Outdoor Safety Checklist
- An outdoor safety check helps protect your family or employees from harm.Juergen Bosse/Photodisc/Getty Images
In order to keep your family members or employees safe while out-of-doors on your property, you should perform a routine safety check of the grounds. An outdoor safety checklist will help you to streamline the process and to ensure that you are comprehensively minimizing potential risks. Thorough safety checks can reduce insurance premiums and improve the overall well-being of the individuals that are part of your life. - Affix your first aid kit t to the side of your buiding for easy outdoor access.sign. first aid sign image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com
Make sure that you have an easily accessible first aid kit located out-of-doors, in case of emergency. The kit should be fully stocked--at a minimum--with sterile bandages and gauze, aspirin, wound cleaning agents, CPR breathing barrier, instant cold compress, tweezers, burn cream, antibiotic ointment, a tourniquet and smelling salts. Affix the first aid kit to the side of your building in a prominent area where all can see it. Make sure the kit is water- and weather-resistant. - Ensure that all play equipment is securely anchored during your safety check.swing image by Stepanov from Fotolia.com
If your property includes swing sets, jungle gyms or other outdoor play equipment areas, check regularly for safety risks. A simple outdoor safety checklist for play areas should include ensuring that you have a cushioned "fall zone" (an area safe for accidental falls) underneath all play structures/equipment that extends for at least six feet beyond the play area. Make sure that each individual piece of play equipment is spaced at least nine feet from one another. Inspect S-hooks on swings to ensure that they are fully closed and that swing seats and chains are in good condition.
For small children, make sure that all play equipment is no more than two feet off the ground. Check guardrails and equipment to ensure they are securely anchored. Make sure that all slides are adequately shaded to avoid burns on sunny days. - Every outdoor safety checklist should include a wood rot inspection.rotting wood on old barn near wears valley tennessee image by Jorge Moro from Fotolia.com
Regularly inspect your deck area for potential safety hazards. Make sure that all banisters and railings are securely anchored. Ensure that your guardrails are at least 36 inches high in order to prevent accidental falls from the deck. Check all railing slats to make sure none are broken and that they are spaced no more than four inches apart. Inspect the deck steps to ensure they are free from clutter and in good repair. Use a screwdriver to check the wood quality of all elements of your deck; as wood rot and insect damage are major safety hazards. Keep an eye of for soft, spongy patches of wood (rot) and areas that contain a large number of small holes (insects).
