Every year, more than 200,000 children receive treatment in hospital emergency rooms due to playground accidents, according to the National Program for Playground Safety.
To avoid serious injuries and pricey lawsuits, churches should be careful when providing play areas on their property, according to experts.
“Playgrounds and recreational areas do make the church liable for the activities that take place there, and they are liable in case of an accident,” said Gary Swafford, director of new work and church building services at the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM).
“Therefore, care should be taken to follow all codes for the area,” Swafford said. “This includes making sure equipment meets all safety codes and providing adequate signage for the area as well as liability insurance for the church.”
One way for churches to avoid playground problems is to construct smaller, more controlled, age-specific play areas for children, Swafford noted.
“Many churches have designated areas for preschool only and then additional play areas that are appropriate for other children,” he said. “They may offer an even larger area designed for older children and youth.”
Rick Batson, president of TurnerBatson Architects in Birmingham, noted that churches can separate children by timing or equipment size.
“Playgrounds work better when they are age appropriate,” Batson stated. “You don’t want to mix 2-year-olds with 8-year-olds.”
Churches should also offer the appropriate ground cover for play areas. “Having a good play surface is important because kids will fall and you want something that will take the impact and not get them too dirty,” he said.
Tommy Haralson, church building services special worker for the SBOM, recommended that churches use a rubberized or hardwood surface material in play areas.
“We do not recommend pine bark because of infestation or pea gravel or sand because kids can put it in their mouths,” he said.
In addition to the proper equipment and surface material, churches should install adequate fencing, according to building experts. A fence can provide both privacy and safety.
At minimum, churches should install a six-foot-tall fence around the playground for safety purposes, Haralson suggested.
“[The fence] should be vinyl-coated and locked at all times,” he said.
In an article called “Attractive Nuisance,” Linda Connor of Samford University’s Center for the Study of Law and Church wrote: “Churches and other organizations should be aware of any dangerous conditions or instrumentalities (holes, equipment, etc.) on their property.
“Each organization should also take adequate steps to secure its property,” she wrote.
According to the center, churches should also consider the following tips when providing playground facilities on their property.
–Put up adequate fences and signs around playground areas.
–Make sure the playground equipment meets industry standards related to safety.
–Conduct periodic inspections to secure grounds and buildings, including attics and basements.
–Consult your insurance carrier about adequate liability insurance.
–Instruct employees to report to management any known trespassing.
–Be aware of any children coming from the outside onto the organization’s property.
–Periodically check that no dangerous conditions exist on the property or in any buildings.
–Establish and carry out a maintenance plan for the organization’s grounds and buildings.
–If the organization becomes aware of any dangerous conditions that exist on the property, take steps to either repair or alleviate such conditions.
Share with others: