Risk / benefit assessment for play structures in public space
This page should be read in conjunction with the full discussion of the topic headed: The importance of allowing some risky play: link.
A separate page on risk / benefit assessment in staffed play provision is here: link.
Staffed play provision such as adventure playgrounds are able to offer more risky play opportunities, as supervising adults can be trained to assess risk and benefit in a similar way to a coach in boxing, canoeing or rock climbing.
The downloadable risk / benefit assessment form below was developed as a result of work London Play has done to install natural play features in unsupervised public space on housing estates and parks, it has a blank page at the end, so you can print it off to use for your own work. Please send us any examples you feel may be useful to share.
Natural play features fall outside the technical remit of Registered Play Inspectors, who are trained to ensure manufactured play equipment is safe and properly installed in relation to European guidelines EN BS 1176 and 1177. Details of their work here: link.
However, it is advisable to ensure any natural play features are demonstrably safe by reference to the relevant parts of the EN BS 1176 and 1177 standards, and that any potential risks that are beyond these guidelines are justified as having a benefit which outweighs the risk.
Many Registered Play Inspectors are able to advise on both manufactured and natural play features and materials. Recent debate over the issue of who inspects natural play features has resulted in this letter from the Health and Safety Executive: link.
