Play-Structure Falls & Surfacing

Raised equipment (a swing set, climber or slide) sitting on grass, dirt, concrete, asphalt or a thin mat; loose fill that has packed down or been scuffed away under the swings and slide; a platform higher than 30 inches with no guardrail; gaps between rails a child's body or head could pass through.

CPSC's home playground handbook: don't put equipment over concrete, asphalt or other hard surfaces, and don't count grass or dirt as protection. Keep at least 9 inches of loose fill (wood mulch or chips, engineered wood fiber, or shredded rubber mulch for equipment up to 8 feet high; sand or pea gravel for equipment up to 5 feet), and know that a starting depth of 12 inches compresses to about 9, so it needs periodic topping up. Extend the surfacing at least 6 feet in every direction (more at swings), put guardrails on any platform over 30 inches, leave at least 6 feet of clear space around the equipment, and never attach ropes, leashes or cords to it. Surfacing rules are lighter for low equipment (CPSC allows 6 inches for equipment under 4 feet if maintained, and none for ground-level items like a sandbox). Choose equipment sized for your child's age and supervise play.