Glass in tarmac - Advice needed on how to make safer

Setts and cobbles, tarmac, asphalt, resin systems, concrete whether it's plain, patterned or stencilled, gravels, etc.
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paul ush
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:16 pm
Location: Lancaster

Post: # 16684Post paul ush

Hi everyone,
Been reading advice from site for a couple of years now but this is first post, so please be patient with builder not familiar with tarmac (or macadam or asphalt, or whatever it is that it's correctly called...).
My wife volunteered me to look at the playgroup playground because "the committee" are worried about the presence of glass in the surface, kids tripping up and getting lacerated as opposed to grazed knees, being sued, etc. Went to look yesterday - have never looked closely at tarmac before - and sure enough there are bits of glass in it, glinting in the sun. Did some reading up on the "oracle of lies" and find that tumbled recycled glass content is not unusual in some applications.
As to whether it should've been laid in a playground isn't the issue really, it's there and there's nothing to be done about that now; question is, does anyone know of / can anyone recommend an inexpensive solution that'll set minds at rest and prevent knees being cut badly?
To give some more detail, the glass does have sharp edges, definitely not a properly tumbled finish, but not as keen as freshly broken glass. The pieces are about 8mm square at the most and spread evenly at about 20-30 pieces per m2.
There is concern that the odd piece of glass has been found just lying on the surface having presumably just come unstuck and these are what'll do damage if one of the children falls on them, because they'll cut in far deeper than a reasonably rounded small stone.
My advice was limited to brushing it every few days, so any more realistic/helpful/constructive advice than that would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Dave_L
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Location: Somerset
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Post: # 16685Post Dave_L

Given the location and the possibilty of injuries - I'd resurface it.

How big an area is it, Paul?
RW Gale Ltd - Civils & Surfacing Contractors based in Somerset

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paul ush
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:16 pm
Location: Lancaster

Post: # 16686Post paul ush

From memory it's about 2m wide x 6m long. What would be the spec to give to a contractor to get it right?

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