Wear and tear on commercial playground equipment could occur from overuse, weather, and age. The deterioration of equipment could lead to otherwise avoidable injuries like getting limbs stuck in improper openings or tripping over uneven surfaces.
To prevent such accidents, it is vital to have regular checks on playground equipment. One of the best ways to ensure the safety of kids is to keep up with equipment maintenance, and if required, replacing it with new ones.
However, before you decide on replacing old playground equipment, follow these three steps. They will help you evaluate your playground.
1) Damages to the Equipment:
You must also look for holes in the equipment and see if there are any missing parts. This is crucial as missing or broken parts can cause injuries to children playing in the playground.
What’s more, each piece of play equipment will have a set of instructions on how to take care of it. For instance, plastic equipment will have to be checked thoroughly for breaks and cracks.
2) Feel for Even Footing:
Ensure that the ground surrounding the playground equipment is leveled. It’s best to avoid any gaps in the surface material, divots in the grass, or dips in the surface as these could be a tripping hazard. Check the areas around the playground and ensure that it can provide a safe surface for kids to play on. If you find issues, it’s best to replace or upgrade the surface to rubber flooring.
3) Clean Up
You want playground areas to be clean and free of any debris. It’s best to remove litter from your playground. This will keep it both safe and clean. You must also ensure to get rid of plastic, broken glass, and food crumbs as this can prevent injuries and unwanted animals on your playground. Always double-check areas like benches and walkways for trash as well.
Let us now look at the main indicators for replacing playground equipment.
1) Complaints or Concerns Raised: The main giveaway that it’s time to replace your playground equipment is when you start receiving complaints and worried calls from parents and caregivers.
2) Obvious Breaks: Another sign that it’s time to order new playground equipment is when damage to the existing one is clearly visible. The same goes for missing parts. If a certain part is missing, it is best to replace that part or invest in new playground equipment.
3) Defective Equipment: Dysfunctional equipment is not safe. The moment you notice that the playground equipment does not operate the way it used to, it’s time to replace it with new equipment.
4) Overuse: The most obvious way to know when to replace your playground equipment is when it is damaged due to prolonged use. Also, the most popular pieces of playground equipment will need to be repaired more often than others. If certain play equipment has been repaired multiple times, it may be time to consider replacing it.
5) Out of Date: Even unbroken equipment might need replacing after some point. Keep up with the current trends in commercial play equipment to maintain a sense of fun and excitement in the playground.
We hope you have gained valuable insights from this article. If you are planning to replace playground equipment in your home, school, or community, get in touch with us to take care of all your commercial playground needs. At ArihantPLAY, our equipment is designed to bring the thrill back into outdoor spaces. So if your playground needs an update, check out the wide variety of structures and equipment we offer.
