1. If your safety surface is made from loose fill, make sure the surfaces around the playground equipment have at least 1 inch of wood chips, mulch, sand or pea gravel per foot of play surface height.

2 If your safety surface is synthetic (such as rubber mats or poured in place rubber surface), visually inspect the surface for unusual wear patterns.

3. Check that the safety surface extends at least 6 feet in all directions from the play equipment. For swings, verify that the safety surface extends twice the height of the top beam, both in front of the swings and behind the swings.

4. Make sure that play structures more than 30 inches high are spaced at least 9 feet apart.

5. Check for dangerous hardware. Verify that all bolts exist, that they remain tight, and that there are no more than 2 threads protruding outward.

6. Examine swing set hardware for wear. Verify that all "S" hooks remain closed (a dime should not be able to pass through the opening). Worn swing seats can cause injuries! Check swing seats for wear or cracking, and verify the ends have no excessive wear.

7. Make sure that all spaces that can trap children, such as openings in guardrails or between rung ladders, measure less than 3-½ inches, or greater than 9 inches.

8. Check for sharp points or edges on all equipment.

9. Look for tripping hazards, like exposed concrete footings, tree stumps, and rocks.

10. Make sure that elevated surfaces, like platforms and ramps, have guardrails to prevent falls.

11. Make sure that all children are properly supervised while they are on the playground, and do not engage in inappropriate play.

12. Perform a safety check at least once per year.