5142.2 - Student Play and Recreational Space Supervision, Installation, and Maintenance - Procedure

Personnel supervising children on the playground should be aware that not all equipment is appropriate for all children. Pre-school age and special needs children may require more attentive supervision on playgrounds than older children. Supervision should include the equipment, playground, and how the children are using the equipment. Any concerns or irregularities that are observed should be reported to the principal and/or Facilities Management.

A manufacturer-approved installer must install all playground equipment. No maintenance and/or repair will be performed that could alter the manufacturer’s design of the playground equipment. Sites will immediately notify Facilities/MOT, via a work order, of any required maintenance of equipment and/or surfacing material. Only a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) shall make any modification or do any repair to playground equipment.

All equipment shall be inspected frequently for any potential hazards, for corrosion or deterioration from rot, insects, or weathering. The frequency of inspection will depend on the type of equipment, amount of use, and local climate. Special attention will be given to moving parts and other components that can be expected to wear.

The playground area shall also be checked frequently for:

1. broken glass;
2. dangerous debris; and
3. to ensure that loose-fill surfacing materials have not become displace or compacted.

The Principal or designee of each SBCSS school/site shall be responsible for conducting inspections two times per month of all playgrounds used by SBCSS students. The principal or designee shall complete the Playground Inspection Form (Exhibit A) (go to enet.sbcss.k12.ca.us for copies of the Playground Inspection Form or contact Maintenance) and keep the completed Form on site for one year. If conditions of disrepair or hazard appear, they shall be reported immediately to the SBCSS Maintenance department by sending the completed form via facsimile as soon as possible. Once the repair has been completed, the Maintenance department will notify the Principal in writing.

On all SBCSS school sites, the Maintenance department shall ensure that an annual inspection of all SBCSS playground equipment is conducted by a CPSI.

A record of bi-weekly and annual maintenance inspections and repairs taken in response to an inspection or work order shall be kept on file in the Maintenance department.

A record of any accident and injury reported to have occurred on the playground shall be kept on file in the Risk Management department.

Approved July 22. 2008