11
Physical: Design of the park, PPE choice
Operational: Fitting PPE to the user, training of the staff, briefing, supervision, quality of
rescue / evacuation.
Design of the park
The height of the lifeline must be evaluated in the entire park in order to ensure that the
length of the lanyard is appropriate throughout the park. Varying heights can lead to
incompatibilities and therefore bear risks.
When climbing using a vertical lifeline, (fall-stop, Tarzan’s swing…), the anchor point
must either be fixed to the harness attachment point or be connected to the lanyards,
avoiding that the two lanyards be tensioned in the event of a fall.
Life safety systems should limit a user's fall to less than 50 cm (20 inches).
According to the lifeline height & to the size of the user, we propose following
recommendations: see point 4.1
Handles are recommended on all the game to eliminate the need for users to grab the
lanyards. Lifelines should be installed to minimize obstruction of a user’s head, for
example on the side.
Choosing PPE (see 4.1.2)
It is recommended that the central point of CLiC-iT lanyard be attached with the shortest
possible distance to the user’s harness clip-in point. A low clip-in point of the lanyard on
the harness is strongly recommended to decrease the risk of neck entrapment.
It must be considered that helmets may make it more difficult to extricate one’s head
from between the lanyard legs.
Fitting of PPE to the user
The correct harness and lanyard length must be chosen individually to fit each partici
-
pant
correctly.
Harness must be put on properly and double checked.
Adjustments to the harness leg loops are necessary to prevent the harness clip-in point
from sliding upwards in the case of a fall. This harness rise should be taken into conside
-
ration
and planned for.
The user should be instructed on proper harness fit and to ask a guide if something feels
wrong. It should be forbidden for participants to put on the harness on their own.
Training of the staff
All staff members must be aware of their responsibilities in order to establish a safe
environment. They must be properly trained in assist and rescue techniques as well as in
briefing and coaching methods.
All staff must receive professional training regularly in which all information for the
proper operation of the park is conveyed.
Assessments of the staff’s ability to perform competent rescue procedures and conduct
proper and complete guest briefings must be done on a regular basis.
The Awareness of all involved risks throughout the park must be raised within your
instructor
and rescue team. The staff must know all possible dangers associated with using
life safety systems and how different components interact with each other.
A helpful and supportive attitude towards the guests is important.
Briefing
The instructions must be passed on to each user on how to use all the equipment and
practice handling it on the ground before climbing. Awareness of all risks must be
raised. The user must be informed to refrain from placing his/her head between the
lanyard legs.
The user should be encouraged to push the lanyard forward him/her on the cable so
that the lanyard stays in the front of the body and the user's head remains away from
lanyards.
Carabiners should only be attached to the designated lifelines.
Supervision
The staff team must be vigilant, have taken part in the training process and is required to
have experience in supervising the course.
Good supervision covering all parts of the course must be ensured.
The rescue team must be prepared and capable of reacting quickly in case of emergency
and have good and fast access to all parts of the course. All instructors should carry a
system or device for lifting, not just rescuers or rescue teams.
Participants who faced difficulties during the briefing must be given additional attention
and helped, verbally or physically, if needed.
Participants should not be left alone on a course.
Enhanced supervision must be in place where the participants are faced with special
circumstances (zipline, Tarzan swing, etc).
Please note
The list of recommendations stated here above is only to be used as a general guideline
to limit the risks involved with climbing in adventure parks. This guideline is by no
means exhaustive. It should be taken into consideration and validated by park builders
and operators and shall continuously be expanded in accordance with feedback and
experiences.
To minimize the inherent risks involved when climbing and using personal protective
equipment, it is the responsibility of all involved parties to ensure a safe park design, a
thorough briefing for users,
the compatibility between all products, the correct use of the safety equipment and to
provide appropriate training for their staff in order to supervise the operation (this list is
not exhaustive with the practice of the ropes course).