Copyright © 2018 Authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
International Journal of Engineering & Technology, 7 (4.15) (2018) 257-261
International Journal of Engineering & Technology
Website: www.sciencepubco.com/index.php/IJET
Research paper
Brief Communication on Parents’ Perception towards Favourite
Play Equipment, Satisfaction Level and Safety of Public
Climbing Equipment in Malaysia
Cheah Kah Ling
1
, Raja Ahmad Azmeer
2
, Mohd Shahrizal Dolah
3
, Saiful Hasley
4
, and Jusang Bolong
5
1,2,3,4
Department of Industrial Design, Faculty of Design and Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Jalan UPM, 43400 Serdang,
Malaysia. 5Department of Communication, Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Jalan UPM,
43400 Serdang, Malaysia.
Abstract
Public playground injuries caused by unsafe climbing equipment is a public health concern. This study aims to measure Malaysian
parents’ perception towards their children’s favourite play equipment and satisfaction level on public equipment safety. A self-
administered survey was employed among 50 Malaysians citizen, aged between 18 to 45 years. Data was descriptively analysed using
SPSS version 21.0. The results showed that climbing equipment was favourite playing equipment among children. Furthermore, our
study revealed that (90%) of parents were dissatisfied with public climbing equipment. We found that while (92%) of the parents agreed
that safety levels of the climbing equipment should be improved. In addition, the study revealed that more than three quarters of
respondents agreed to reduce free fall height, improve product materials, focus on reducing falls, and implement effective safety
inspection including regular maintenance to improve the safety level of public climbing equipment. Results from this study could assist
in advanced urban recreation safety for controlling injuries and regain parents’ trust on playground safety.
Keywords: Children, Public Playground Injuries, Urban Recreation Safety, Public Health, Outdoor Play, Recreation Equipment
1. Introduction
Accident at the public playground remains the largest cause of
playground injuries among children aged between 3-12 years old
(Sherker & Ozanne-Smith, 2004). Each year more than 200,000
children are treated at emergency department for injuries
happening in playgrounds (Suminski et al., 2015). According to
the statistics from the Epidemiology of Injuries in Malaysia, there
were about 3000 injuries cases every three months in Malaysia
Most of the injuries are caused by the falls of children from public
recreation equipment. Research indicate that 75% of the injuries at
the playground are caused by the fall of children from equipment
(Norraliza, 2012). Out of 39,730 selected cases, 84% happened in
public playgrounds (Keays & Skinner, 2012), where climbing
equipment were always accounted for most of the injuries among
children (Cassell & Clapperton, 2014).
Climbing equipmnet is publicly known to be one of the most
prevalent equipment among children (Bourke & Sargisson, 2014;
Mani, Mehdi Hosseini, & Abdullah, 2012; McDonald, 2001;
Sargisson & McLean, 2013). Past research revealed that children
engaged in risky play to meet their needs of playing, often taking
risk through experience of height and speed (Bourke & Sargisson,
2014; Brussoni, Olsen, Pike, & Sleet, 2012)). In addition, research
indicate that children love equipment that provides opportunity to
develop risk-taking behaviour in order to meet their basic
psychology needs of competence (Ryan & Deci, 2000), where
they’ll imaged themselves expert or being good while using the
climbing equipment (Tobin, Nadalin, Munroe-Chandler, & Hall,
2013). According to a study by Noriah,(2014), the safety level of
our playgrounds is very low and more should be done to make
playgrounds safe. Despite the availability of safety standard of
Malaysian government (ASTM, 2017); most of the playgrounds
do not comply with the general safety requirement (Ahmad Sid &
Hassan, 2014). Likewise, an improper maintenance of the
equipment by concerned authorities is also an area of concern
(Ahmad Sid & Hassan, 2015).
As Malaysia is heading towards industrialization, urban recreation
safety should not be neglected considering the importance of
outdoor play in children’s physical health and mental development
(Ripat & Becker, 2012; Brussoni et al., 2015; Bond & Peck, 1993).
Playing was recognised to be one of the highest achievements of
human being as it can foster to intellectual achievement and
emotional well-being (Whitebread, 2012). Research indicate that
outdoor time spend is significantly associate with physical activity,
cardiorespiratory fitness and sedentary behaviours (Casey Gray
et.al). A detailed perception theory described that the final
perception towards a product or service is influenced by a person’s
mental set, past experiences, needs and alteration (Robbins,
Millett & Waters-Marsh, 2004). Likewise, (Oliver, 1997)
concluded that satisfaction is said to be a judged when the features
of climbing equipment provide a pleasurable level of
consumption-related fulfilment, including under- or over-
fulfilment.
Since playing is important for physical and mental health of the
children (Marie et. al(Bond & Peck, 1993; Brussoni et al., 2012)),
various researcher has tried to discussed the issue related to
climbing equipment and its impact on children injuries (Wakes &
Beukes, 2012). Although there are number of studies on parent’s
perception toward the exposure of their children to nature,