safety of playground equipment

SAFETY OF PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT
Developments in the Netherlands between 1993 and 2007
Oktober 2007
SAFETY OF PLAYGROUNDS,
a survey in the Netherlands in 1993
In 1993 according to PORS-registration (version of the
EHLASS-registration in The Netherlands) annually approx.
15.000 children are brought to the Emergencies departments of
hospitals in the Netherlands as a result of an accident in a playground:
6800 of these accidents are caused by a playground equipment.
Of these 6800 accidents over 700 resulted in a long or short
period of admission into a hospital.
The number of non-registrated accidents are unknown, but these
are probably more numerous.
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SAFETY OF PLAYGROUNDS,
a survey in the Netherlands in 1993
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Hazard: Entrapment
of finger
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SAFETY OF PLAYGROUNDS,
a survey in the Netherlands in 1993
In July and August 1993:
• 663 playgrounds were examined and
• 7150 playground equipments were inspected.
The percentages of defects on the 5 main-issues are following:
• 2,3% of the playground equipment had a possibility of
entanglement;
• 6% of the playground equipment with unappropriate underground;
• 5% of the playground equipment were incorrect installed:
concrete foundation came above the ground-level;
• 10% of the playground equipment had broken or missing parts;
• 15% of the playground equipment had rotten or worn out parts.
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SAFETY OF PLAYGROUNDS,
a survey in the Netherlands in 1993
Public playgrounds and playgrounds near "catering
establishments" are un-safer then playgrounds managed by a
private association.
The observed defects of the playground equipment can cause
injuries varying from small (grazes or stab-wounds) to severe or
lethal (brain-damage or death by stranglation).
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LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
Developed between 1993 and 1996 resulting in Decree on
fairground- and playground equipment (based upon the
Commodities Act)
New and Global Approach used as model:
– Fundamental requirements
– Standards as presumption of conformity
– Type approval for playground equipment
a. Providing a technical construction file
b. Type approval of playground equipment by notified test house
c. Manual, instruction and other information for correct
assembly, use etc.
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LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
Definition:
Playground equipment: a construction intended for
amusement/enjoyment/entertainment or recreation with the
restriction that only the gravitation or human physical force is
used
Exclusions:
1. Playground equipment to be used outside the territory of NL.
2.Playground equipment intended to be assembled by children
under supervision as element of play
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LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Obligations for owner and/or administrator of playground
equipment is prescribed (e.g. maintenance and up to date
logbook including e.g. information on type approval,
inspections, maintenance, accidents (including actions taken
after accidents)
Adequate/safe assembly
Adequate Maintenance
Keeping logbook up to date
Equipment may not pose a hazard for the health or safety of
persons
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MARKET SURVEILLANCE
Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority:
– National Authority
– Responsible for market surveillance and enforcement
– Powers of art. 8 of the GPSD also for playground equipment in
existing playgrounds
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Evaluation legislation in 2001
The technical status of the playground equipment is state of art.
But the evaluation of the Decree did not clearly show a
reduction on the accidents where playground equipment was
involved or where playground equipment was an intermediate
factor.
Also no increase in number of accidents.
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Playground equipment in kindergartens:
Survey in 2004
– Caused by fatal accident in 2004
– 149 kindergartens inspected
– Investigation of safety-level of playground equipment
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Playground equipment in kindergartens:
Results of survey:
Categories of playground equipment:
- “Do it your self”
- “Toy” playground equipment
- Especially designed for kindergartens
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Playground equipment in kindergartens
Results:
Found defects/non-compliences:
- Hazard of suffocation (24%)
- Hazard of entrapment (14%)
- Negligence in maintenance (15%)
- Others: sharp edges, undergrounds
obstacles
Defects/non-compliences found in 41% of all inspected
playground equipment
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Playground equipment in kindergartens Indoors:
available room and underground
- Insufficient space around playground equipment
- Is linoleum adequate underground?
Possible dropheight: measures of underground necessary?
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SITUATION IN 2005
Report of Survey available in Dutch
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Unsufficient maintenance?
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Examples suffocation hazard
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Adequate installation and
maintenance?
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Wrong design?
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Wrong installation?
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Measurement of underground
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Situation in 2007
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Number of Accidents
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Situation in 1997
Situation in 2007
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Thank you for your attention
Jan van Leent, Senior Public Health Officer
Rob Wind, Public Health Officer
Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority
P.O. Box 3000
NL 3330 DC Zwijndrecht
The Netherlands
Telephone ++ 31 (0) 78 6112100
Telefax ++ 31 (0) 78 611 2200
[email protected];
[email protected]
www.vwa.nl
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