Swing Set Assembly & Parts Safety

     Planning the location and upkeep of a swing set are only some aspects of swing set safety. The assembly of a swing set is also important and, regardless of whether you purchase a wooden or metal swing set, the safety standards are the same. Certain swing set parts and accessories need to be spaced away from others to maintain basic safety for users and, although swing set plans are generally specific, a swing set needs to be safe for all users.

     For an outdoor swing set, following the swing set plans is relatively straight forward. However, some important points regarding assembly of a swing set are:

• Use lightweight swings, if they're not already included. Heavy wood and metal swings should be avoided to prevent injuries, especially with young children.
• Any disc swings or tire swings should be placed away from other swing equipment, as they need a 360-degree rotation.
• Eight inches, minimum, should be between swings with limited sideways motion and 24 inches for swings with unlimited lateral motion.
• Twelve inches, minimum, should be between a lawn swing and support poles at 28 inches above the swing's seat and 16 inches between a teeter-totter's seat and support poles at 22 inches above the seat.
• Eight inches, minimum, should be between the protective surfacing and underside of a suspended unit, such as a teeter-totter or lawn swing.

     Many of these distances are already specified in swing set design plans but, if the distances appear questionable, consulting ASTM-F1148 or the standards recommended for home playground equipment by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

     After the swing set is assembled, the entire apparatus should be checked for safety risks. While many swing sets meet ASTM-F1148 standards, all swing sets should be checked, regardless of whether the wood or metal swing set is listed as being ASTM-F1148 compliant on the packaging. Some possible factors to look for that have potential for injury are:

• Head and neck entrapments. All openings on the equipment should be checked, especially slide entrances for gaps and protrusions. Any V-shaped angles less than 55 degrees should be filled. To prevent a child's head or neck from getting stuck in the equipment, children should not wear a bicycle helmet while playing on equipment.
• Hanging ropes. No loop-forming materials, such as jump ropes or tug-of-war ropes, should be attached to any component on a swing or play set. Allowed ropes on swing and play sets, such as climbing ropes or a rope for a disc swing, should be secured and sealed and, if existing ropes become frayed or loose, they should be replaced. Replacement ropes for swings should not be able to untwist or have strands that separate easily.
• Fall-prone equipment. All steps for climbing, including stairs and rungs, need to be spaced evenly and solid stairs, such as those for a slide, need to have a continuous handrail. Guardrails or barriers are needed for any platform more than 30 inches above the ground.
• Swing safety. If a child is using a toddler swing, he or she should be secured in the swing's restraint system so that he or she cannot remove or slide through the restraints. When toddlers and children are using the swings, do not leave them unattended.

     A swing set should be checked thoroughly and receive maintenance for continued safety. While a swing set is an enjoyable piece of home playground equipment for the backyard, certain safety measures need to be met for its continued use and safety of users.