Indoor climbing
The climbing service provider is responsible for the safety of the service. The service provider must have sufficient training and expertise in climbing.
Documents in order!
Draw up a safety document on the climbing service. In the document, pay special attention to instructing the customers, procuring and maintaining equipment as well as being prepared for emergencies. Keep a record of accidents in connection with the document and mark all accidents in it.
Tukes must be notified about serious accidents.
Identify the risks!
You can use Tukes’ instructions and tools to identify risks.
Also take the following into account in identifying risks:
Rope climbing
- Make sure of the competence of new customers by giving them a test, unless the customer has a card as proof of a completed course.
- Instruct and monitor the use of self-belaying climbing equipment; a course or a test is not required for using them.
- Place fixed ropes and climbing lines so that customers cannot swing and collide with side walls, other climbers or other structures.
Bouldering, or climbing without a rope
- When climbing low walls without a rope, make sure that there are safety mats along the whole length of the wall. The mats must cover the whole fall zone and their thickness and shock absorption must be suitable for use in climbing.
- Instruct the customers in different falling techniques.
- Use instructions and signs to warn people about situations, in which a climber could fall on another climber.
Good safety practices
- Monitor the access to the climbing area and check the skills of the new customers.
- Make sure that the instructions and rules concerning climbing are clear and monitor actively that the rules are followed.
- Make sure that the supervisors have sufficient know-how about climbing, so that they can intervene in activities that are clearly dangerous.
- Make sure that the structures, tools and equipment are strong, durable, and in good condition with regular maintenance and inspections. Maintenance records help you to stay up-to-date with equipment repairs and maintenance.
- Make sure that there are no structures or equipment in the fall zone, on which falling climbers could hurt themselves.
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Make sure that the personnel are prepared for emergencies in case of an accident occurring on the climbing wall.
What to take into account in the planning:
- Purchase harnesses and other climbing equipment that comply with standards.
- Good advice on building a climbing wall can be found in the ‘Kiipeilyseinäopas’ guide on climbing walls (in Finnish)
- Draw up a safety document before starting operations
- Take care of the tool and equipment maintenance and inspections
Requirements on the equipment
When acquiring climbing equipment, make sure that they comply with the standards.
Standards concerning climbing equipment:
- SFS-EN 12572-1:2017:en (Artificial climbing structures. Part 1: Safety requirements and test methods for ACS with protection points)
- SFS-EN 12572-2:2017:en (Artificial climbing structures. Part 2: Safety requirements and test methods for bouldering walls)
- SFS-EN 12572-3:2017:en (Artificial climbing structures. Part 3: Safety requirements and test methods for climbing holds)