Playground Safety Standards & Laws

If you have a playground, or plan to have one installed, it’s important to have an idea of the latest playground safety standards and laws. This insight helps you to ensure you do what’s necessary to keep the kids who use the playground safe. Whether that is selecting a playground equipment company you know abides by the latest safest standards and laws, or by moving quickly to upgrade your current setup to get it up to legal and recommended safety standards. 

To help you, here’s a quick overview of the safety standards and legislation for playgrounds in the UK: 

Playground Safety Laws

Laws and legislation relating to UK playgrounds are always being updated, and it is important that any company you work with to install or maintain your playground remains up to date on all the latest changes. 

At the moment, the following laws and acts are those it’s important to be aware of when you have a playground in the UK: 

Common Law & Negligence

This is an act that relates to the possibility of members of the public making a claim against those responsible for the playground. It can relate to the playground surfacing, compliance with safety laws, regular inspections and relevant supervision of the space. 

Understanding that this risk exists is important when you’re responsible for a playground because the event of an accident happening has implications that run far beyond the accident itself. Although it doesn’t happen often, it is important to know that it could result in a claim going to court and costing you a lot of money, time, and even damage to the reputation of your institute. 

Laws & Acts

There are various laws and acts that are not made specifically for playgrounds, but playgrounds may well come under those acts in various different ways: 

• Control of substances hazardous to health 2002
• Management of health and safety at work 1999
• Health and safety at work act 1974
• Children’s act 1989
• Reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations 1995
• Occupiers liability act 1984 revision 
• Consumers protection act 1987
• Control of pesticides regulations 1986

Playground Health & Safety Standards

Playground health & safety standards in the UK are not legal requirements, but they are still incredibly important, and by following them you can then be seen to be following the best possible practices and safety compliance for your playground. Doing this helps protect the children in your care, your staff, the public and your business or facility. It is also very important to show you’re adhering to these standards in the event of a claim. 

Here are the two core standards relating to health and safety: 

BS EN 1176

BS EN 1176 is a standard that relates to your playground fencing and equipment. Within the standards is the clear direction that police, ambulances and fire services should have easy access to the whole playground. There is also an emphasis on maintaining high standards of safety by getting rid of unsafe equipment and areas. This includes blocking access to those unsafe parts of the playground when an issue has been identified and logged until such a time that those professionals can come and correct those issues. 

 It’s suggested that these standards are maintained with the purchase of equipment that meets high standards of safety and regulations, and with installation that also meets all relevant requirements. The standards also recommend you complete, or have a qualified person complete regular risk assessments and that specific courses of action are taken if the playground is found to have a problem. Often it is a case of staff being trained to perform daily checks in addition to a qualified company doing regular checks as well, so that essentially, the whole playground is consistently looked at and tested to make sure it is as safe as it can be. 

BS EN 1177

BS EN 1177 is a standard that specifically relates to the surfacing in your playground and guidance on the Critical Fall Height of the surfaces in relation to the Free Fall Height of the equipment. This standard is in place to minimise the impact of a child falling to the ground within the playground space.

Speak To Sovereign Play Equipment For More Information

We have over 25 years experience in designing safe, beautiful, durable playgrounds that give kids the opportunity to learn and have fun, day after day, season after season. Our equipment is designed and built with the highest standards of safety in mind, and is installed in adherence with the latest safety laws and guidance. 

We also have compliance packages available for the inspection, reporting and essential maintenance of outdoor play equipment to help you keep your play equipment in the best possible condition for everyone who uses the playground area. 

Give us a call today for more information so that we can help you to maintain the highest possible standards within your playground space, to the benefit of your establishment, adults who interact with that space and pupils in your care.