Treated Wood Swing Set Safety
A swing set made out of treated wood can give your children hours of enjoyment for years to come. It is important to make sure that the swing set is as safe as possible so that no one gets injured using it, and so that you can be sure in your children's ability to use the swing set for years to come.
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General Safety
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Treated wood swing sets should be treated like any other swing set when it comes to general safety. Young children should not use the treated wood swing set without supervision, and children who are older than 5 should use the swing set without supervision only when they are capable of playing outside on their own.
Use Safely
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A treated wood swing set should only be used for the purpose for which it is in intended. Swings should be used to swing on and not to stand on. Slides should only be slid down and not climbed up. Treated wood does not usually warp in weather, but you should check the parts periodically to make sure.
Wood Safety
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Treated wood swing sets pose certain safety hazards on their own. Children should not bite or chew on wood pieces, because the paint and stain can be poisonous. Splinters can also be a hazard. Children should be careful not to slide up and down on the seats, and should know that if they get a splinter they should talk to their parents right away and have help removing it. Take care when using a treated wood swing set, or any swing set, in the winter, as ice and snow can build up on the swing set and can be dangerous.
Replacement Safety
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Wood parts, even treated wood parts, will corrode over time and need to be replaced. If you live in a climate that has large variations between winter and summer temperatures, this corrosion can take place more quickly. Take care to check the various parts of your treated wood swing set and make sure they are not becoming corroded. Replace the parts of the swing set that have become corroded, and make sure that you check around the slides, swings and chains to ensure that wood pieces have not become damaged.
Climbing Safety
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Treated wood swing sets are often made with climbing pieces such as hills, walls and rope ladders. Take care when climbing on the wood pieces, as splinters might occur. Teach your children to not slide down treated wood slats.
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