A recent coronial inquiry in the Northern Territory has highlighted serious safety concerns relating to the design of fencing used at early childhood facilities.
The case involved the death of a toddler who became trapped in the top section of a low-height metal fence at a childcare centre.
The fence, which featured a continuous looped top rail, was of a type commonly seen in older pool and playground installations. The inquest found that the design created a potential entrapment hazard where a small child could become caught between the loops.
This tragedy serves as a critical reminder for all fencing professionals – particularly those involved in public, childcare and community projects – to consider how and where design features may pose unintended safety risks. Even when structures comply with existing standards, visual design elements can create hazards if they allow openings or protrusions that may trap clothing, limbs, or in extreme cases, a child’s neck.
Key considerations for fencing contractors and designers
- Avoid the use of loop-top or decorative top-rail designs in environments accessible to children.
- Conduct a site-specific risk assessment whenever fencing is specified for childcare centres, schools, or recreation areas.
- Review clearances, heights and rail profiles to ensure they cannot create footholds, head entrapment zones or strangulation points.
- Encourage clients to replace or retrofit older designs that could pose foreseeable risks, even if technically compliant when first installed.
