How one facilities manager caught a dangerous playground hazard before a child got hurt and avoided the liability that could have followed.
Preventive maintenance is often viewed as a way to reduce downtime. In reality, its impact goes much further.
For one facilities manager at a New Jersey diocese, a routine preventive inspection uncovered a serious playground hazard before it caused injury. That single inspection not only prevented potential downtime but also helped avoid a significant liability risk.
A New Approach to an Old Problem
Like many facilities teams, his operation relied heavily on reactive maintenance. When something broke, it was repaired. When a complaint came in, it was addressed.
“Our reactive maintenance is so high… we’re usually fixing things after they break. But preventive tasks have saved us from some big problems.” – Wade E., Facilities Manager in New Jersey
When he started using HelixCMMS’ preventive maintenance tools, the mindset began to shift. Instead of waiting for problems to surface, his team started looking for them. Scheduled inspections were built into the platform. Checklists replaced guesswork. And the playground – a place where kids ran, climbed, and played every single day – became a regular stop on the preventive maintenance rotation.
A Routine Inspection With Real Impact
During one of those scheduled playground inspections, he discovered a sharp piece of steel protruding from the structure. It could have easily gone unnoticed during day-to-day use.
Without a preventive maintenance process in place, the hazard may not have been identified until someone was injured.
Instead, it was documented and addressed immediately. No incident. No injury. No escalation.
From Paperwork to Peace of Mind
National Playground Safety Week, observed each April, is a reminder that the equipment our kids climb on every day deserves a closer look, and that facilities teams need the right systems in place to catch what isn’t always visible.
His team now runs consistent, scheduled inspections through HelixCMMS, building a paper trail, flagging issues in real time, and keeping everyone on the same page.
“We used to do everything with a standard paperwork order. Now, we can manage it all through this platform. I can even warn others about potential issues as a part of our preventive maintenance, saving us time and money.”
Preventive maintenance does not always produce dramatic moments. Often, its greatest value is what never happens.
This Playground Safety Week is a reminder to move from reactive to proactive. The risks may not always be obvious, but the right systems help facilities teams identify them before they become incidents.
If you are already using HelixCMMS, log in and review your Playground Inspection Checklist. If you are new to the platform, connect with our team to learn how preventive maintenance can reduce risk across your facilities.
