Keeping kids safe on and near swing sets

June 9, 2025
Student and Visitor Risk

A school playground has a high potential for student injury, and many aspects of equipment and surface area could increase the risk even more.

An important area to consider when developing a playground safety plan are the swing set use zones. These zones are the areas immediately surrounding the swing set, where people may be walking, or where children flying off the swing might land.

While it’s important to watch these use zones when first setting up the playground, it’s equally vital to assess them on a regular basis once the equipment is in use.

Key risks in the use zone

Four common risks in a swing set’s use zone include:

Falls – Not only do children sometimes fall from swings, but they also frequently enjoy jumping from heights. Therefore, it’s important to have impact-absorbing surface material both directly underneath the swings and in the recommended use zones. The approved materials are poured-in-place rubber, engineered wood fiber, rubber mulch, pea gravel and sand.
Impact with people and objects – Anyone walking through a swing set use zone is at risk of collision. Additionally, any trees, fences, playground equipment or other objects within the zones can also pose the possibility for injury.
Tripping hazards within the zones – Use zones should be clear of potential trip/fall hazards. This would include exposed concrete footers, tree roots, French drains, playground surface barriers and landscape fabric.
Entanglement – Entanglement hazards should be eliminated from the swing set use zone. Examples include open sections of S-hooks and bolts attaching the swing chain clamps in an upward direction. Student clothing, like a hooded sweatshirt or ID badge lanyard, can catch on these hazards and cause strangulation or hanging.

Ways to reduce risk

Schools should take steps to decrease children’s risk of injury near the swing sets. These include:

Teaching safe use of swings. Because swings involve so much risk, children should be educated on safe practices. These include:
- Sitting down, and not standing, while swinging.
- Never jumping off a swing while it’s in motion.
- Not running or playing games such as tag, football, gaga ball, etc., in the use zone. The use zone area should be off limits for any other activities.
Supervising children on the swing set at all times. Children in the middle of play don’t always make the safest decisions. It is up to the supervising adults to make sure they are following all the rules.
Maintaining the minimum use zone to the front, rear and sides of the swing set. The use zone should extend at least twice the height of the swing set’s top bar (where the swings are attached) to the front and rear of the set. On the sides, there should be at least 6 feet of surface use zone.
Using surface material that absorbs impact should a child fall. The approved impact-absorbing materials include pour-in-place rubber, engineered wood fiber, rubber mulch, sand or pea gravel. The surface material depth should be at least 6-12 inches, depending on which material is used.
Regularly inspecting the surface depth. Over time, surface materials deteriorate and move from their intended location, which can lead to serious injury. The surface material is not meant to prevent injury but to reduce the potential for debilitating injury. You will need to replenish it occasionally. Also, if there are no borders, grass may encroach to reduce use zones.
Avoiding hazards in the use zone. Supervisors should regularly scan for toys, bikes, tree roots, benches or anything else that should never be located within use zones, even temporarily.