Using PSSLive for playground inspections since 2011
“Since 2011 we have had a far more robust system in place for both inspecting and maintain equipment, which has lead to quicker response times when dealing with issues and a reduction in the number of claims against the Council.”
Martin Harris, Technical Parks Officer
Nottingham City Council
Safe+
Company
Nottingham City Council
Services Provided
Playground inspections and maintenance management
Challenge
Paper-based system identified as a major risk area by the insurance and litigation team; needed faster reporting and a more defensible inspection record
How PSS Helped
Insurance claims reduction, faster inspection reporting, photo evidence for claims defence, mobile smartphone recording, quicker response times
About the company
Nottingham City Council is a unitary authority in the East Midlands. Since adopting PSSLive in 2011, they have significantly reduced insurance claims and improved response times. Their insurance team is now more confident in challenging claims.
Playgrounds
Insurance Defence & Compliance
Nottingham City Council has been using PSSLive for playground inspections since 2011. The Parks and Open Spaces team manages playground inspections and maintenance across the city, with a strong focus on safety compliance and insurance risk management.
Challenge
Nottingham's previous paper-based inspection system was not fit for purpose — playgrounds had been highlighted as a major risk area by the Council's insurance and litigation team. Slow reporting, difficulty retrieving records and lack of robust documentation were leaving the Council exposed to claims and unable to respond to them quickly.
Solution
The Council switched to PSSLive in 2011, moving onto smartphones for recording inspections and findings. In 2016 they migrated from Windows to Android devices, significantly improving the usefulness of the mobile application — including the ability to view photos of defects and equipment directly on site, making life considerably easier for playground engineers.
PSSLive's reporting tools allow the insurance team to turn around claims quickly rather than waiting weeks to locate relevant information. The system gives the team confidence to challenge incoming claims, supported by comprehensive digital records.
Results
- Far more robust inspection and maintenance system since 2011
- Quicker response times when dealing with issues
- Reduction in the number of claims against the Council
- Faster insurance claim turnaround through easy report generation
- Increased confidence in challenging claims — saving thousands of pounds each year
- Improved mobile experience following Android migration in 2016
“Our insurance team are more confident about challenging any claims that do come in, which has seen further reductions in the number of successful claims, saving the Council many thousands of pounds each year.” — Martin Harris, Parks Technical Officer, Parks and Open Spaces, Nottingham City Council
