Compliance of Dunedin school playground equipment with the New Zealand playground standard.

OBJECTIVE

Injuries resulting from falls from playground equipment are a public health concern in New Zealand. Like many other countries, New Zealand has a safety standard aimed at reducing the incidence and severity of these injuries by limiting the height from which children can fall from playground equipment and requiring the provision of impact-absorbing surfaces beneath equipment from which falls are possible. The purpose of this study was to examine progress towards achieving compliance with these requirements in Dunedin school playgrounds.

METHODS

Sixty-two schools were audited over the summer of 1997/98 and information recorded on equipment type, maximum fall height, surface type, and depth of loose-fill surface materials. Comparisons were made with audits conducted in 1989 and 1981.

RESULTS

Substantial increases in the amount of playground equipment and in the provision of impact-absorbing surfaces were observed. A small increase in compliance with the requirement that the maximum fall height of equipment not exceed 2.5 metres was also observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Any gains in safety achieved through increased compliance with the height and surface requirements of the New Zealand Standard have been counteracted by the substantial increase in the amount of equipment available in playgrounds.

IMPLICATIONS

A more drastic measure is needed to achieve a meaningful reduction in the incidence of injury following falls from playground equipment.