GUIDELINES FOR BOUNCY CASTLE USERS/HIRERS/OPERATORS/ATTENDANTS

Helping you play safe and stay safe

Users/Hirer Responsibilities
·

· Agreeing the Operator/Attendants, ensuring that they have been adequately trained and are competent in their role as supervisor.

· Completion of a risk assessment. This must be updated to take account of local operational and practical considerations and reviewed at appropriate times.

*The Register of Play Inspectors International (RPII) specialist qualification for inflatable play inspectors is the only one recognised by PIPA

Operator/Attendant Responsibilities

The operational control of the inflatable play equipment at any time when it is intended to be available for use to include:

· Advise users to remove glasses

· users to remove footwear (except socks) and any other hard, sharp or dangerous objects

· not allow users to consume food, drink or chew gum

· not allow users to obstruct entrances or exits

· not allow users to climb or hang on the walls

· restrict users to the minimum height stipulations

· maintain a clear view of the equipment and its entrances and exits

· only allow use of the equipment when it is fully inflated

· restrict users to any loading regulations that may be in force

· restrict users to appropriate age groups

· in all instances operate the equipment in line with the guidance given in the controllers instructions.

Extract from HSE Information Sheet ETIS 7 Revised

Safe use and operation of play inflatables, including bouncy castles

Recognised hazards

The following hazards have been known to occur:

· instability and blowing away in windy conditions;

· situations caused by loss of pressure as a result of failure of the fabric zips and seams;

· failure or loss of power to the blower;

· disconnection of the blower;

· litter blocking the air intake and/or vents;

· falls from the structure;

· windows tearing or detaching;

· tripping (particularly over anchorages);

· injury to users caused by boisterous behaviour, overcrowding or not separating larger users from smaller ones;

· access to dangerous (parts of) machinery (e.g. inadequately protected, or unguarded, blower units);

· electrical hazards (e.g. shock or burns), if powered in this manner;

· inadequate means of escape in case of fire;

· lifting injuries caused by manual handling;

· injury to users caused by wearing inappropriate clothes and shoes;

· suffocation

· entrapment.

Please note that although the above is very important, new guidelines BS EN 14960:2006 came out in March 2007. (Copyright BSI).