How often should a public playground be inspected?

Frequency follows use, not the calendar alone. Heavily used park and school sites are commonly walked daily or several times a week, with a more detailed inspection monthly or quarterly and a comprehensive audit annually. Inspection schedule explains how to set the interval for a given site.

What do I do if I find a serious hazard?

Take the equipment out of use the same day and record what you did. Tape and a sign are not a closure, because children ignore both. Remove the component, block access physically, or close the area until the repair is done, then log the finding, the action and the date it was cleared.

Does this checklist make my playground compliant?

No. It is a routine operational check. Conformance with ASTM F1487 and the CPSC handbook is assessed in a comprehensive audit by a qualified inspector, typically a Certified Playground Safety Inspector, against the current edition of the standard. See the annual audit.

Can volunteers or teachers use this?

Yes, for the routine walk. It is written so a trained non-specialist can do it. The judgement calls, such as whether a crack is structural or whether wear on a swing hanger has reached replacement, belong to someone trained, and the annual audit belongs to a qualified inspector.

Playground inspection checklist

Before you start

Walk the site the same way every time, in one direction, so nothing gets missed. Take a tape measure, a depth probe or marked stick, a camera, and something to write on. Record the date, the weather, who inspected, and every finding, whether or not you fixed it that day. The record matters as much as the walk: see records and documentation.

1. Surfacing and use zones

Surfacing and use zones

Loose fill at full rated depth everywhere, measured with a probe, not judged by eye
Full depth specifically under swing seats and at slide exits, where it wears first
No compacted or frozen areas that have lost resilience
Unitary surfacing free of tears, splits, delamination, curling edges and exposed base
No trip edges over half an inch at borders, transitions and equipment footings
Use zones clear of fences, curbs, benches, bins, posts, roots and drainage grates
Drainage working, no standing water or washed-out areas
No foreign objects: glass, sharps, animal waste, nails, stones
Surfacing extends the full required distance in every direction, including the swing arc

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2. Structures, decks and access

Structures, decks and access

Posts and footings solid, with no movement, rot, rust-through or exposed concrete
Decks and platforms sound, with no cracks, splinters, soft spots or missing boards
Guardrails and barriers present, intact and at the correct heights for the age group
Steps, rungs and ladders firmly attached, evenly spaced, not worn or slippery
Handrails secure and continuous where provided
No openings that could trap a head or a limb, and no new gaps created by wear
No sharp edges, points, broken plastic or splintered timber
No protruding bolts, exposed thread ends or missing caps
Climbing components and nets tensioned, with no frayed cable or cut rope

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3. Swings

Swings

Seats undamaged, with no cracks, cuts, missing pieces or exposed metal
Chains and ropes free of wear, stretch, kinks, corrosion or broken strands
S-hooks and connectors closed, with no gap that could catch clothing
Hangers and bearings quiet, secure and not visibly worn
Correct seat type for the age group, and no animal-figure seats in public use
Clearance between seats, and between the seat and the frame, as specified
Clearance from the seat to the surfacing correct, with no ground erosion beneath
Beam, frame and footings secure, with no lift or rocking under load

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4. Slides and enclosed components

Slides and enclosed components

Chute smooth and continuous, with no cracks, holes, buckling or sharp joints
No gaps between the platform and the chute that could catch clothing or fingers
Sides and hood intact, with no entanglement points at the entrance
Exit region level, clear and at the correct height above the surfacing
Surfacing at the exit at full depth, with no scoured hollow
Metal or dark surfaces checked for temperature on hot days before use
Tube slides clear inside, with no debris, graffiti build-up or standing water
Drainage holes and weeps clear

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5. Hardware and moving parts

Hardware and moving parts

All fasteners present, tight and correctly capped
Tamper-resistant hardware still in place, not substituted with standard bolts
Bearings, pivots and spring assemblies functioning without excess play or noise
Spring riders anchored, with springs sound and pinch points covered
Spinning equipment turning freely, without wobble, grinding or excessive speed
Moving parts free of pinch, crush and shear points opened up by wear
No missing, broken or improvised replacement parts

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6. Site and surroundings

Site and surroundings

Fences, gates and latches intact and working
Signage legible, including age-appropriate use and emergency contact information
Benches, tables and bins secure and outside use zones
Shade structures and fabric sound, with fixings tight
Paths and the accessible route clear, firm, stable and free of obstruction
Lighting, drainage and irrigation components undamaged and outside use zones
Vegetation cut back from equipment, with no low limbs over play areas
No evidence of vandalism, burning, graffiti or unauthorized modification

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Turning findings into action

Every finding needs a decision on the day, not a note to think about it later.

Severity	What it means	Action
Critical	Could cause serious injury today	Take out of use immediately, repair before reopening
Major	Will become critical if left	Repair on a defined date, restrict use if needed
Minor	Wear, cosmetic or housekeeping	Add to the planned maintenance list

A three level severity ranking keeps the response proportionate and the record defensible.

What this checklist is not

It is a routine operational inspection. It does not replace the comprehensive annual audit against the current edition of ASTM F1487 and the CPSC handbook, which needs gauges, measurement and a qualified inspector¹². The annual audit guide explains what that covers, and CPSI certification explains who is qualified to do it.

For the entrapment, protrusion and entanglement checks that need test gauges, use the entrapment and hazard checklist.

Playground inspection checklist

Before you start

1. Surfacing and use zones

Surfacing and use zones

2. Structures, decks and access

Structures, decks and access

3. Swings

Swings

4. Slides and enclosed components

Slides and enclosed components

5. Hardware and moving parts

Hardware and moving parts

6. Site and surroundings

Site and surroundings

Turning findings into action

What this checklist is not

Frequently asked questions

How often should a public playground be inspected?

What do I do if I find a serious hazard?

Does this checklist make my playground compliant?

Can volunteers or teachers use this?

Sources