It is easy to spot a broken swing. The real dangers on a childcare playground are the hazards that hide in plain sight. State inspectors and insurance adjusters are trained to look past the obvious and focus on the structural details that cause severe injuries.
You need to inspect your connecting hardware. If the metal S-hooks connecting your swings to the chains are not pinched completely closed, a child's clothing can easily catch and cause a strangulation hazard. Next, check the depth of your fall surfacing. Wood mulch naturally compacts over time and washes away during heavy rain. If you do not have at least nine inches of uncompressed mulch under your climbing structures, a simple fall can result in a broken bone. Finally, look closely at any wooden borders surrounding your playground equipment. Aged, splintering wood posts are an invisible source of serious splinter injuries that teachers walk past every single day without noticing. Schedule a formal playground audit at the start of every season.