Perceptions of playground safety among principals, physical education teachers, and a certified playground safety inspector.

Abstract

While the concern for playground safety has been extensive in recent years, the number of injuries and hazards associated with playgrounds is still very high. Studies have shown that school playgrounds are frequently associated with many safety hazards. When the school personnel who are responsible for the students cannot identify hazardous conditions on the playground, one cannot expect the playgrounds to be safe. This investigation compared a certified playground safety inspector's (CPSI) perceptions of specific playground hazards to physical education teachers' and principals' perceptions of specific playground hazards. It also compared principals' perceptions of specific playground hazards to physical education teachers' perceptions of specific playground hazards. A playground safety survey focusing on 11 specific playground hazards was administered to twenty-seven schools (principal & physical education teacher) in the Middle Tennessee area. A CPSI also evaluated each of these schools. The CPSI's mean ratings of the specific playground hazards were lower than the principals' and physical education teachers' ratings in every case except one. Significant (p {dollar} less than {dollar}.05) differences were found between the CPSI's mean ratings of certain specific playground hazards and physical education teachers' and principals' mean ratings of specific playground hazards. Significant (p {dollar} less than {dollar}.05) differences were also found between physical education teachers' mean ratings of specific playground hazards and principals' mean ratings of specific playground hazards. These results indicate that the principals and physical education teachers perceive specific playground hazards as being less frequent and/or dangerous than that of a trained professional. The investigation further showed that the number of years employed in elementary education and the total number of years employed at a particular school was not related to the principals' and physical education teac