When children are capering and rollicking on playgrounds, annually about 6.800 children are hurting themselves in a way that they have to be treated in hospital. Nearly half of the misadventures are occuring because of downthrows from height, every fourth injury is caused by slipping and stumbling…

Playground equipment conforming to standards is demonstrably able to reduce the risks of accidents. Beginning on the 1st of June 2009, all playground equipment, as well as the playground flooring, has to comply to the new standards of serial ÖNORM EN 1176 (for playground equipment and flooring) and also to ÖNORM EN 1177 (shock-absorbing playground flooring).

When children enjoying and spending time on playgrounds, slight injuries are no tragedy, they would be just demanded by a normal infantile development. However to avoid severe injuries it is important to construct equipment and flooring that conform to current standards, just like regular maintenance and attention on the part of the parents – according to Anton Dunzendorfer, curatorship of transport safety.

Literary source: „Spielplatz als gefährliche Gefahrenzone“