Playgrounds – equipment, planning and entertainment
The highly interesting talks included “Decision Criteria outside the Norm” by Mario Ladu (Spielplatzmobil GmbH). In his presentation, Mr Ladu explained further decision criteria for playground inspections outside the range of the DIN EN 1176 standard. This included municipal insurance measures, which stipulate that artworks located on or near a playground must also fulfil the requirements of playground equipment.
In addition to this, safety information should be obtained from the accident insurance fund regulations, for instance for the construction of natural play areas, rope courses in kindergartens and schools, and concerning requirements for climbing trees.
The latest decisions of the EC Working Group on ”Playground Equipment and Facilities for the Public Sector'” were also outlined. Amongst these were further statements on the height of fall protection on landings with more than three metres of free fall height, as well as grain sizes for loose fill material.
Finally, verdicts from law cases were presented and explained using practical examples.
A subsequent talk by Mario Ladu dealt with the topic of “Accidents – Protection Aims". Numerous tests show that most accidents happen on slides and swings. Over 50% of accidents involve falls, with the injured person or equipment causing it. In many cases, the injury-causing object is the ground surface, in other words, insufficient fall protection. Using several practical examples, the protection aims of measures included within the standard were explained, including ground clearance for swings, the distance to the central axis on communal swings and the height of slide ends.
Berthold Tempel from TÜV Rheinland LGA Products GmbH spoke on the topic “Requirements concerning certificates and awarding GS marks to playground equipment”.
Conclusion: The highest levels of safety can only be attained through the GS mark, given that this involves a detailed inspection which exceeds the requirements of inspection regulations.
“Dangerous trees over sandpits - tree control around playgrounds” by Simona Kasper, Spielplatzmobil GmbH.
Herbert Hartmann, from Unfallkasse Hessen, addressed the requirements concerning nursery school playgrounds.
Nursery children cover a large developmental spectrum from babies to small children, and in these stages, the requirements concerning outdoor areas change constantly. Through the various developmental phases of the children and the resulting dangers, special attention must be paid to the playground equipment used, fall protection, plants and the communal use of the outdoor area by both under and over 3-year olds.
In terms of the playground equipment, it must be ensured that the devices are approved for use in public playgrounds, in general by children over the age of 3. The use of such equipment by nurseries requires close adult supervision, even if the devices are not easily accessible.
Concerning fall protection, for up to 60 cm, the use of grass or turf is recommended, and for over 60 cm, sand or fall protection slabs should be used. Given the tendency of nursery children to put everything in their mouths, pea gravel and wood chippings should not be used. Rail height should be reduced to min. 60 cm in order to ensure that the children can still see over it.
Concerning plant selection, no plants with considerable toxicity, prickly or stinging parts or “small parts” which could be swallowed should be used. Equally, no plants that attract insects should be used.
In light of the wide developmental spectrum from children ages 0-6, no communal use of the outdoor area by under and over 3-year olds should take place. Separate areas should be created, and children under 3 may only be allowed to use equipment for over 3-year old children under direct adult supervision.
Finally, Mario Ladu from Spielplatzmobil GmbH returned once more to children’s playgrounds with a presentation entitled “Playgrounds – correctly done!”
For more information, please visit www.spielplatzmobil.de
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