The Ultimate Playground Maintenance Checklist: 3 Free Tips to Guide Schools

The Ultimate Playground Maintenance Checklist: A Guide for Schools

A playground is a significant investment for any school, providing countless hours of fun, learning, and physical activity for students. To protect this investment and ensure the ongoing safety of your students, a comprehensive maintenance program is essential. Regular inspections and proactive maintenance can help you identify and address potential hazards before they cause an injury, extend the life of your playground equipment, and ensure your play space remains a source of joy for years to come.

This ultimate playground maintenance checklist will guide you through the process of creating and implementing a successful maintenance program for your school’s playground.

The Importance of a Proactive Maintenance Program

A proactive approach to playground maintenance is far more effective than a reactive one. By regularly inspecting your playground and addressing minor issues early, you reduce risk, avoid costly repairs, and support student safety.

The Australian Standard for Playground Equipment and Surfacing (AS 4685) outlines inspection and maintenance expectations that schools should follow.

Your Playground Maintenance Checklist

We recommend a three-tiered approach to playground maintenance, consisting of routine, operational, and annual inspections.

1. Routine Visual Inspections (Daily or Weekly)

Routine visual inspections check for obvious hazards and general cleanliness and can be completed by on-duty staff.

Your Routine Checklist:

• General Cleanliness: Remove litter, debris, and foreign objects such as broken glass or sharp sticks.
• Surfacing: Rake and level loose-fill surfacing and identify trip hazards or exposed roots.
• Equipment: Inspect all playground equipment for damage, sharp edges, or loose components.
• Vandalism: Check for graffiti or deliberate damage and report issues immediately.

2. Operational Inspections (Every 1–3 Months)

Operational inspections are more detailed and focus on the structural and mechanical condition of the playground.

Your Operational Checklist:

• Structural Integrity: Check for rust, corrosion, cracking, splintering, or movement in foundations.
• Fastenings: Ensure bolts and fixings are secure and replace missing or damaged parts.
• Moving Parts: Lubricate swing hangers and bearings and check for excessive wear.
• Surfacing: Inspect impact-attenuating surfacing for depth, cracks, lifting edges, or wear.

3. Annual Main Inspections (Once a Year)

Annual inspections provide a comprehensive safety and compliance assessment and should be conducted by a certified inspector.

Your Annual Inspection Should Cover:

• Compliance with AS 4685: Confirmation against Australian playground standards.
• Detailed Equipment Inspection: Structural integrity, stability, and wear checks.
• Surfacing Assessment: Evaluation of impact-attenuating surfacing, including drop testing if required.
• Risk Assessment: Identification of hazards with prioritised recommendations.

Record Keeping: An Essential Part of Your Maintenance Program

Consistent record keeping helps demonstrate due diligence and track playground condition over time.

Your Maintenance Log Should Include:

• Inspection dates
• Inspector names
• Identified hazards or issues
• Actions taken and repair dates

Kidzspace: Your Partner in Playground Maintenance

Kidzspace supports schools with inspections, maintenance guidance, repairs, and long-term playground care.

We also assist with design and installation and supply high-quality commercial playground equipment built to meet Australian safety standards.

Contact us today to learn more about our playground maintenance services and create a tailored maintenance plan for your school.

Copyright © Kidzspace. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright © Kidzspace. All Rights Reserved.