Twenty-four playground slides in Edmonton have been removed after a recall from the manufacturer due to an amputation risk.
Playworld, which sells to parks, schools and municipalities, including the City of Edmonton, issued the recall on Dec. 6, 2016.
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“The weld between the slide bedway and sidewall can crack and separate. A child’s fingers can get caught in the space, posing an amputation hazard,” reads a statement posted on the company website.
The recall affects 1,300 slides, approximately 161 of which were sold in Canada.
“Playworld is aware of 13 incidents of broken welds, including two children who have suffered finger amputations,” the recall notice reads.
However, the company has not received any reports of incidents or injuries in Canada, according to a recall and safety alert issued by the Government of Canada.
According to the City of Edmonton parks and playground department, the 24 slides were removed and boarded up in December and January. Similarly, 55 slides were removed from City of Calgary playgrounds.
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The slides were removed from the following neighbourhoods in Edmonton: Westridge, Rio Terrace, Westridge/Wolf Willow, Laurel Heights, Blackmud Creek, Henderson Park, Leger, Floden Park and Giovanni Caboto.
Playworld is offering a remedy to the situation; the company will repair and replace all slides affected by the recall.
The Edmonton Catholic School Board said a slide at St. Teresa Elementary School has been covered up.
The Edmonton Public School Board said it had one slide it removed shortly after the recall. A replacement slide has been ordered. The board said it takes the safety of its students “very seriously.”
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