Changes to slide planned to improve safety

A rescue package may have been secured for Papakaio School’s much-loved slide, which was put up for sale last year because school management believed it would not meet new Health and Safety regulations.

The slide has been in place for 41 years, during which time pupils have slid down it more than 615,000 times, according to the school.

Thanks to recent media attention, members of the public have come forward with ideas about how the school could save its beloved piece of play equipment.

Principal Gary Shirley said the school was approached by a Health + Safety Coaching NZ representative who talked them through legislation and gave them ideas on how to make the slide safer.

Mr Shirley said problems with the slide included its height, steepness, lack of sides and sharp change of angle at the bottom.

But plans were afoot to address those concerns.

Mr Shirley said once builders returned from holidays the plan was to engage someone to enclose the top of the slide’s platform with plywood to reduce the risk of children falling about 3m.

Other changes included removing the fireman’s pole and changing the ground area around the slide from bark to some type of rubber product.

"We haven’t had any serious accidents on the slide ... as far as I’m aware. I guess by making some changes we’ve taken away the possibility that someone was going to fall from the top to the bottom.

We believe that with the changes to the slide and its history that it’s been safe up until now.

"We believe [changes] will be to an acceptable level of risk."

He said it was hoped the alterations to the slide would be finished by the start of term two.

Article originally posted by the Otago Daily Times [HERE](http://www.odt.co.nz/regions/north-otago/changes-slide-planned-improve-safety)