9.2.6.2: Reports of Annual Audits/Monthly Maintenance Checks of Play Areas and Equipment

Report forms should be used to record the results of the annual audits of the indoor and outdoor play areas and monthly maintenance inspections of play equipment and surfaces. Corrective actions taken to eliminate hazards and reduce the risk of injury should be included in the reports. The forms should be filed in the facility’s master file. The forms should be reviewed by the facility annually and should be retained for the number of years required by the state’s statute of limitations.

RATIONALE

Written records of annual audits of the indoor and outdoor play areas, monthly maintenance inspections and appropriate corrective action are necessary to reduce the risk of potential injury. Annual review of such records provides a mechanism for periodic monitoring and improvement of equipment and surface type and quality (1).

COMMENTS

Individual jurisdictions may have specific regulations regarding information, records, equipment, policies, and procedures.

A sample site checklist is provided in Model Child Care Health Policies, available at http://www.ecels-healthychild
carepa.org/content/MHP4thEd Total.pdf.

For more information regarding facility equipment, contact ASTM International (ASTM) at http://www.astm.org, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at http://www.cpsc.gov, and the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS) at http://www.uni.edu/playground/.

For information about playground safety see the Public Playground Safety Handbook, available at http://www.cpsc
.gov/cpscpub/pubs/325.pdf and Outdoor Home Playground Safety Handbook available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpsc
pub/pubs/324.pdf.

TYPE OF FACILITY

Center, Early Head Start, Head Start, Large Family Child Care Home, Small Family Child Care Home

RELATED STANDARDS

9.2.6.1 Policy on Use and Maintenance of Play Areas

REFERENCES

1. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. 2010. Public playground safety handbook. http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/325.pdf.