High Ropes Review Pre Launch Check

Transcription

1 High Ropes Review Pre Launch Check The Operations Sub-committee has agreed new rules and guidance for High Ropes activities (which includes crate stacking) within Scouting. This follows lengthy reviews and consultations with the Movement. You are invited to perform a final check that these rules and guidance are both sensible and workable. Following this final check the intention is to publish the rules and guidance to go live with an implementation period included. Until this the current rules continue to apply. Comments are welcome to the UK Activities Team on anything contained within this document that doesn t make sense or is not workable by 3 July To submit your comments please go to

2 New Rules Supporting High Ropes Activities Rule 9.78 High Ropes Activities a. High ropes activities are: Any off ground activity, not covered by the adventurous activity permit scheme, that should use a belay or similar safety system such as cow s tails or a trolley system. Examples of what activities are included within this can be found in FS High Ropes. b. Temporary high ropes structures are: A high ropes construction erected for a single event or no longer than a week, whichever is longer. c. Permanent high ropes structures are: A high ropes construction not classed as temporary. Rule 9.79 Permanent High Ropes Activities a. Construction and maintenance of permanent high ropes structures must follow the guidelines in AAIAC The UK Ropes Course Guide. This can be found at b. Permanent high ropes structures must have a written operating manual which needs to be approved by a Technical Adviser. The minimum qualification of a Technical Adviser is Mountain Instructor Award (MIA) or a European Ropes Course Association (ERCA) qualified high ropes instructor qualified to rescue (or equivalent of higher). Further details of what should be included within the operating manual can be found in FS High Ropes. Rule 9.80 Temporary High Ropes Activities a. Construction of temporary high ropes activities must follow the guidelines contained in FS High Ropes. b. Temporary high ropes activities must be constructed and operated either: By the holder of a climbing permit (that includes selecting anchors and setting up belay systems), or a caving or mine exploration permit holder (not including a permit for caving or mine exploration no vertical pitches). Operation (group size, supervision levels etc) must be within the remit of the permit. Or o Using a setup, o Constructed by a competent person, o And with a written operating manual, All as agreed by a County Climbing Assessor or a European Ropes Course Association (ERCA) instructor qualified to rescue (or equivalent or higher). Further details of what should be included within the operating manual can be found in FS High Ropes.

3 High Ropes Item Code FS Jun/11 Edition no Introduction This factsheet provides further advice and clarification of the requirements for constructing and operating high ropes activities in Scouting as defined in POR. High Ropes Activities Examples of activities that are classed as high ropes activities are: High ropes course or individual element Zip wire 3G swing Crate stacking Prussiking up a rope Using caving ladders and SRT when not caving Examples of activities not classed as high ropes activities are: Climbing Abseiling Using caving ladders and SRT when caving Low ropes courses Bouldering Aerial runways Pioneering projects (that don t require belays) There is no height definition for when an activity becomes a high ropes rather than a low ropes activity. This will depend on many factors such as; the participants, the activity, the environment etc. The defining characteristic is that; when an activity should use a safety system (such as belaying) then it becomes a high ropes activity. Activities like monkey bridges and low level prussiking using spotting / crash mats rather than a belay system are not classed as high ropes as they don t use a safety system such as a belay. The key point is whether an activity should have a safety system, not whether it actually does have this system. This means that a high ropes activity cannot be made into a low ropes activity just by taking the safety system away as this could make the activity more hazardous for those involved. Zip Wires vs Aerial Runways Zip wires tend to be permanent constructions, while aerial runways tend to be temporary structures where constructing the aerial runway is often part of the activity that the young people can get involved in. The main difference within high ropes is that zip wires will generally use a harness system to attach to the zip wire, often using a simple belay system to exit the activity (meaning they are classed as high ropes), while an aerial runway will generally have a seat for participants to sit on (meaning they are not classed as high ropes). There remains a separate Aerial Runway Code to support those constructing aerial runways. Commercial Centres When using commercial high ropes providers (such as Go Ape) Scout parties follow the normal Scout Association rules for using external providers to run activities. Leaders are therefore not required to follow the guidelines in this factsheet when using these providers. Existing High Ropes Courses The UK Ropes Course Guide from AAIAC that permanent courses are required to follow includes full details of how construction standards apply to existing high ropes courses and their maintenance and additions. The Scout Information Centre Gilwell Park Chingford London E4 7QW Tel + 44 (0) Fax + 44 (0) info.centre@scout.org.uk

4 page 2 of 3 All ropes courses need to follow the operational requirements of The Scout Association, even if they were built before these requirements were introduced. Operating Manual for Permanent Structures The constructor of a ropes course should provide much of the information required for an operating manual. However the operator will need to ensure that their manual includes at least the following: Operating procedures Emergency / rescue plan Equipment to be used Instructor training Who can carry out instructor training Instructor assessment / competence levels Who can carry out instructor assessments Limitations of the course / structure Record keeping for; training, assessments, operation, equipment, inspection, maintenance and accidents. Climbing, Caving and Mine Permits If setting up and running a temporary high ropes activity under a climbing, caving or mine exploration permit then what you are planning on doing needs to come within the remit of your permit. In simple terms this means that; if you put a climbing wall (or were underground) where the high ropes structure is, would your permit allow you to set up and run the belay / safety system that you are planning, using the anchors that you will be using. So if, for example, your climbing permit allows you to run climbing on a man made tower using only the fixed anchor points, this will not allow you to set up and run crate stacking using a tree and natural anchors. Permit holders will also need to work within the remit of their permit with regard to group sizes and any further restrictions included. This means that those holding leadership permits will need to lead the activity themselves (as they would when climbing, caving or in a mine), while those with a supervisory permit can designate leaders to groups and remotely supervise while still remaining responsible for the activity (again as they would when climbing). Guidelines for Temporary Constructions When running any temporary high ropes activity that involves ascending a rope (ie prussiking, SRT etc), the rope being ascended must be quickly releasable under pressure by those running the activity. All temporary high ropes constructions must: Include an appropriate belay / safety system for the structure. Use a site that means those constructing, participating in and watching the activity can do so safely. Use equipment, both in the structure and belay / safety system, designed for the purpose it is being used for and following the manufacturer s guidelines. Where existing man made structures such as buildings are used, check that they can bear the load that will be placed on them. Trees Where natural features such as trees are used, check that: They can bear the load that will be placed on them. They are healthy with a substantial enough root. If in doubt it is worth consulting a specialist arboriculturist or similar to confirm that any tree used will be able to stand up to the pressures placed on it. However there are a number of checks that you can make without the need for a professional: Any attachments to trees should be load tested before being used by members. The best tree roots are unseen as they are buried by soil. The tree is supported by its roots without listing abnormally. All the tree limbs are healthy.

5 page 3 of 3 No visible disease / fungus / wounds / damage No signs of weakness or over compaction (from ground covering etc) of the ground around the tree. Avoid: Branches that grow vertically. Branches that split into two vertical growths. Operating Manual for Temporary Structures Operating manuals for temporary constructions are generally much simpler than for permanent constructions. However the operator will still need to ensure it includes at least the following: Operating procedures Emergency / rescue plan Equipment to be used Instructor assessment / competence levels Who can carry out instructor assessments Where the same structure / setup / operation is used for multiple events over time (such as a prussiking rope set up behind the Scout hut a number of times over the summer), the same operating manual can be used. It will need updating where there are changes to any of this though, and any updates will need to be agreed by someone qualified to do so.