Write a risk assessment for Kids play area in a pub

For a children’s indoor play area in a pub, the starting point should be a documented site-specific risk assessment covering the play structure, access/egress, flooring, supervision arrangements, cleaning, food service, toilets/nappy-changing, safeguarding, and emergency response. The assessment should identify the tasks and areas involved, the hazards present, where they are located, the likelihood and severity of harm, and the controls required. Use a simple risk-rating method so higher-risk issues are addressed first, and review the assessment after changes, incidents, new equipment, or at least periodically. [8] [9] [11]

• Typical hazards to identify include: falls from play equipment, entrapment, impact with hard surfaces, overcrowding, collisions between children of different ages/sizes, unsafe access gates, damaged equipment, exposed fixings, sharp edges, finger traps, poor visibility for supervisors, slips from spills or wet footwear, trips from clutter/cables/mats, infection risks from poor cleaning, choking from food or small loose parts, hot drink burns, unauthorised adult access, children leaving unsupervised, and delayed emergency evacuation.
• Separate the play area from bar service routes, glassware, hot food/drink traffic, cellar or kitchen access, and any smoking/vaping areas.
• Consider vulnerable users: toddlers, children with disabilities, children who mouth objects, and children who may not understand rules or hazards.

[1] [10] [2] In UK terms, the key legal framework is the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, RIDDOR 2013, PUWER 1998 for work equipment used by staff, food hygiene law where food is served, and safeguarding duties under the Children Act 1989/2004 and, where applicable, DBS safer recruitment practices. For play equipment, follow relevant British/European standards and manufacturer instructions, and ensure installation, inspection, maintenance, and use are suitable for the intended age range. In practice, this means the pub operator should have written arrangements for inspection, cleaning, supervision, first aid, evacuation, safeguarding escalation, and accident reporting.

Risk control measures should follow the hierarchy of controls.

• Eliminate hazards where possible: remove unsuitable equipment, small detachable parts, protrusions, unstable furniture, and unnecessary cords or obstacles.
• Use engineering controls first: impact-absorbing flooring, guarded edges, secure gates, adequate barriers between play and dining/walkway areas, rounded edges, tamper-resistant fixings, and good sightlines for supervision.
• Use administrative controls: occupancy limits, age bands, play rules, sock-only policy if appropriate, routine inspections, cleaning schedules, defect reporting, staff training, and parental supervision rules.
• Use PPE only where genuinely needed for staff tasks such as cleaning chemicals; PPE should not be the primary control for routine play-area risks.

[4] [6] [7] Supervision should be clearly defined. As a minimum, parents/carers should remain responsible for their children unless the facility is formally staffed as a supervised play provision. Staff should still monitor the area, enforce rules, manage occupancy, respond to defects or unsafe behaviour, and intervene promptly if older children, rough play, food, drink, or overcrowding create risk. If the play area is large, enclosed, or not fully visible from seating areas, provide active staff checks at set intervals and CCTV only as a supplement, not a substitute, for supervision. Staffing levels should increase during peak periods, parties, or when mixed-age use is likely.

Equipment must be age-appropriate and segregated where necessary. Provide separate zones or clearly stated age limits for toddlers and older children. Equipment height, access openings, barriers, slide design, climbing difficulty, and surfacing should match the developmental ability of the intended users. Remove or restrict access to equipment that creates foreseeable entrapment, falls, or collision risks for younger children. Display simple rules at the entrance, including age range, maximum occupancy, no pushing/climbing on netting or exterior surfaces, no shoes if required, and no food or drink inside the play frame.

Slips, trips, and falls need particular attention because they are common and largely preventable.

• Keep floors, stairs, and access routes clean, dry, and free from debris, toys, packaging, and spillages.
• Inspect regularly for loose flooring, raised edges, unsecured mats, damaged steps, poor transitions between surfaces, and wet areas from toilets, entrances, or drink spills.
• Provide adequate lighting and remove visual obstructions, glare, and shadows that make hazards harder to see.
• Cover, reroute, or secure any cables and keep storage away from walkways and exits.
• Use wet-floor signage and temporarily block access to contaminated areas until safe.
• Require suitable slip-resistant footwear for staff working in wet or spill-prone areas.

[3] [1] [10] Cleaning and hygiene controls should include a written cleaning schedule for high-touch surfaces, play equipment, tables, gates, toilets, and baby-change areas; safe storage and use of cleaning chemicals; prompt cleaning of vomit, blood, faeces, and spills using an infection-control procedure; and regular checks for damage during cleaning. Handwashing facilities should be available nearby, with soap and drying materials, and hand sanitiser can be provided as an additional control. Soft play balls, mats, and enclosed spaces should be cleaned at a frequency based on use and contamination risk. Any damaged or heavily soiled soft furnishings should be removed from service until cleaned or replaced. [7] [11]

Food and drink should normally be kept out of the play equipment area. This reduces choking, slips from spillages, contamination, and burns from hot drinks. Do not allow glassware in or immediately adjacent to the play zone. Supervise party food carefully, consider allergen management, and ensure tables are cleaned promptly so children do not pick up dropped food or broken items. For younger children, prohibit hard round foods and other common choking hazards unless directly supervised by a parent/carer in a seated eating area.

Safeguarding arrangements should cover controlled entry/exit, clear lines of responsibility, staff awareness training, procedures for lost or missing children, responding to disclosures or concerns, appropriate use of CCTV, and escalation to police or children’s services where needed. Toilets and baby-change areas should be designed and monitored to reduce opportunities for abuse while preserving privacy. Staff should know how to challenge unauthorised adults in the play area and how to manage collection disputes or suspected intoxicated carers. If staff have regular, unsupervised roles with children, assess whether DBS checks are required.

Emergency procedures should include fire evacuation, medical emergencies, choking response, serious injury, missing child, violent incident, and utility failure. Keep exits unobstructed, ensure the play structure can be evacuated quickly, and brief staff on who calls emergency services, who clears the play area, who meets responders, and who preserves incident information. First-aid kits should be accessible, and an adequate number of trained first aiders should be available whenever the area is open. For severe defects or high-risk conditions, close the play area immediately until made safe. [3] [5] [9]

Accident reporting should include immediate first aid, making the area safe, recording the facts promptly, preserving relevant CCTV or photographs, informing parents/carers, investigating root causes, and updating the risk assessment and controls. In the UK, certain injuries and dangerous occurrences must be reported under RIDDOR 2013. Keep an accident book and a near-miss log, and trend the data to identify recurring issues such as falls, overcrowding, or contamination events. [11]

A practical inspection and management checklist for the pub should include:

• Daily pre-opening inspection of floors, gates, nets, fixings, padding, steps, slides, mats, lighting, signage, and cleanliness.
• Documented defect reporting with clear criteria for immediate closure of unsafe equipment.
• Visible rules for age range, capacity, supervision, socks/footwear, behaviour, and no food/drink/glass in the play area.
• Routine cleaning records and infection-control arrangements for bodily fluid incidents.
• Staff training on supervision, safeguarding, first aid arrangements, evacuation, spill response, and accident reporting.
• Periodic formal inspection and maintenance by a competent person, plus manufacturer-based servicing intervals.
• Review of the risk assessment after incidents, complaints, refurbishment, or changes in equipment/layout.

[6] [12] [11]