The Swedish Consumer Agency warns: Broken networks, risky foam pits and flaws in “network towers”
Dangerous openings in climbing frames and a foam pit with insufficient damping.
There are common shortcomings in Swedish playgrounds, according to the Swedish Consumer Agency.
– It is a very serious risk, says Anna Strandberg, investigator at the Swedish Consumer Agency.
During 2024, the Swedish Consumer Agency inspected four Swedish playground facilities, both large and small. The inspections showed dangerous safety deficiencies that had also been present during previous checks.
One of the playgrounds inspected was Fun House in Södertälje. There, the inspectors discovered broken nets in a climbing frame where children could get their heads stuck and become dangling.
– It is a very serious risk, says Anna Strandberg, investigator at the Swedish Consumer Agency.
The other playgrounds that have been checked are in Gothenburg and Malmö. Leo’s Lekland’s facility at Backaplan in Gothenburg suffered a “foam pit” where jumping children risked injuring themselves due to poor cushioning, and at Funplay’s Malmö playground, dangerous flaws were discovered in a “net tower”. The deficiencies have been addressed, but were found to be due to a design flaw.
– We have written to the manufacturer and asked them to explain if the same fault exists in several places. They have until January to respond, says Anna Strandberg, investigator at the Swedish Consumer Agency.
Required on fine
After the inspection, Fun House in Södertälje was required to pay a fine of SEK 150,000. It was for not having removed two bouncy castles, which according to the Consumer Agency’s assessment were dangerous.
Leklandet’s owner Steven Kaio says the company has appealed the fine.
– We missed an email by a few days and think they were too harsh, says Steven Kaio to TV4 Nyheterna.
At the same time, he says that the bouncy castles have since been removed and that the entire facility passed the inspection in the fall. This is also confirmed by the Swedish Consumer Agency.
– We do checks every day, says Steven Kaio.
The Swedish Consumer Agency’s call
For several years, the Swedish Consumer Agency has urged the companies that run playgrounds to support each other in safety work, for example through a trade association.
– We understand that it can be a challenge for small companies to have enough staff, but then you have to adapt the equipment accordingly. The children should not risk seriously injuring themselves because the play equipment is broken or too advanced to use without supervision, says Anna Strandberg.
List of inspected playgrounds
Leo’s Playland Backplan, Gothenburg.
Here, the Swedish Consumer Agency saw, among other things, problems with a “foam pit” where jumping children risked injuring themselves due to poor cushioning.
Funplay’s Malmö
Here, the Swedish Consumer Agency saw problems in a “net tower” where children risked getting their heads stuck in holes that were not big enough. The failure turned out to be due to a design flaw.
Dino City, Malmö
A dinosaur in the playland’s cafe had an opening where children could get their head and neck stuck. The playground had been inspected previously, but this particular section had not been checked.
Fun House, Södertälje
During an inspection, broken nets were discovered in a climbing frame where children risked getting their heads stuck. In addition, the playground was banned from using two bouncy castles that were deemed dangerous.
Source: Swedish Consumer Agency.