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Does play equipment conform to the Canadian standard?
D Lesage1, Y Robitaille, D Dorval
1Direction de la santé publique de Montréal-Centre, Christophe-Colomb.
Summary
Playground safety inspections in Montreal revealed significant non-compliance with Canadian standards for protective surfaces and equipment design, highlighting risks of child injuries. Addressing these shortcomings requires collaborative efforts from all stakeholders.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Child Safety
- Urban Planning
Background:
- Playgrounds are crucial for child development and physical activity.
- Assessing playground safety is essential for injury prevention.
- Previous studies indicated potential hazards in children's playspaces.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety compliance of playground equipment in Montreal.
- To identify specific areas of non-compliance with Canadian safety standards.
- To inform strategies for reducing playground-related injuries.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a safety inspection of 254 playgrounds on the island of Montreal in 1991.
- Utilized a checklist based on the Canadian standard for playspaces and equipment safety.
- Examined 605 climbers, 522 swings, and 181 slides.
Main Results:
- One in two pieces of equipment lacked compliant protective surfacing.
- Seven in ten swings had non-impact-absorbing seats.
- Six in ten pieces of equipment presented head entrapment hazards.
Conclusions:
- Significant physical shortcomings in playground equipment pose injury risks.
- Non-compliance with safety standards is prevalent, particularly regarding surfacing and equipment design.
- Effective injury prevention necessitates a coordinated approach among multiple partners.