Playgrounds are the perfect addition to businesses that want to attract families, such as hotels, restaurants and shopping centers. A religious organization might also include having a playground on its property, and daycares often choose specialized play structures to enhance the children’s development.
While everyone loves having access to a playground, installing one on a property that other people use comes with specific responsibilities. Just as property owners need to keep the parking lot safe and the interior of the building free of hazards, they also need to make sure the play area always meets safety standards.
Choosing a play structure and other equipment from a trusted supplier can help prevent injuries that come from manufacturing defects. But, it’s also important to perform frequent inspections to ensure that playgrounds don’t develop issues that contribute to injuries occurring. Exploring how playground equipment can injure children and others who use the space helps you know how to prevent major injuries from occurring and address any that do.
Watch Out for Structural Weaknesses That Lead to Collapses
Most playground equipment comes in multiple parts that are screwed, nailed and bolted together. Naturally, these areas can begin to loosen with age and general wear and tear. Metal, wood and other materials are also prone to deterioration that can weaken the structural integrity of the play equipment.
In an ideal scenario, property owners plan routine inspections to ensure that there aren’t any loose or weak parts on the playground. Daycares and other kid-oriented businesses should even go so far as to plan daily inspections, since these areas receive heavy use. Meanwhile, city playgrounds might only be inspected weekly or monthly. Sadly, some property owners rarely check the play area for signs of wear that could lead to a collapse.
Collapsing playground equipment can cause traumatic impact injuries, along with broken bones. Since many playground structures include ramps, walkways and slides that are high off the ground, the injuries that occur can be quite catastrophic. In worst-case scenarios, an entire play structure could collapse and harm multiple children at once or crush a child who is beneath a heavy piece.
Too often, simply tightening a bolt or replacing a weak handrail is all it takes to prevent an injury. Parents and other adults who witness a playground injury may need to take pictures of the scene to demonstrate a lack of maintenance on the property.
Inspect Equipment for Sharp Areas That Cause Lacerations
As anyone who has ever experienced a splinter can attest, playground equipment that is made from wood can easily cause scratches that could get infected. Unfortunately, a small splinter isn’t the worst that can happen. Playground equipment can break, crack or develop protruding hardware that raises the risk of a severe laceration.
Lacerations could also occur if a child’s fingers or other parts of their body get caught in a piece of moving equipment. For instance, a child might sustain an injury from two moving joints, such as what you’ll find on a see-saw or merry-go-round. Modern playground equipment is typically designed with safeguards in place.
Protective covers, cushioning and rounded edges are common ways that playground equipment companies try to prevent major injuries. But, protective guards can break, or a rounded edge might still develop a sharp part that poses a risk to people who play in the area. Even a rusty nail could cause a major cut that requires sutures.
Property owners who are not on-site should have plans in place to protect visitors on the playground from harm. For instance, posting a phone number to report concerning findings on a clearly visible sign is one way to empower visitors to provide information on safety hazards. However, even having this sign in place doesn’t eliminate a property owner’s responsibility to maintain a safe play area.
Look for Design Flaws That Heighten the Risk of Falls and Entanglement
Playground equipment design typically relies on scientifically proven strategies to reduce strangulation and other life-threatening situations. Similar to baby cribs, you’ll find that playground equipment should have slats that are placed too closely together for a child’s head to get through. But, older playground equipment might not meet the latest safety standards for community spaces.
Sometimes, parts of the equipment break, that increase the risk of entanglement. This is especially common with playground structures that include nets and ropes. If parts become unfastened, then they could leave a child vulnerable to getting their head or limbs stuck in dangerous positions.
Even something as simple as a broken rung on a ladder could lead to a child sustaining a fall-related injury that could impact their brain. Taking the time to carefully check to see if handrails are in place on elevated areas could be all it takes to stop a child from falling. With the growing popularity of elevated platforms, climbing ropes and other features that encourage taking safe risks, it’s important for everyone to be alert for signs of damage or faulty parts of equipment that could lead to injuries.
No one wants to see a child get hurt. But, playground injuries often occur, especially when a property owner doesn’t do their due diligence to ensure the area is safe. In some cases, there could be third parties involved. Playground equipment manufacturers, suppliers and installation companies could all be held liable for injuries that occur.
Since these types of personal injury claims get complicated, it’s important to work with a professional who knows your legal rights. An experienced premises liability lawyer like injury attorney Rick Barrera knows how to investigate playground equipment injuries to find out what likely happened and who could be held responsible for the damages.
Considering that a playground injury can lead to costly medical care and potential long-term health treatments, it’s important to make sure the case is handled with professionalism. While preventing an injury is always the best solution, taking prompt action after one occurs can help minimize the damage and give a child the best outcome for a safe and healthy recovery.
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