How should a safe children's playground be?

Stating that the toys and equipment of a safe playground should be made of plastic material to prevent children from being harmed, OHS Specialist Dr. Rüştü Uçan expressed that "The floor should be made of rubber material to prevent injuries to children. Sand floors should not be preferred as they will cause falls, injuries and germs."

Experts also warn that toys such as swings, seesaws, climbing rope equipment, trampolines must be regularly maintained in playgrounds, and defective or damaged parts must be replaced immediately.

Üsküdar University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Head of Occupational Health and Safety Department, Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan and Occupational Health and Safety Specialist Instructor Mustafa Cüneyt Gezen evaluated the security issue in children's parks.

Parks should be cleared of elements that may pose a danger!

Stating that playgrounds are of critical importance in the physical, mental and mental development of children, Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan noted that these areas should be safe and healthy and free from elements that may pose a danger to children. Stating that the playgrounds must be built with a natural fence or wall around 1.5 meters and the entrance with a door should be obvious, considering the sudden jumps of children around the playgrounds, Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan stated that "Depending on its size, a part of the park should be grass and natural trees. If there are fruit trees in this area, attention should be paid to spray them. In addition, trees that may cause poisoning must not be planted here. The sandboxes where children will play, the toys here should be solid. It must be safe from falling.”

Compliance with EU standard optional

Referring to the standards for playgrounds for children, Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan emphasized that the European Union BS EN1176 and 1177 standards are a comprehensive standard that covers all aspects of the design, installation and maintenance of playground equipment for children, and compliance with this standard is voluntary, but it is seen as a way to ensure that children using playground equipment are safe.

Pointing out that playgrounds, which are of critical importance in the physical, mental, mental development and lives of children, should be designed as safe areas that will support the needs and development of children. Prof. Rüştü Uçan expressed that "'TS EN 1176 Playground Equipment and Surface Elements Safety Rules', which is a European standard for the safety of playgrounds, covers the general safety rules regarding equipment and floor arrangement."

How should the floor of the playgrounds be?

Stating that the toys and equipment of a safe playground should be made of plastic material to prevent children from being harmed, Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan said that "The floor should be made of rubber material to prevent injuries to children. Sand floors should not be preferred as they will cause falls, injuries and germs. Also, it should not be forgotten that animals such as cats and dogs can easily defecate on sand floors."

How to prevent injury on playgrounds?

Stating that parents should pay attention to the fact that children's clothes are made of cotton fabrics instead of synthetic fabrics to prevent static electricity in playground, Asst. Prof. Rüştü Uçan continued his remarks as follows:

"The playground injury prevention framework consists of four elements that form the basis of safe playgrounds: S = Supervision. A = Appropriate Environments. F = Fall Surfacing. E = Equipment Maintenance. Improper surface material underneath playground fittings and toys is the leading cause of playground-related injuries. More than 79 percent of all accidents on playgrounds are caused by children falling. There are many surface materials such as rubber which can protect against falls.

Moreover, there should be warning signs under the name of 'Basic Rules for Child Safety in the Playground'. For example, 'No pushing, shoving or playing rough, 'No running on wet surfaces', 'No climbing on non-climbing equipment', 'Loose or dangling clothes or accessories that can be caught in the accessory should not be worn', 'Do not play with broken or damaged toys'.

Toys must be resistant to breakage and spillage

Pointing out that adequate environmental safety should be taken in roller skating or ice skating areas and cotton clothes should be preferred to help prevent static electricity that may arise from friction movement, Prof. Rüştü Uçan stated that "Children's playgrounds should be built with a natural fence or wall around 1.5 meters. Such areas must be monitored 24 hours a day with computer-aided security cameras, illuminated at night, and the security gate should be closed after a certain time in the evening. Toys made of plastic should be resistant to breakage and spillage and protected against the risk of falling."

How should the maintenance work in playgrounds and parks be?

Occupational Health and Safety Specialist and Chemical Engineer Instructor Mustafa Cüneyt Gezen also drew attention to the maintenance works in playgrounds and parks and stated that "Regular mechanical maintenance of toys such as swings, climbing rope equipment, trampolines should be carried out in playgrounds, and defective or damaged parts must be replaced immediately. Underground electrical leaks, if any, must be detected and repaired, attention should be paid to the rotting hazards of wooden poles, and traffic safety must be ensured around the park. Such parks should be kept under the supervision of the occupational safety expert of the municipalities and the workplace doctor."

Children's playground controls

Emphasizing the official rules that must be applied for playgrounds where children play and interact for a long time, Instructor Mustafa Cüneyt Gezen stated that "These are the rules that must be followed in matters concerning the safety of children, such as the materials on which the playgrounds are built, the design of the materials, the materials used on the ground and so on. After they are built, the parks should be checked at regular intervals and their safety must be ensured. There should never be high-voltage power poles in parks.”

 

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)