Independent Level 3 Playground
Safety & Risk Assurance Audit

Clarity, compliance, and confidence in playground safety.
Delivering more than a routine inspection, our Independent Level 3 Safety & Risk Assurance Audit provides organisations with comprehensive, defensible assurance that their playground assets have been evaluated against the full requirements of the applicable standards.
Whether you are a council responsible for community assets, a school board of trustees, or an early childhood education (ECE) provider, this audit is designed to help you manage risk, support governance, and demonstrate due diligence.
Why an Independent Level 3 Safety & Risk Assurance Audit Matters
Playground owners and operators hold a responsibility to prioritise safety, comply with standards, and be able to demonstrate that comprehensive assessment has occurred should events be reviewed by governance bodies, insurers, or external agencies.
A certified Level 3 audit delivers independent, evidence-based assurance, documenting that conformity to NZS 5828:2015 and EN 1176 has been systematically evaluated — including key risk exposures not captured by basic maintenance inspections.
This level of assurance supports:
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Council governance and asset management frameworks
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School boards in fulfilling duty-of-care responsibilities
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ECE providers in meeting licensing quality requirements
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Insurance requirements for defensible risk management

What Our Level 3 Safety & Risk Assurance Audit Includes:
Our audits are delivered by certified RPII Level 3 inspectors and include:
Technical Compliance & Risk Assessment
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Full compliance evaluation against NZS 5828:2015 and EN 1176 standards
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Free height of fall, fall zones and falling space analysis
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Spatial relationship and overlap evaluations
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Structural integrity and material performance assessment
Hazard & Risk Identification
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Entrapment, entanglement, access and projection risk assessment
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Loose-fill and impact-attenuating surface assessment and depth verification
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On-site surface impact testing (where required) with separate CFH/HIC reporting
Asset Condition & Prioritisation
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Asset condition grading for lifecycle and renewal planning
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Distinction between urgent risk issues and routine maintenance matters
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Prioritised recommendations aligned to risk outcomes
Clear, Evidence-Based Reporting
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Comprehensive digital report including photos, measurements, and classifications
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Asset condition and prioritisation Excel (XLS) deliverable
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Certificate of Inspection confirming audit completion
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On-site compliance labels where applicable
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Post-audit debrief to support governance and next steps
Measured. Documented. Defensible.
Who This Audit Is For
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Councils & Local Government Assets - Independent assurance supports governance, risk management, procurement, capital planning, and defensible decision-making.
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Schools & Boards of Trustees - Provides documented evidence of comprehensive assessment in line with duty-of-care and board oversight responsibilities.
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Early Childhood Education (ECE) Providers -Supports NZS 5828 compliance, ERO reviews, and Ministry of Education expectations for proactive risk management.
Playsafe – Independent, Impartial, Accredited
Playsafe is a trusted provider of safety assurance services with over 30 years of international experience. Our inspectors are:
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RPII Level 3 Certified
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Fully insured and police-vetted
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Independent from design, supply, and project delivery
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Experienced in governance-level reporting for councils, schools, and communities
We deliver consistent, repeatable audit outcomes with the clarity and integrity required for risk definition, asset strategy, and stakeholder assurance.
Ready to Plan for 2026?
If you are planning your organisational Level 3 Safety & Risk Assurance Audits for 2026, we’d be happy to assist with:
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tailored pricing based on site numbers
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audit scheduling to align with asset planning cycles
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staged or priority-based audit programmes
Contact us today to discuss how we can help you manage safety risk with confidence.

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Playground safety is more than a checklist — it’s evidence-supported assurance.












