I will discuss some of the risks identified in more depth. In my walk around I noticed that the children’s play equipment is the same equipment I used as a child, I moved to this area when I was 1 year and 5 months and from then was taken to play there on a fairly regular bases. One of the swings had a chain broken; the slide was muddy as there had been a period of wet weather. These create risks of slipping and falling. I noticed that some of the paintwork was missing or chipped this creates the risk of minor injury to children of they catch their hands on any exposed skin on an uneven surface. If this exposed surface is rusty or if there is soil this creates a higher risk of tetanus if children are not immunised.
Tetanus is caused by bacteria that gets into the body by a cut, you are at more risk of the wound gets dirty with soil and manure.
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I noted that the equipment was unclean, there was evidence of soil and dirt this and wet soil was noted on the slide. This creates a risk of infection and falls. The risk of infection is that the equipment is widely used by children who may not wash their hands after using the toilet; this causes illness such as vomiting and diarrhoea from Rotaviruses, E-coli etc.
With Rotavirus most adults are immune but it is highly contagious among children E-coli is a cause of vomiting and diaorrhoea it can be caused by food. In parks many have a picnic and just leave food particles lying around this can create risks for small children who would pick this up and eat it.
The issue with dog dirt creates a risk of Toxocariasis this is an infection caused by warms found in the dog’s dirt. Anyone can get this infection, there are 3 types 2 of which can cause disease, 1 of these causes swelling of the bodies organs or central nervous system, the other effects the eyes. Children are most likely to develop this especially 2 –7 year olds because they are more likely to come into contact with soil or sand which is contaminated and are less likely to wash their hands.
Reference: Health Encyclopaedia NHS Direct
Play equipment such as swings must comply with BSIEN1176 and BSEN1176 and carry the GS mark of T.U.V approved. As the equipment used is so old I could not see any labels. Playground surfaces must confirm with BSEN1176 and BSEN1177. The surfaces are sand and bark in places and the bark did not conform with the above requirements of – Bark 20-80mm.
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Young children are vulnerable to abuse especially in the area around this park as there is a hostel close by for offenders who have committed child abuse crimes. These people are sent there when they are released from prison. The risk is that of children are left alone they may become a victim.
This issue of underage drinking is a major issue today in relation to the park area I noticed a beer bottle lying near the park and broken glass. I did the assessment on a Saturday, which might have been the reason, as local knowledge would indicate that Friday early evening and night is a common time for these youths to gather in the park.
The results of this assessment surprised me, I didn’t realise that there were so many risks. I can understand now why my parents did not allow me to go to the park on my own when I was younger.
I will now justify my recommendations for minimising the risks.
The provision of a fenced park which is secure is relevant for a number of the risks identified for example, busy road and car park, the risk of abuse, risk of injury due to waste and the risk of touching continuation dog dirt in soil or sand. I feel that the provision of the fenced area would significantly reduce these risks; it would control the issue of the busy road and car park, provided that parents and children closed the gate behind them. The gate of this area could be locked at night, which would reduce the risks of youths entering it to drink and drop empty alcohol bottles; this would be expensive but achievable.
The maintenance of equipment could be carried out more frequently to check it is still safe and that it complies with British Standards so this must be achieved. To comply with Disability Legislation the park needs to firstly create access to the play area there are no ramps and no equipment that would be suitable for all. – Providing this type of equipment would be very expensive
As my review pointed out the surfaces that have bark do not always comply with British standards, park attendants levelling the bark and ensuring sufficient depth of would help achieve this.
In relation to signs for various risks such as waste, dogs and alcohol could be more clearly highlighted for users to see the dangers. Hand hygiene campaigns on ‘hand washing’, are using more focused on hospitals these could be developed to cover more areas in the community and in schools and nurseries. Signs would be relatively inexpensive, however public campaign are expensive some working together with the Health Promotion Agency may achieve this recommendation.
The waste and the bins in the park particularly at busy periods especially weekends could be alleviated by employing more park attendants at these times and again more emphasis on picking up litter. There are people employed by Councils to observe for littering and fines can be issued, do these people ever visit children’s parks?
The provision of safe bins could control the risk of open bins this would be relatively inexpensive to achieve.
As previously stated more signs to keep dogs on lead and the dangers of dog’s dirt could be provided. Dog wardens could visit the park and there could be a notice to say area patrolled by ‘Dog Warden’. The issue of abuse is a complex one, in order to protect children you would be comprising the human rights of offenders so the recommendation about publishing photographs would not be appropriate. However there could be a greater police presence in the park, which would help reduce the risk. School should have more information for parents on child protection and local risks.
The issue of dangerous sports could be reduced by having specific times for these sports, playing them at the very end of the park. Also more nets behind goalposts and at the sides to catch balls should be provided all around this area, this is achievable but may be expensive.
The risks associated with underage drinking in the park could be reduced if the enclosed play area was provided however this would be expensive. Police are busy in many areas, they do carry spot checks in this area but this would not occur every week. This may be difficult to achieve.
To help achieve my recommendations I have written to Belfast city council identifying the risks. I observed. I asked them to contact the other organisations such as the Health Promotion Agency, Police, the Litter and Dog warden service to see of any joining working could be achieved to reduce these risks and to ask if equipment complies with British Standards to date I have not received a reply.
