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).