Unintended uses

Current playground safety standards are unsafe

Throughout much of this website, continual references to this topic are made, because it's so true that children can and will always figure out how to use playground equipment in creatively unique and unintended ways. Kids will be kids, and they increase the probability of becoming injured, sometimes seriously, when they do. 

 

There was a playground where the owner referred to the equipment manufacturer stated their maximum fall height was the landing on a raised playhouse segment of 5 feet, not the top of the angled roof which was about 7 feet higher in elevation, making the real maximum fall height actually 12 feet (240% greater than the manufacturer's documented claim). This is a sales ploy designed to make playsets appear safer than they really are. When photos of the playset were requested, what were shared were photos where children were playing on it, shimmying along the top of sealed tubes meant to contain children within them, and another kid standing up at the top of the roof, 12 feet above the  base of the play structure. It was easy to convey the real fall height was 12 feet, not 5 feet, based on how the equipment was used... unintentionally. This is something taught during certified playground safety inspector (CPSI) training, yet inconsistent with how equipment manufacturer's maximum fall height claims. 

 

When it's understood and accepted that most children learn their social, conflict resolution and problem solving life skills on playgrounds, using their own uniquely creative ideas, that make the unintended uses of playground equipment more likely than not.