Sample Playground Inspection Form[1]
| Playground Location: | Time: |
| Inspected By: | Date: |
| General Hazards | OK | Not Okay… Comments or Actions to be Taken |
| 1. There are no sharp points, corners, or edges? | | |
| 2. There are no protrusions or projections? | ||
| 3. There are no pinch points, crush points, or exposed moving parts? | ||
| 4. Potential clothing entanglement hazards have been eliminated? | ||
| 5. There are no missing or damaged protective caps or plugs? | ||
| 6. Hanging tree branches have been trimmed (6’ clearance)? | ||
| 7. Fall zones not per CPSC (6’ perimeter all directions)? | ||
| 8. Openings < 3 ½” or > 9” to prevent head entrapment? | | |
| 9. Footings exposed, cracked or loose in ground? | ||
| 10. Trip hazards, broken glass, trash, ropes, tree roots or foreign objects in play area have been removed? |
| Play Structures | OK | Not Okay … Comments or Actions to be Taken |
| 1. Broken supports or anchors? | ||
| 2. Pipe ends missing plugs or caps? | ||
| 3. Broken or missing rails/rungs/steps? | | |
| 4. Protruding bolt heads or threads? | ||
| 5. Loose, missing, worn or rusted bolts/nuts/or other fasteners? | ||
| 6. Broken clamps? | ||
| 7. Peeling or chipped paint? | | |
| 8. Entrapment/pinch or crush points? | ||
| 9. Vinyl coated decks/platforms/steps have visible cracks or peeling? | ||
| 10. Excessive wear of any component/slide part? | ||
| 11. Wooden equipment is free of splinters, checking, large cracks, warping, and rot? | ||
| 12. General condition/appearance? | Good, Fair, or Poor |
| Slides | OK | Not Okay … Comments or Actions to be Taken |
| 1. Slide bedways have imperfections? | ||
| 2. Handrails loose or missing? | ||
| 3. Steps broken or missing, or flaws/cracks? | ||
| 4. Sit down transition platform present? | ||
| 5. Safety rails or sit-down canopy at bedway entry present? | ||
| 6. Slide exit parallel to ground? | ||
| 7. Safety surface at slide exit has been leveled or repaired? | ||
| 8. Fall zone adequate on all sides? | ||
| 9. General condition/appearance? | Good, Fair, or Poor |
| Swings | OK | Not Okay … Comments or Actions to be Taken |
| 1. Broken, twisted, worn, rusted chain? | ||
| 2. Inadequate (non-commercial) chain? | | |
| 3. Worn, rusted or broken swing hangers? | ||
| 4. Open, worn or rusted “S” hooks (dime will not pass through)? | ||
| 5. Grommets show wear or rust? | ||
| 6. Missing, worn or cracked swing seats? | ||
| 7. Inadequate fall zone around swings? | ||
| 8. Swing frame damaged? | ||
| 9. Swing chain wrapped around top rail? | ||
| 10. Safety surface worn or scattered? | ||
| 11. Loose, missing or protruding bolts? | ||
| 12. General condition/appearance? | Good, Fair, or Poor |
| Surfacing | OK | Not Okay … Comments or Actions to be Taken |
| 1. Safety surface depth sufficient (12”)? | ||
| 2. Inadequate safety surface material (other than ASTM surfacing material)? | ||
| 3. Does safety surface comply with ADA? | ||
| 4. Poor drainage area (standing water) or potential problems? | ||
| 5. Areas of compaction, kick-out, or wear have been leveled or repaired? | | |
| 6. Sidewalks, paved surfaces, steps, and platforms have been swept or cleaned of loose surface materials and debris? |
| Freestanding Climbers/Monkey Bars | OK | Not Okay … Comments or Actions to be Taken |
| 1. Not free-fall design? | ||
| 2. Loose or broken rails or rungs? | ||
| 3. Need painting? | ||
| 4. Tire worn, cut or broken? | ||
| 5. Plastic structures are free of holes and cracks? | ||
| 6. General condition/appearance? |
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. (2015). Public Playground Safety Handbook. Open Domain Work. https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/325.pdf ↵