Play is an essential component of the social, emotional, cognitive and physical development of children, as well as of their creativity and imagination. Therefore, playgrounds play an important role in child development. All parents, grandparents, other relatives, guardians or caregivers would like want playgrounds that are safe for children and that are free of potential dangers such as infections and injuries.
According to Norraliza (2012), about 3,000 cases of injuries occur at playgrounds every three months in Malaysia. Such injuries commonly involve children between five to nine years of age. Playground surface was identified as the most frequent factor contributing to the injuries. She advises parents to ensure that their children use playgrounds with proper safety features and also to immediately inform their local authorities of unsafe features in the playgrounds.
A study conducted by Maryam et al (2012) indicated that parents, regardless of their education level, age, sex or ethnic heritage, are extremely concerned about the safety of their children.
With regard to the understanding of parents on the effectiveness of well-designed children’s play-surroundings, they found that parents considered components of landscape design, including proper sign boards, separation of cycling routes and physical barriers like fences and hedges, to be of significance in shielding children from accidents and injuries in parks, football fields and playgrounds.
In addition they also opined that the redesigning of neighbourhood parks with additional facilities for better surveillance, including better lighting to ease observations during night times, would make the parks and playgrounds safer from unlawful activities.
According to a Malaysian certified playground safety inspector expert, Noriah Mat, as reported by Oh (2014), Malaysian playgrounds have not changed much over the past 20 years, and do not often reflect the much more stringent international safety and maintenance standards. However, playgrounds in Malaysia are generally compliant with the standards of MS 966:2001 and the 1991 International Standard and American Society for Testing and Materials.
Nevertheless, Noriah Mat (Oh, 2014) has reiterated the need for a nationwide survey of playgrounds in Malaysia to be undertaken in order to properly and comprehensively ascertain their safety standards.
With this in mind, the move by the Department of Standards Malaysia to review the existing scope and requirements of MS966:2001 (Playground Equipment) is both timely and welcomed as a means of promoting better and greater safety awareness and action among those who purchase, install, and maintain public playground equipment in Malaysia.
More so, as the aforesaid move in intended to cover the roles, responsibilities and liabilities of all intended users of the MS 966 standard, including manufacturers, equipment purchasers and installers, playground developers and owners, school officials, playground designers, architects, parks and recreational personnel, as well as all other members of the general public (e.g., certified inspectors, parents and school groups) who are concerned with the public safety of playgrounds.
It is hoped that the publication of the revised MS966:2001 (Playground Equipment) would herald a new era of playground safety in Malaysia. Needless to say, the strategic collaboration of and contribution from the various parties and stakeholders involved would prove to be critical for the successful revision and implementation of the MS 966:2001 (Playground Equipment).
References
1. Maryam Mani, Aldrin Abdullah, Rahmat Azam Mustafa, Jayaraman, K, & Ala Bagheri. (2012). The Importance of Well-Designed Children's Play-Environments in Reducing Parental Concerns. Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research 11 (9): 1176-1184. DOI: 10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2012.11.09.987
2. Norraliza Md Zain, , (2012). My Health Ministry of Health Malaysia. Retrieved from http://www.myhealth.gov.my/index.php/en/kids/child-safety/playground-safety
3. Oh, IY (2014). More should be done to make our playgrounds safer. Star Online. Retrieved from http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Community/2014/05/01/Playing-with-safety-More-should-be-done-to-make-our-playgrounds-safer-By-OH-ING-YEEN-ingyeenthest/
SARAL JAMES MANIAM is research & policy manager, Malaysian Association of Standards Users (Standards Users).
