Playground Safety Isn’t Child’s Play
Playground safety and maintenance is not child’s play.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, each year more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger go to the emergency room with injuries associated with playground equipment; more than 20,000 of them are treated for traumatic brain injury — and approximately 147 children ages 14 or younger die.
 That’s why the two-day Playground Maintenance Technician (PMT) course, created by PDRMA and offered through the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands at Indiana University, is so important, according to Bill Hooker, PDRMA Training Program Supervisor. “The class is invaluable for anyone who performs hands-on playground safety inspections and maintenance, and for those supervising playground maintenance staff,” says Hooker.
“Participants with experience ranging from just a few weeks up to 30 years find the two-day course practical and informative,” adds Dr. Antoinette (Toni) Moyer, Ph.D., Eppley Program Manager.
The Basics
 According to Moyer, proper playground maintenance combines safety, optimal equipment and surfacing maintenance as well as aesthetics. “Safety training should be done properly through a certificate program like PMT and/or Certified Playground Safety Inspector certification to ensure an up-to-date knowledge base.”
In addition to a defined inspection schedule that includes documentation, Moyer notes that playground surfaces must be well maintained, since falls are the highest recorded injury on playgrounds. She also adds that geography plays a role in maintenance. “Routine maintenance may differ if you deal with urban heat or arctic-cold months, and if the playground equipment/surfacing is near a waterfront, you’ll likely have to address corrosion and/or oxidation,” she explains.
The Training
 The two-day PMT course encompasses every aspect of playground safety from maintenance, inspection processes, documentation, and legal issues to detailed reviews of every part of a playground: concrete, surfacing, metal and wood play equipment, fasteners/connectors, plastic and rubber degradation — and more. PMT is simply the most comprehensive Playground Maintenance Class in existence.
The cost for PDRMA members is $175 — a $200 savings over the standard participant cost. The training includes lectures, case studies, group interaction and lunch along with a virtual playground exercise where participants can practice their new skills. In addition to in-person training, Eppley offers online learning modules (i.e., self-paced courses) that anyone maintaining play equipment and areas can take.
Moyer notes that to maintain the safety and integrity of playgrounds, it’s imperative to inspect and document equipment and areas regularly and to repair/replace/remove defective equipment immediately.
“Training participants about how to perform more efficient inspections (e.g., routine, seasonal in-depth and or supplemental special inspection) along with understanding the required frequency based on types of equipment and surfaces is imperative for ensuring safety and effectively maintaining playgrounds.”
Course participants receive a copy of “Maintaining Child’s Play — A Comprehensive Guide for Maintaining Safe Playgrounds” as well as a participant guide that includes sample inspection frequency forms. Upon successful completion, participants receive a certificate of completion from Indiana University.
Register on our website for the Dec. 5 and 6 class hosted by Dundee Township Park District. PDRMA also offers a variety of member resources to help maintain the safety of your agency’s playgrounds.
PDRMA Resources
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