Playgrounds and standards.

In 1974, two concerned individuals, a parent and a teacher, petitioned the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to address the problem of playground injuries and children's safety. This signalled a 20-year effort to protect our children from playground hazards, and to reduce the number and severity of injuries in the play environment. Those of us who are veterans in the battle to upgrade playgrounds have seen the growth of concern (albeit very slowly) reaching the current, almost frenzied, level of focus on playground safety.

Unfortunately, this concern was spurred more by legal liability lawsuits and huge monetary awards than by municipal and taxpayer concern. Nevertheless, the interest in preventing playground injuries has escalated to its current high pace and the National Recreation and Park Association has been in the forefront of the campaign from its inception.

NRPA Involvement Continues

In 1975, NRPA served as project director for the initial effort to develop safety standards for public playgrounds. It has continued its involvement, from the development of the first C.P.S.C. Handbook for Public Playground Safety, through the completion of the first voluntary safety standards, just published by ASTM (American Society of Testing and Materials).

ASTM is one of the two largest standard-setting bodies in the world and its standards are created through a consensus vote, with all ASTM members (more than 15,000) able to voice an opinion before a standard is official. ASTM standards, although voluntary, supersede any guidelines in the legal system, and set the benchmark for production in many industries. Architects and engineers use ASTM standards in their specifications and municipalities incorporate them in their purchase bid requirements. NRPA and CPSC were both deeply involved in the creation of the ASTM standard, F1487-93, and have been highly supportive of all efforts to promote playground safety.

The new ASTM standard confirms a great deal of the CPSC Handbook, and provides the technical information and testing procedures to support the recommendations of the CPSC; but, in some cases, the ASTM standard moves beyond the federal guidelines. In addition, ASTM includes information on play areas and play equipment accessibility for children with disabilities, an area never covered by CPSC. A major difference lies in the fact that the first CPSC guidelines were the result of the efforts of CPSC and a 12-member safety standards advisory panel; the 1991 revised CPSC Handbook was the result of a consultant study provided to CPSC.

The 1991 revisions were sent out to a number of people involved in playground safety for review, but no advisory panel was formed. The ASTM standard is the result of the efforts of more than 120 committee members, representing not only CPSC and NRPA, but also equipment producers, designers, architects, attorneys, insurance representatives, park districts, schools and a variety of other playground interests. The best expertise in the country has had input into the development of the ASTM standard. And the CPSC Handbook provides indepth information on playground surfaces, an area not covered by ASTM.

Resources Available

Both the CPSC guidelines and the ASTM standard will be needed to develop the hazard reduction plans for your playground. In addition, NRPA has complete resources to help you make your playgrounds safer. There are publications, videos, probes and gauges. There is, in addition, the National Playground Safety Institute, an NRPA program, and the only one of its kinds in the country to train communities in playground safety and to certify playground inspectors.

The concern for children's safety has been escalating over the last few years, but the response and strategies for providing that safety have also been increasing. And the uniquely cooperative work of the three organizations most concerned with safety - NRPA, CPSC and ASTM - have made possible the success with which we are now improving our play areas so that they will provide both a safer and accessible environment in which our children can play, learn and grow.