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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that about 100,000 playground equipment-
related injuries resulting from falls to the ground surface are treated annually in U.S. hospital emergency rooms. Injuries
involving this hazard pattern tend to be among the most serious of all playground injuries, and have the potential to be
fatal, particularly when the injury is to the head. The surface under and around playground equipment can be a major
factor in determining the injury-causing potential of a fall. It is self evident that a fall onto a shock absorbing surface is less
likely to cause a serious injury than a fall onto a hard surface. Playground equipment should never be placed on hard
surfaces such as concrete or asphalt and while grass may appear to be acceptable it may quickly turn to hard packed
earth in areas of high traffic. Shredded bark mulch, wood chips, fine sand or fine gravel are considered to be acceptable
shock absorbing surfaces when installed and maintained at a sufficient depth under and around playground equipment.
The following table lists the maximum height from which a child would not be expected to sustain a life-threatening
head injury in a fall onto four different loose-fill surfacing materials if they are installed and maintained at depths of 6, 9,
and 12 inches. However, it should be recognized that all injuries due to falls cannot be prevented no matter what
surfacing material is used.
FALL HEIGHT IN FEET FROM WHICH A LIFE THREATENING HEAD INJURY
WOULD NOT BE EXPECTED
TYPE OF MATERIAL
6-INCH DEPTH
9-INCH DEPTH
12-INCH DEPTH
Double Shredded Bark
Mulch
6 10 11
Wood Chips
. .
6
7
12
Fine Sand
5
5
9
Fine Gravel
6
7
10
It is recommended that a shock absorbing material should extend a minimum of 6 feet in all directions from the
perimeter of stationary equipment such as climbers and slides. However, because children may deliberately jump from a
moving swing, the shock absorbing material should extend in the front and rear of a swing a minimum distance of 2 times
the height of the pivot point measured from a point directly beneath the pivot on the supporting structure.
This information is intended to assist in comparing the relative shock-absorbing properties of various material. No
particular material is recommended over another. However, every material is only effective when properly maintained.
Materials should be checked periodically and replenished to maintain correct depth as determined necessary for your
equipment. The choice of a material depends on the type and height of the playground equipment, the availability of the
material in your area, and its cost.
'This information has been extracted from the CPSC publications "Playground Surfacing - Technical Information Guide" and
"Handbook for Public Playground Safety:' Copies of these reports can be obtained by sending a postcard to the: Office of Public Affairs,
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C., 20207 or call the toll-free hot line: 1-800-638-2772.
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