. "Field-study science classrooms as positive and
enjoyable learning environments." Learning Environments Research 20.1 (2017): 1-20.

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