The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) offers the Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) course to properly train individuals to recognize and prevent potential playground hazards and to prepare individuals to take the Certified Playground Safety Inspector Examination.
The purpose of the CPSI course and examination is for those certified to be able to:
- Identify hazards on public playground equipment and the playground
- Rank the hazards according to injury potential
- Apply the knowledge to remove the hazards and establish a system of inspections
Upon completion of the CPSI course a Certified Playground Safety Inspector should be capable of establishing a sound risk reduction program, establish a system of repair, retrofit and removal of hazardous equipment and establish a routine inspection system for their agency or playground owner-client.
How important is it? Did you know?
• Over 156,000 playground injuries occur each year resulting in 15 fatalities.
• 79% of all playground injuries are the result of falls.
• Playground hazards are the responsibility of owners, operators, designers, manufacturers, and all other caretakers responsible for children on the playground.
In addition, playing outdoors is a major component in the fight against childhood obesity as well as the overall health and well-being of young people and it’s our responsibility to ensure safe, enjoyable play areas for all.
NRPA’s vision includes a long-term goal of training and certifying at least one person from every community in the United States to be a CPSI. These inspectors will share their knowledge on the public-use playground standard of care with other people involved in playground operations within their agencies and throughout their community.
There are no prerequisites to attending the course and taking the exam, only the desire to make playgrounds safe as well as fun for children everywhere!
More about the CPSI Course Materials
Who should attend the CPSI training?
More about the CPSI Certification