The consumer protection authority identified shortcomings at more than a third of the playgrounds it inspected

The aim of the nationwide inspection is to ensure that playgrounds provide a safe environment for children and that operators fully comply with their legal obligations. The inspections cover not only playgrounds in public spaces and equipment located in the grounds of crèches, nurseries and schools, but also sites falling within the so-called ‘grey zone’. Accordingly, the authority also regularly inspects playgrounds set up in hotels, restaurants, the courtyards of block of flats, or play centres.

During inspections carried out in the first half of the year, the authority’s experts examined nearly 3,000 items of playground equipment. Some form of non-compliance was identified at 37 per cent of the playgrounds and in 35 per cent of the equipment inspected. In order to rectify the identified shortcomings, the authority takes the necessary measures in every case and, where necessary, prohibits the use of playground equipment posing a risk of accident until the faults have been rectified. The total amount of consumer protection fines imposed during the inspections carried out to date has reached 14 million forints.

The safe operation of playground equipment is always the responsibility of the operator. To this end, the operator must ensure that the required safety inspections are carried out, that the necessary records and documentation are maintained, and that any identified deficiencies are rectified as soon as possible. During official inspections, experts check whether operators are fulfilling their legal obligations and ensuring that playground equipment which has become a safety hazard is not used until it has been repaired.

However, as parents, we can also look out for several signs that may indicate whether a playground is safe or not. Let’s check whether the mandatory information board is displayed at the entrance and whether it includes the operator’s name and contact details. It is worth checking whether the play equipment is broken or damaged, and whether there are any sharp or jagged edges on it. If so, report the problem to the operator immediately. If the rubber surfacing is damaged or missing, you should also report this to the operator.

If we spot any faults at the playground, or if the operator fails to rectify the problem despite our request, we can also report this to the NATCP customer service team (ugyfelszolgalat@nkfh.gov.hu).

Children’s safety can only be guaranteed through constant vigilance and regular inspections, which is why the NATCP and government agencies are continuing their investigations. In future, following the summer holidays in nurseries and schools, the focus of inspections will shift to playgrounds at educational institutions to ensure that children can use the playground equipment in a safe environment from the start of the school year. The authority’s aim is for these regular inspections to contribute to the safe operation of playgrounds, thereby reducing the risk of accidents involving children.