School sports and concussion
Whilst rare, serious injury can happen. Having the right procedures in place and knowing what to do can reduce the risks.
If you are responsible for playground equipment, you will need to ensure it is safe to use and properly maintained.
‘Playground equipment’ is any permanently fixed item used for indoor or outdoor play. Examples include climbing frames, swings, slides and roundabouts. This equipment can be used indoors too and here similar precautions will be needed.
Most organisations who provide play equipment will have specific responsibilities under health and safety law. This includes general duties set out in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations.
You may need to:
More information can be found in our playground equipment guidance notes.
Any equipment provided needs to meet the required standards and be properly installed.
The two main standards associated with playground equipment are:
BS EN 1176 is not retrospective. So, older equipment, might meet previous standards such as BS 5696 or DIN 7926. For other items, organisations may need to look for evidence that it has undergone third party testing (e.g. equipment may carry a TüV certificate or a BSI Kitemark).
Other useful health and safety information is available in our risk management hub.