Ensure safety of public recreational areas, facilities
SIBU: Local councils in Sarawak need to be more proactive in ensuring all public recreational areas and facilities are safe, says Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil.
According to him, the facilities must be inspected and audited by the respective council’s enforcement staff or, when necessary, by Certified Playground Safety ( CPS) auditors.
“In today’s world where work is now more demanding than ever, playgrounds, parks, gardens, beaches and recreational areas are getting more popular among the public as a place to de- stress and to bring their family to ‘get away’ from the hectic city life.
“Hence, all public recreational areas and the facilities must be properly maintained and regularly inspected to ensure that the grounds are safe, swings are not rusty especially the nuts and bolts, and gazebo roofs are secured to avoid any unnecessary
In today’s world where work is now more demanding than ever, playgrounds, parks, gardens, beaches and recreational areas are getting more popular among the public as a place to de-stress and to bring their family to ‘get away’ from the hectic city life. Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, Assistant Minister of Local Government
mishaps,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Penguang was responding to a suggestion by National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health ( Niosh) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye that thorough safety audit on public playgrounds nationwide be conducted to help authorities identify problems and take necessary actions to avoid mishaps.
Lee’s suggestion came following an incident last month where a 15-year- old girl died in a freak playground accident in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur when her head got caught in a swing she was sitting on.
According to the Niosh chairman, a study conducted by the Playground Safety Association of Malaysia ( PSAM) showed that 75.6 per cent of public playgrounds are in a bad state, with 50 per cent of playground equipment and park furniture posing danger to children from being rusty.