Build and Play safetyEast African Playgrounds adheres to international playground standards to ensure that our playgrounds are of a high quality, safe and fun. As a member of the East African Playgrounds build team it is your responsibility to ensure that you:1. Understand every page of this document.2. Follow all the rules and guidelines set out within this document.3. Understand how you are going to build the playground.4. Cooperate and work together as a team with the project managers.5. As a project manager, be able to manage EAP staff, EAP volunteers and community volunteers.This document is divided into five parts: Playground preparation. Play safety. Playground construction.

Pre-opening checks

Play time.1. Playground preparationBefore you agree to build the playground at the agreed location, have a walk around, inspect the site and talk with the person in charge to ensure it is suitable.

Below are a few good questions to ask:QuestionsCheck

Is the potential playground site close to a rubbish pit

main Road

sewage

toilet

kitchen

electricity lines

water pipes

Does the area flood when rains

have any tripping hazards

have enough space to adhere to fall zones

If the answer to any of these questions is yes then you need to consider whether this issue is manageable or not. If is manageable then the playground is fine to be built there, if the issue causes a serious problem, you will need to consider building elsewhere. This checklist should act as a guideline not an exact measurement of whether an area is suitable or not. 2. Play SafetyPlay structure heights

When building any play structure you must always remember that the height you make it must reflect the height of the children who will be playing with it. The best way to do this is to go on your knees and see what things look like (your eyes will then be at childs level), or find the average sized child at the school to test it out with, you can get a child to come over and help you work out what would be the best height for them. Consider how accessible a play structure is when you are smaller!Safe fall heights

The most dangerous aspect of a playground is children falling from height. Monkey bars, firemans poles, tyre climbers and slides are the main risks. It is vital that the heights of platforms correct. The playground is designed to be safe at the heights that each platform is supposed to be. It is your job to make sure that the platforms are level and the correct height. If the ground is unlevel then you must work out how to make the platforms a safe height, without being above the designed height. Any platform above 5ft high MUST have railings and soft fall (sand) below it.

Safe fall zones

All of our playground equipment has a safe fall zone. This is stated on the designs and is an area around each part of the play structure that must be a free space with no other obstacle in it such as a tree, termite hill or another part of playground equipment. The safe fall zone must contain soft fall material such as grass or sand. Example 1: Small Swing

Example 2: Big Swing

Example 3: Seesaw

Example 4: Medium complex

Entrapment hazards

Entrapment hazards are spaces in a playground that a child can trap a body part that which they are unable to remove themselves. Often it can be the childs head as their heads are bigger than their bodies. Other entrapments hazards include finger traps, arm, feet and leg traps. These diagrams show the sizes of spaces as to not become entrapment hazards

Tunnels

Tunnels up to 2m in length which are open at both ends on a flat piece of ground must have an internal diameter of at least 500mm. Any tunnel on an angle or any tunnel longer than 2m must have an internal diameter of at least 750mm. Tunnels open at one end only should not be longer than 2m.Should a child become stuck, these dimensions ensure that adult is able to reach and remove the child.

Pinching and trappingThese hazards can cause a lot of harm to children and can happen when moving parts of the playground touch either each other or the floor. This means a child could trap and finger, toe or foot in the gap possibly leading to serious injury.

Play safety checklist Questions

Before digging foundations

1Are the fall zones correct?

2Is the layout fine?

Before casting

SeesawDoes it have the right fall zone space?

SwingsDoes it have the right fall zone space?

SlideDoes it have the right fall zone space?

StepsDoes it have the right fall zone space?

Firemans poleDoes it have the right fall zone space?

Climbing wallDoes it have the right fall zone space?

Tyre climberDoes it have the right fall zone space?

Other elements

FasteningsAre the bolts secure?

GapsAre there any entrapments?

SpaceDo they have the right fall zone space?

Before starting to paint

WeldIs all of the welding completed?

FinishingHas all of the grinding been done?

FinishingAre there any sharp edges?

3. Playground constructionToolsYou will need a range of different tools for a playground

Hand tools Hoes

Pickaxes

Spade

Digging spikes

Hammers

Spanners

Screw drivers

Allan keys

Paintbrushes

Sandpaper

Power tools

Drills

large grinders

small grinders

Welding equipment (torches, cable etc)

Power tool generators

Welding generators

CementingIt is important that you follow the instructions for foundation depth for each element. The cement ratio is as follows:.

1 bag of cement

2 wheelbarrows of sand

4 wheelbarrows of 1.5-2 aggregate

Always mix your cement on a board to avoid water runoff and mixing soil into cement

Compacting tyres

Some elements do not need to be cemented in. These are mainly the tyre element. Instead of using cement you will need to compact the soil into the foundations and around the tyre. You need to make sure that you do not leave any gaps in the foundation hole. The best way to do this is to use plenty of water and a thick stick such as a hoe or pickaxe handle to push down the soil.

Appropriate safety equipmentIt is vital that you protect yourself and others when working within the playground site. When welding you must wear a welding mask or goggles, fire retardant overalls, work boots and welding gloves.

When using an angle grinder or cutter you must wear gloves, overalls, eye protection and work boots. When digging you must wear work boots and gloves. You must be a safe distance away from other people and objects when using hoes, axes, pick axes and spades.. When cementing you must wear work boots, gloves and masks. When painting you must wear rubber gloves, goggles and masks must be worn by everyone.

Building with volunteersYou are responsible for the safety of volunteers when building on project and therefore you must ensure that volunteers wear the protective clothing stated above. Volunteers are not allowed to use power tools and must be given a safety talk prior to each stage of the build to ensure they and those around them are safe.Onsite Safety check

Action

Are all tools and safety gear are present?

Are all tool and safety gear in working order?

Have the volunteers been given a tool safety talk?

Have volunteers been shown how to use tools?

Wear face masks when mixing cement

Wear safety boots at all times

Wear gloves for building and cementing

Wear mask when welding

Wear overalls when welding

Wear gloves when welding

Do not leave tools on the ground

Wear goggles when painting

Wear rubber gloves when painting

Wear face masks when painting

Drink only clean treated water

DO NOT WEAR BLUE EAP SHIRTS TO WORK IN!!

4. Pre-opening checksTripping HazardsTripping hazards are any objects on the ground that are difficult to see and could be tripped upon. Trip hazards include rocks covered by long grass, very low walls or bricks, potholes or very small mounds of dirt. These must be removed or if this is not possible made obvious (e.g being painted bright yellow) to decrease the risk of tripping.Sharp edgesIt is the whole teams responsibility to make sure that before the playground is painted that there are not any sharp edges, rough areas, holes, nails or bolts sticking out, gaps or unfinished welded joins. Between the building team and welding team the whole playground must be checked to make sure there are not any sharp edge hazards. If there are any hazards then they must be removed before you continue with painting.

5. 5. Play timeBefore the playground can be opened and the children allowed to play upon it, final checks must be performed to ensure there are no safety issues:

Questions

Are all welds fully welded?

Is the paint finish of a high standard and dry?

Are all finger traps covered?

Are all the water drainage holes present and big enough?

Are the sandpits full to the top?

Are the plants planted well?

Are there any sharp edges?

Is the area cleared of tripping hazards?

Has the cementing area been cleared?

Have any dangerous objects been removed from the playground area?

Have all foundation holes been refilled to the ground level?

Have all the tyres been compacted in?

Playground rules

A playground is a free space for children to explore, discover and socialise. Before the playground is open it is great to get a group of students and teachers together to discuss what are good manners within the playground. Here are a few examples:

1. Only do what you feel comfortable doing.2. Be kind, dont hurt anyone.3. Be good friends and let others join your games.4. Be honest, dont cover up the truth.5. Care for your playground.6. Do not throw sand.7. If something is broken tell the teachers until it is fixed.8. Clear any rubbish or rocks from the playground.9. Only have one child on the swings at a time.10. Do not climb or walk up the slides.East African Playgrounds is a registered NGO in Uganda (9716)

and a registered charity in England and Wales (1129244)