Administrative Procedure 552

PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT and INSPECTIONS

Background

The Superintendent welcomes the assistance of parents and other persons or organizations from the community in developing plans for playground equipment on the property where the School is located, and in acquiring and installing the equipment. Once a playground is installed, the equipment must be regularly inspected and maintained in a manner that reduces risk and provides for the safest possible use for all children.
Play in a safe outdoor environment promotes good health and reduces the risk of injury to staff and children. This provision requires that outdoor play spaces, fixed structures and surfacing be inspected regularly to ensure they meet the requirements of the CSA standard for playgrounds, CSA Z614 Children’s Playspaces and Equipment.

Procedures

1. A letter of intent to develop a playground on the School site must be forwarded from the School Council to the Secretary-Treasurer for approval.
2. The Principal must also be involved in planning on behalf of the Charter Board for the selection and placement of playground equipment on School grounds.
3. Prior to the installations of any new playground equipment, the approval of the Secretary-Treasurer and the Principal must be obtained in writing in order that such factors as the following will be taken into account:
3.1 Location;
3.2 Safety standards;
3.3 Equipment maintenance;
3.4 Grounds maintenance;
3.5 Access to utility lines and other services;
3.6 Student and vehicular traffic flow; and
3.7 Fire lanes.
4. All playground equipment on the School grounds must be regularly inspected and maintained .
5. The replacement of any missing, damaged, defective or end of life components shall be the responsibility of the sponsoring group such as the School Council or any other sponsors.
6. Playground Inspections and Audit:
6.1 Daily Inspections: Before school in the morning, a designated staff member will be responsible to check the playground using the Daily Playground Inspection Checklist before children are allowed to enter the playground and play. The Daily Checklist includes: checking for hazardous debris or litter, damage caused by vandalism, operation of gates, excessive wear, deterioration, potential hazards and removing any strings or ropes of any kind. Any defects that are observed must be immediately remediated and reported to the Principal who will determine the maintenance and repair services that may be required to remediate the issues.
6.2 Annual Inspections: An Annual inspection will be conducted by a certified playground safety inspector. Any issues identified from the inspection will be reported to the Principal and Secretary Treasurer for repairs.
6.3 Playground Audit: A playground audit is an initial or follow-up comprehensive examination of a playground. The
purpose of an audit is to review a playground for compliance with the CSA standard for Children’s Playspaces and Equipment. Audits are to be conducted by a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI). An audit should occur whenever a playground is newly installed; after catastrophe or serious damage occurs to the playground; and when the playground or pieces of a structure are relocated.

References: Section 25, 26, 33, 51, 52, 53, 68, 197, 222 Education Act CSA Standards