API_Inspection & Mantenance:Layout 1 17/04/2009 12:11 Page 27
ASSOCIATION OF PLAY INDUSTRIES
Inspection and
Maintenance
In recent months the API has received a steady
number of calls from authorities and commercial play
providers in regards to how they are expected to deal
with the inspection and maintenance of natural play
spaces and natural play features such as boulders and
tree trunks.
Designers, regardless of what they design suppliers and operators have obligations
have a legal responsibility to provide and requirements under the Health and
inspection and maintenance information Safety at Work Act, which is the umbrella
to their clients, under the Health and for all other guidance and standards
Safety at Work Act 1974. related information and however the
The first misconception is that a natural designers want to define the space it is
play space is not covered by the same still subject to the same legislation, such
legislation as the more traditional play is the breather of the act.
space and natural elements do not need Natural features such as boulders and
to comply with standards. logs placed into a play space must be
Natural play spaces are typically included in the design risk assessment,
manufactured play spaces and as such and to produce a risk assessment on ‹
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