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Independent Level 3 Playground
Safety & Risk 
Assurance Audit

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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:

  • Council governance and asset management frameworks
  • School boards in fulfilling duty-of-care responsibilities
  • ECE providers in meeting licensing quality requirements
  • Insurance requirements for defensible risk management
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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
  • Full compliance evaluation against NZS 5828:2015 and EN 1176 standards

  • Free height of fall, fall zones and falling space analysis

  • Spatial relationship and overlap evaluations

  • Structural integrity and material performance assessment

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Hazard & Risk Identification
  • Entrapment, entanglement, access and projection risk assessment

  • Loose-fill and impact-attenuating surface assessment and depth verification

  • On-site surface impact testing (where required) with separate CFH/HIC reporting

 
Asset Condition & Prioritisation
  • Asset condition grading for lifecycle and renewal planning

  • Distinction between urgent risk issues and routine maintenance matters

  • Prioritised recommendations aligned to risk outcomes

 
Clear, Evidence-Based Reporting
  • Comprehensive digital report including photos, measurements, and classifications

  • Asset condition and prioritisation Excel (XLS) deliverable

  • Certificate of Inspection confirming audit completion

  • On-site compliance labels where applicable

  • Post-audit debrief to support governance and next steps

Measured. Documented. Defensible.
 
Who This Audit Is For

 

  • Councils & Local Government Assets - Independent assurance supports governance, risk management, procurement, capital planning, and defensible decision-making.

  • Schools & Boards of Trustees - Provides documented evidence of comprehensive assessment in line with duty-of-care and board oversight responsibilities.

  • Early Childhood Education (ECE) Providers -Supports NZS 5828 compliance, ERO reviews, and Ministry of Education expectations for proactive risk management.

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Playsafe – Independent, Impartial, Accredited

Playsafe is a trusted provider of safety assurance services with over 30 years of international experience. Our inspectors are:

 

  • RPII Level 3 Certified

  • Fully insured and police-vetted

  • Independent from design, supply, and project delivery

  • 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:

 

  • tailored pricing based on site numbers

  • audit scheduling to align with asset planning cycles

  • staged or priority-based audit programmes

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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. 

 

Whether for governance reporting, insurer requirements, or quality assurance, an Independent Level 3 Safety & Risk Assurance Audit gives you clarity, confidence, and documented proof of due diligence.

Frequently asked questions

Questions about play safety?

Are you responsible for the safety of children in playgrounds and play areas? Do you want to ensure they can play and explore without fear of harm or injury?

Then you need "Play Safe - THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO Children's Play Safety and NZS 5828 Playground Equipment and Surfacing Standards." This comprehensive handbook is essential for safeguarding children's play environments.

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Playsafe Consulting Ltd

NZBN: 9429046546753 

35/3 Pacific Rise, Sylvia Park Auckland 1060

New Zealand

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